Ward 9 county councillor candidates Ken Chapman and George Root faced each other for the second time in eight days at the all candidates meeting at Centre 2000 on Oct. 14.
The pair was put on the spot from the beginning, with the first question of the evening wondering how the candidates would improve the county’s relationship with Guelph, keep taxes low and attract industry to the municipality.
Chapman, who is currently a town councillor, said the county is still working hard to improve communication with city officials, who feel like they are not getting their fair share of social service dollars.
To attract more businesses, he said the town should work with the county’s economic development and tourism program to get the word out to more people about Erin’s prime location close to major highways. Work also needs to be done to ensure the town gets better representation in county advertising, he added.
On taxes, Chapman said county increases are consistently higher than cost-of-living increases. He wondered why the county annually puts so much money into reserves, instead of using those funds to help decrease taxes.
Root, a past town councillor, said Guelph officials need to be reminded that when it comes to social services, including ambulances, they are just as responsible for Erin residents as they are for those living in the city.
As for attracting business, he explained there will likely never be heavy industry in the town, but technological companies could come to Erin.
Root said the only way to reduce county taxes is through greater efficiency or by cutting services, and the county needs to look at both as possibilities.
When asked how he would address the garbage situation, Root said the old transfer station near Hillsburgh can not be re-opened, but residents do need a place do bring large, bulky items not accepted by the regular pick-up. He suggested Brisbane or Brucedale as possible alternatives, noting they are much closer than Belwood for local residents.
Chapman said perhaps the county should increase the frequency of rural garbage pick-up (currently every two weeks). He agreed residents need a place closer than Belwood to dispose of large items. He doubted the town would ever have its own transfer station again and said the county needs to be “greener” and perhaps encourage more yard waste options.
The only way to have “no-fee” regular curbside collection of garbage is to increase taxes, Chapman noted.
“You’re going to pay for it one way or another,” he said.
Root agreed, saying the costs have to be covered somehow.
When quizzed on what their first priority as county councillor would be, both candidates offered similar answers.
Root said he would like to improve the county’s relationship with Guelph and particularly address the ambulance deficiency in Erin.
Chapman said he would work with city officials to get them back to the joint social services committee, and get both sides talking again.
