Ladies and Gentlemen
The 2017 Civitan Christmas Parade is in the books – and what
a great parade it was. The downtown carries on the celebration with three hours
of free parking in the downtown for the month of December.
Last week I mentioned that Sharon’s Boutique Plus was
opening but I provided the wrong address. Their new location is at 758 Yonge Street.
So do drop by and see Shirley, who gives some of the best hugs in Town.
There seems to be a lot of new shops opening in Midland. I
must be attending at least one opening a month. Good news for shoppers and our
retail economy.
The
Week Ahead
A busy Monday the 27th. At 3:30 pm Council will hold a special
meeting in the Council Chambers to receive the report of the Service Delivery
Review consultant. This report will present all the key findings, showing where
we can improve Town services and how we should be implementing change over the
next few years.
At 6:30 pm Council goes into a closed meeting to discuss appointments
to the By-law Review Committee, the Midland Library Board and the Seniors Council.
Then at 7:00 pm it’s the November Council meeting. A challenging agenda
including:
-
Three deputations:
o
Update on the Midland Public Library
o
A private citizen’s view on the number of Councilors
we require
o
Overview of the Hospice Huronia fundraising
program
-
Two citizen petitions:
o
Request for a sidewalk on Dominion Ave.
o
Request for winter grooming on part of the
Trans Canada Trail
-
Proposed changes to the taxi regulations in
Midland
-
Recommendation to create the Municipal Services
Corporation to manage the development of the Midland Bay Landing property
-
Update on the transition from the MPS to the OPP
-
Budget guidance for 2018. Staff is proposing a 2.5% increase for Town
costs
Tuesday November 28th starts at
9:00 am with County Council in Midhurst.
The major agenda item is a workshop, starting at 10:00 am, to discuss
the new provincial planning regulations. The four North Simcoe municipalities
met in public this past week to take an initial look at the changes. While we appreciated
the need to contain development sprawl, concerns were expressed that the shift
of planning authority to the County could limit the involvement of the local municipality
in making key decisions about its future.
At 4:00 pm Waypoint holds its volunteer and donor
appreciation event. That’s at the Waypoint Atrium Building, Bay Café 500 Church
Street, Penetanguishene.
On Thursday, the North Simcoe Housing Working Group
meets at the Town at 2:00 pm to discuss its 2018 projects. That evening sees the second weekend for the annual
First Light event. The event runs from
5:30 to 9:00 p.m. (Thursday to Saturday) at Sainte-Marie and the Martyrs’
Shrine. For more information visit their website at www.hhp.on.ca. Please note we have a shuttle
bus running from downtown Midland to the event. And finally Trivia Night returns to the
Legion. All members and non-members are welcome to attend this pub-quiz style challenge
for both the trivia pro and the casual expert. Great prizes to be won. Trivia
starts at 7:00 pm. Entry fee is just $15 per team (2-5 players).
Friday December 1st sees a signature
event at the MCC in Midland. Kee Bee
Play, one of our local manufacturers, is involved in an innovative research program
to understand how their “play products” can be used to improve the quality of
life for those with dementia. Working with U of T and a number of long term
care facilities, they will release their research finding this morning, signaling
what I anticipate is a positive result for geriatric therapies and success for
one of our up and coming manufacturers. And at 2:00 pm you are invited to join K-Mobile
to celebrate their business opening at 741 Yonge Street.
Week -
End
Saturday December 2
-
9:30 to 10:30 am – Pancakes and Pajamas at the
Library. This free event will see a visit from Santa. Please register at 705-526-7216
-
10:30 am – A Day in
the Life with Santa at the MCC. This reveal-all conversation explores life at
the North Pole, the roles of Santa, the reindeer, the elves and Mrs. Claus, and
the big job of getting gifts to all the good boys and girls all around the
world. Children will have a chance to speak with Santa and to tell him about
their Christmas wishes. Arts and crafts for the kids provided
by Quest Art and tasty treats by Chef Glen. And, best of all, it’s free! Register
for your tickets at www.midlandculturalcentre.com
-
4:00 pm - Town of Penetanguishene Annual Santa Claus Parade - along Main
Street from Jeffery Street to the Town Dock
-
8:00 pm - Micah Barnes at the MCC – a fabulous
entertainer
Sunday December 3
-
7:30 pm - The Good Lovelies Christmas Concert
at the MCC (Tickets almost gone)
Council
Issues Update
Budget
This
week Council has a first look at the staff proposed cost increase of 2.5% for
2018. Council’s commitment to keep our cost growth below the rate of inflation
continues. The challenge in 2018 comes from a number of onetime costs
associated with the Midland Police transition, the MPUC sale and changes from the
Service Delivery Review. It is important that we commit the resources to successfully
complete these strategic changes. It
will be an interesting budget process.
Cruise
Ships
One
on my quieter projects is working to develop the Ontario cruise ship industry
and thereby ensure that Midland remains a cruise port for years to come. Midland is one of 8 active cruise ports in the
province. Most ports have seen increased cruise traffic and given current trends
that traffic could grow considerably over the next decade. Is Midland ready for
that business; how do we receive all these visitors; and are we as a municipality
and tourism destination prepared?
The
first step in answering these questions is to develop the business case for the
industry. Your mayor has been working with the province to obtain funding for
the study – it looks promising. Will keep you informed.
Midland
Bay Landing
The
Town was successful with its request for funding from the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities for the environmental study of our MBL property. So all four of the foundational studies for
the MBL property will have no direct cost to the Town. These studies provide the
information we need to be fully prepared to take the property to market, likely
in early 2018.
Gord McKay
The
Year for Getting It Done - 2017
