The biggest news this week – spring has finally arrived. So get outside and enjoy it.
Many committee meetings going on this week. Some of the areas your Councillors and citizen members are getting involved in are:
- Midland Accessibility Advisory Committee - Monday 7 pm
- Parking Authority – Tuesday 4 pm
- Midland Heritage – Tuesday 7 pm
- Committee of Adjustment – Thursday 4:30 pm
- Library Board – Thursday 7 pm
All of these are public meetings and you may be allowed to input at the discretion of the Chair. Please confirm locations and times with the Town office if you plan to attend.
In the months ahead I will be writing more about environmental developments. But before I start, I will be joining my fellow Councillors at the Town this Monday at 10:00 am to be briefed by Simcoe County about our new waste programs. These are:
1. Curbside Organics Collection (Green Bin)
2. One Bag Garbage Limit
3. Expanded Recycling Opportunities
4. Expanded Facility Household Hazardous Waste Programs
5. New Electronics Recycling Programs.
These presentations are just for Town staff and Council. I am told that public presentations will take place in early summer.
And Midland’s Earth Hour electricity reduction, when we all turned the lights off for one hour on March 29th – 4.5%; just a little bit less than the provincial average. What have you done to conserve energy today?
Gord McKay
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sunday March 30, 2008
Winter is hanging tough but the signs of spring are out there. Keep the faith.
And what a way to start. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal has just notified the Town that we will be receiving a grant of $3.5 million towards our library expansion. Bill Molesworth, our Chief Librarian, is to be congratulated for leading this effort. If everything turns out well work may start this year.
The North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation is set to start its “business retention and expansion” survey next month. The survey will contact 100 or more businesses in North Simcoe to determine how our economy is changing. Survey work should wrap up by the summer with results reported in the fall.
I hope you all participated in Earth Hour, on the 29th. Once the lights are out you really have to rethink your evening priorities. The Town has kept track of our energy consumption during Earth Hour and should give us an indication as to whether we in Midland are making a difference. I will let you know as soon as I get the information.
And finally, the Planning Advisory Committee meets this Wednesday the 5th at 7 pm. (“You May Speak”). A busy agenda including:
- The future of the Drummond stone wall on Fuller Avenue. This wall is part of Midland’s heritage and could be lost to development. If you are interested in heritage this would be a good one to attend.
- The sidewalk easement to the Tiffin waterfront walkway near the new condominium towers will be discussed. The intention is to move the Town’s easement rights from the North side to the South side, nearer the parking.
- The proposed site plan application for the Sayward apartment building at 742 Birchwood Drive will be addressed.
Gord McKay
And what a way to start. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal has just notified the Town that we will be receiving a grant of $3.5 million towards our library expansion. Bill Molesworth, our Chief Librarian, is to be congratulated for leading this effort. If everything turns out well work may start this year.
The North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation is set to start its “business retention and expansion” survey next month. The survey will contact 100 or more businesses in North Simcoe to determine how our economy is changing. Survey work should wrap up by the summer with results reported in the fall.
I hope you all participated in Earth Hour, on the 29th. Once the lights are out you really have to rethink your evening priorities. The Town has kept track of our energy consumption during Earth Hour and should give us an indication as to whether we in Midland are making a difference. I will let you know as soon as I get the information.
And finally, the Planning Advisory Committee meets this Wednesday the 5th at 7 pm. (“You May Speak”). A busy agenda including:
- The future of the Drummond stone wall on Fuller Avenue. This wall is part of Midland’s heritage and could be lost to development. If you are interested in heritage this would be a good one to attend.
- The sidewalk easement to the Tiffin waterfront walkway near the new condominium towers will be discussed. The intention is to move the Town’s easement rights from the North side to the South side, nearer the parking.
- The proposed site plan application for the Sayward apartment building at 742 Birchwood Drive will be addressed.
Gord McKay
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Saturday March 22, 2008
Like all Canadian authors I have to open with a comment about our weather.
This winter has been miserable for street clearing and seeing cars as you back out of driveways. Thank heavens for our excellent Public Works department. One of the more challenging streets has been Fredrick Street that was dug up for sewers last fall. The good citizens of Fredrick have had to cope with no sidewalks, no road and a pot-hole situation that defies description. And you thought you had problems.
