Mayor George Bridge challenged members of the incoming council to encourage local youths to get involved in the community and emphasized a continued focus on economic development at the inaugural meeting of the 2015 to 2018 Town of Minto council on Dec. 2.
“Going forward for the next four years I’d like this council to engage our youth more, both at the council and local committee level. I also want to continue with our strategic plan for growth, including but not limited to, Launchit, downtown revitalization, cultural roundtable [and] economic development committee,” said Bridge.
“I want the emphasis to stay on the continual reduction of our infrastructure deficit, right now it’s sitting around $34 million, and we plan on taking our bridge and roads study to an open house-style meeting where we will create a prioritized action plan,” he continued.
Bridge said he would like to see the town develop a marketing plan for local recreational facilities in order to maximize revenues.
“I think we under-utilize our facilities. I think a good marketing plan could maybe bring revenues. One of the things that we always talk about is cutting costs, cutting costs, cutting costs. Well, there’s another thing we can do and that’s raise revenues, not necessarily taxes, but raise revenues. So if we could do that at our facilities it would be a great boon to us.” Bridge noted his “biggest challenge” continues to be communication between the town and its citizens.
“Getting the right information out to the people … We have to make sure that people know what’s going on. Sometimes they don’t listen, but we have to get it out there.”
To that end, he commended members of the local media for their “hard work over the past four years.
“It’s so essential that we get our business out to the public and it’s through your media outlets that we get it out there.”
Bridge also commended the community’s volunteers, stating, “the Town of Minto wouldn’t exist without you.
“We have a little bit of money – so we stretch it a long way in a small community and that’s because of our volunteers.”
Deputy mayor Ron Faulkner said he felt the outgoing council accomplished a lot in the past four years and committed to work together with the rest of council “to achieve our financial responsibilities and economic growth.”
Councillor Dave Turton thanked all the candidates who ran in the last election and the voters of Minto for the strong level of local participation.
“It’s great that Minto was the highest (in terms of votes cast) in Wellington,” said Turton. “This is not about council. It’s about our community, and we will be successful.”
Councillor Mary Lou Colwell also acknowledged voters, stating, “We’ve got a lot of challenges ahead of us, but I thank the voters for electing such a competent council that I know will handle them with professionalism and transparency.”
Councillor Judy Dirksen recognized the roles played by candidates, voters and “those who counted accurately” in the election process.
“It’s all what democracy is, and we must never take any of that for granted,” she said.
Veteran councillor and former Minto mayor Ron Elliott thanked the community for the ongoing support.
“I’ve always wanted to serve my community and this is the best place to be to do that,” said Elliott.
First-time councillor Jean Anderson said she looks forward to serving and learning, as well as working with Minto staff and volunteers.
“I think we are a very fortunate community in terms of both the people that serve our community that are paid, and volunteers that are working for us and I’m looking forward to being part of that and learning and growing,” she said.
Prior to swearing in the sixth Town of Minto council, CAO Bill White noted the municipality is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the amalgamation that joined the former towns of Harriston and Palmerston with the village of Clifford and Minto Township.
“While there has been no shortage of challenges this marriage has not only worked, but also prospered … due to the hard work of municipal councils over the years, staff commitments and community groups’ and ratepayers’ support,” White stated.
