Puslinch Mayor Dennis Lever is running unopposed for the Wellington County warden’s chair.
Current Warden George Bridge, mayor of Minto, will not be seeking a second two-year term.
Instead, Bridge announced at the Nov. 24 council meeting he is interested in chairing the county’s economic development committee, a post he held prior to becoming warden in December of 2014.
“One of the great things about this job is you really get to know all the staff. It’s a great organization, I can’t say enough about it,” said Bridge, who also commended his fellow councillors.
“I’ve had two great years and part of that … is this council. This council’s been very good to work with … we’ve had issues that we’ve had to deal with and we’ve had situations where we didn’t all agree, but at the end of the day we came together and I think that’s what’s important.”
Bridge cited the continued enhancement of county libraries as among the satisfying elements of his term in office.
“People see our library system and say how we have to be really proud of it. I talk to some of our other counties and they’re closing them down, can’t really modernize them,” said Bridge, who added the Wellington system is “second to none.
“It’s an economic driver in our communities and it’s a hub for cultural things.”
The completion of a new Wellington County OPP station at Teviotdale and hosting the 2016 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo were among other highlights, Bridge noted.
The warden also commented on the construction of roundabouts at several locations in the county.
“I took some flack over our roundabout at the corner of White’s Road (in Minto) .. but I think now I’m getting some positives from people … If we don’t have anybody die at those intersections now that’s a big plus,” he stated.
Bridge also said he was pleased with efforts by the Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus to bring high speed internet to rural areas and promote regional economic development.
Councillor Lynda White told Bridge, “Wellington County is a leader and it is because of your leadership that we’ve gotten to where we are.
“As a former warden I know how important our wonderful staff members are and I see the way you have treated the staff and accept their knowledge and that is so important,” added White, who indicated she would like to continue as council’s representative on the Wellington Police Services Board.
County councillors will select the new warden and committee chairs at a special meeting on Dec. 9. Lever was the only councillor to announce his intention to seek the top job.
“I think we have some significant challenges ahead. I want to see us continue to move the county forward,” said Lever, who cited economic development as a key area of focus.
“Economic development to me is a competitive field. We see what’s going on with the western wardens’ caucus but at the same time, even though this is going to be an umbrella group that’s going to do something for a very large area, we’re going to end up in situation where we’re competing with other municipalities for economic development and we have to make sure we win in those cases.
“It’s key to our future. We can’t keep relying on residential taxpayers or the industrial/commercial base – we need to see an expansion in that area.”
Lever expressed admiration for the wardens who preceded him when asked why he decided to run for the position.
“I look at the leaders that have come ahead of this,” he stated. “Over the last six years I’ve watched what happened with the warden.
“I’ve seen how important that job is to the residents of this county; how key it’s been to the financial aspects of how we move ahead and I think I have an opportunity here to lend some of my expertise into this area … and I see an opportunity to lead a really good group of people.”
While the warden’s post seems likely to be filled by acclamation, there will be contests for several committee chair positions.
Incumbent chair Don McKay, councillor for Ward 7, and Ward 2 councillor Gregg Davidson both announced interest in chairing the county’s solid waste services committee.
Ward 3 councillor Gary Williamson, the incumbent roads committee chair, will face a challenge from Mapleton Mayor Neil Driscoll for the post.
Ward 6 councillor Shawn Watters and Town of Erin Mayor Allan Alls are both seeking to chair the planning and land division committee.
Wellington North Mayor Andy Lennox, the current planning chair, indicated he would “take a step back,” and not seek a committee chair position.