Our Council meeting is this Tuesday March 25th at 7:00 pm. It will be a historic meeting in that it is the final Council meeting for our Town Clerk Heather Babcock before her retirement. Heather has been a rock of sound advice and due process, as well as being a lovely lady, and will be sorely missed at Council.
The Council meeting (“Deputation Only”) should be fairly brief. There are no deputations and few contentious items on the agenda. Council is looking for a representative to help the School Board plan the location of new schools. So if that is of interest, please get your name in to myself or to Heather Babcock.
The Pesticide Committee will meet on Monday March 31st at 7:00 pm at the Town. The major agenda item is to decide “Where do we go from here”.
Gord McKay
This winter has been miserable for street clearing and seeing cars as you back out of driveways. Thank heavens for our excellent Public Works department. One of the more challenging streets has been Fredrick Street that was dug up for sewers last fall. The good citizens of Fredrick have had to cope with no sidewalks, no road and a pot-hole situation that defies description. And you thought you had problems.
Our Council meeting is this Tuesday March 25th at 7:00 pm. It will be a historic meeting in that it is the final Council meeting for our Town Clerk Heather Babcock before her retirement. Heather has been a rock of sound advice and due process, as well as being a lovely lady, and will be sorely missed at Council.
The Council meeting (“Deputation Only”) should be fairly brief. There are no deputations and few contentious items on the agenda. Council is looking for a representative to help the School Board plan the location of new schools. So if that is of interest, please get your name in to myself or to Heather Babcock.
The Pesticide Committee will meet on Monday March 31st at 7:00 pm at the Town. The major agenda item is to decide “Where do we go from here”.
Gord McKay
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Sunday March 9, 2008
And the snow just keeps getting deeper and deeper!
A quieter week in the Town – perhaps a lot of people have escaped down south.
This Monday March 10th at 7pm will see Council Committee meeting (“Written Comment”). No real barn-burners on the agenda but you never know.
The next Pesticide Committee meeting will be March 31st at 7pm. (“Written Comment”). The Chair hopes to come up with concluding recommendations at this meeting.
A couple of interesting parties shaping up this summer. The Party on the Dock (Jimmy Buffet fans) will look for approval from Council for its June 20th date and a new “bass tournament” is being considered by your Chamber of Commerce for this September.
Bryan Peter is getting Town summer activities into gear. Registration for spring and summer programs will take place at the NSSRC on March 27, 28 and 29. Bryan has also prepared a schedule of planned events for the summer. (Please see attached) More information is available on all these events by contacting the Town’s Community Services department
Gord McKay
A quieter week in the Town – perhaps a lot of people have escaped down south.
This Monday March 10th at 7pm will see Council Committee meeting (“Written Comment”). No real barn-burners on the agenda but you never know.
The next Pesticide Committee meeting will be March 31st at 7pm. (“Written Comment”). The Chair hopes to come up with concluding recommendations at this meeting.
A couple of interesting parties shaping up this summer. The Party on the Dock (Jimmy Buffet fans) will look for approval from Council for its June 20th date and a new “bass tournament” is being considered by your Chamber of Commerce for this September.
Bryan Peter is getting Town summer activities into gear. Registration for spring and summer programs will take place at the NSSRC on March 27, 28 and 29. Bryan has also prepared a schedule of planned events for the summer. (Please see attached) More information is available on all these events by contacting the Town’s Community Services department
Gord McKay
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday February 24, 2008
Things are quieter around the Town this week. The “Good Roads Conference” is on in Toronto and many of your Councillors are in attendance. A good opportunity to hear what others are doing.
Accordingly, the Council meeting has been rescheduled to this Thursday at 7pm. (“Deputation Only”). Some items on the agenda:
- We will review our budget deliberations. It looks like we are headed for a Town increase of 3.2%, with an overall increase of 3.6% when County charges are included.
- The meeting will discuss a pilot project to put more bicycle parking stands on King Street (initially near Gianettos).
- And finally we will vote on recognizing “Earth Hour” - an opportunity on March 29 from 8pm to 9pm for everyone to turn out their lights and help the environment.
The Council meeting will also discuss our need for planning – strategic, economic and Little Lake. Planning is becoming more important for the Town because of the increasing pressures we face. Take building permits. The Town has issued $67.2 million in permits last year, well above historical averages. Good planning is essential.
And lastly, we had over 70 people come out this past week to hear about our need to better plan our waste management in Simcoe County. There is a big issue here for all of us. More on this to come.
Gord McKay
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday February 17, 2008
I hope that you have had a chance to enjoy your new Family Day.
A few quick notes:
- The Town will hold its final Budget meeting (“Written Comment”) this week before the matter goes to Council. The meeting should determine our recommended tax rate plus look at a number of financial policies to guide future budgets. Wednesday the 20th at 6pm in the Council Chambers
- The Town will continue its discussion of cosmetic pesticides this Thursday at 7pm at the Town. (“Written Comment”).
And as if that were not enough:
- The Simcoe Waste Coalition will be hosting an educational evening (“You May Speak”) entitled “Our Waste – Our Future”. The evening will feature three speakers and allow you to hear about how our waste is and should be managed. The event takes place on Thursday the 21st at 7:00 pm at the Penetanguishene Arena at 61 Maria St. No charge.
Gord McKay
A few quick notes:
- The Town will hold its final Budget meeting (“Written Comment”) this week before the matter goes to Council. The meeting should determine our recommended tax rate plus look at a number of financial policies to guide future budgets. Wednesday the 20th at 6pm in the Council Chambers
- The Town will continue its discussion of cosmetic pesticides this Thursday at 7pm at the Town. (“Written Comment”).
And as if that were not enough:
- The Simcoe Waste Coalition will be hosting an educational evening (“You May Speak”) entitled “Our Waste – Our Future”. The evening will feature three speakers and allow you to hear about how our waste is and should be managed. The event takes place on Thursday the 21st at 7:00 pm at the Penetanguishene Arena at 61 Maria St. No charge.
Gord McKay
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Sunday February 10, 2008
Have you noticed – 6:00 pm and it is still light. Almost time to start thinking about gardening.
Last week’s PAC meeting agreed to re-zoning the lands at 846-850 Hartman Drive. The developer (Shelter Now) intends to build transitional housing to help alleviate Midland’s need for affordable housing. The Public Hearing (You May Speak) will take place on Wednesday March 5th at 7:00 pm at the Town.
After last week’s budget meeting we are headed towards a 3.2% municipal tax increase – 3.6% when you include the County portion. And since we have no property reassessment this year (unless you improved your property) you can now determine what your 2008 taxes will be.
The Committee of Council meets this Monday at 7:00 pm. (Written Comment). A number of items:
- The Severn Sound Environmental Authority (SSEA) will present a proposal to study our Little Lake and prepare a usage plan for the Town. (SSEA is a federal/provincial/municipal organization charged with sustaining environmental quality in our region. Midland pays them an annual fee.)
- Our Community Services department has a number of interesting events:
- a free family skate on our new public holiday, February 18th
- talks have started for a new soccer field
- a Little Lake event called “Woof –Fest” in August
- a revised plan for a wakeboard event in Little Lake, likely in July.
- A request by our bus transit authority to review fares
Gord McKay
Last week’s PAC meeting agreed to re-zoning the lands at 846-850 Hartman Drive. The developer (Shelter Now) intends to build transitional housing to help alleviate Midland’s need for affordable housing. The Public Hearing (You May Speak) will take place on Wednesday March 5th at 7:00 pm at the Town.
After last week’s budget meeting we are headed towards a 3.2% municipal tax increase – 3.6% when you include the County portion. And since we have no property reassessment this year (unless you improved your property) you can now determine what your 2008 taxes will be.
The Committee of Council meets this Monday at 7:00 pm. (Written Comment). A number of items:
- The Severn Sound Environmental Authority (SSEA) will present a proposal to study our Little Lake and prepare a usage plan for the Town. (SSEA is a federal/provincial/municipal organization charged with sustaining environmental quality in our region. Midland pays them an annual fee.)
- Our Community Services department has a number of interesting events:
- a free family skate on our new public holiday, February 18th
- talks have started for a new soccer field
- a Little Lake event called “Woof –Fest” in August
- a revised plan for a wakeboard event in Little Lake, likely in July.
- A request by our bus transit authority to review fares
Gord McKay
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