With the majority of councillors leaving as a result of the Oct. 25 municipal election, Minto’s final council meeting for the term [Nov. 3] was a time for reflection for many.
David Anderson
Outgoing Minto Mayor David Anderson offered a few moments of reflection as part of the current council’s final meeting.
“The Town of Minto – what a great spot to live.”
In an emotional address, Anderson said, “I’d like to first off thank my council. You guys have been great, and we wouldn’t have been as able to get things done unless we worked as a team.
“This last four years has probably been one of the best four years of my life.
He said, “When you go around the province, you talk to other municipalities.” He was referring to the recent rural summit.
Anderson was proud to “hear them say, they want to be where Minto is now, and have what we have here.
“It’s because of our staff, and our council. They’re very approachable.”
Anderson added “We’ve been through a lot in the past 16 months. With the help of people like Bill Winegard, and a lot of professional people, we’ve pulled through it.”
He thanked everyone who did that bit extra “to get us through to this point.”
“I would like to congratulate all the new councillors coming on board. I would like to wish you the best. You’ve got a great town to look after and I know you’ll look after it well.”
Anderson noted that he had emailed members of council the week prior to the Nov. 3 meeting to provide an opportunity for them to offer comments on the past term.
Judy Dirksen
“The past four years have been a wonderful experience. I’m very proud of our accomplishments,” said Dirksen.
We leveraged funding and completed quite a few projects.
“It’s really been great working with all of the council members, the staff and the community. I believe we are really well served in Minto.
“David, you are a good leader and we worked well as a team.”
She congratulated councillors Dave Turton and Rick Hembly on their re-election.
“I know you will both do a great job.”
Dirksen said “This council is very well connected with members of council in other municipalities in Wellington County and beyond. It’s very valuable to be able to pick up the phone or drop an email to someone who is experiencing some of the same issues and talk it out.”
She said Minto was able to develop good relationship with its local MPP, as well as other provincial politicians.
“To Mayor David, Wayne, Barb, and Tammy, you’ve been valuable members of this team, and all the best in your retirement.
“There are lots of ways to be involved in the community, and I know that we will continue to be involved in some way.
To the new council, Dirksen said, “It’s nice to see three of you here – I think it’s really important.
“You are embarking on a mission that will take you on the ride of your life.”
She also stopped to address candidate Glenn Bell. “You should get a medal for being here for so many meetings.”
Regarding the future, Dirksen said, “There will be days, to the new council, that will be so crazy. And then there will be days when you will have the opportunity to reflect. There will be times you will be happy to be a member of Minto council, and days you’ll ask, ‘What were you thinking’?”
Overall, Dirksen said being part of Minto council was a very rewarding experience.
“As former councillors, we will be your greatest critics, but we will also be your biggest advocates and fans.”
She offered one suggestion to the new councillors. “It’s amazing the number of issues which come out at election time, that we had not heard prior to that time.
“Communication with our residents is always a challenge and I respectively suggest a town hall style meeting from time to time to at least attempt to keep up on the topics of the day.”
She thanked Minto for the opportunity to be deputy-mayor for the past four years, and as councillor for nine years before that.
Barb Burrows
Councillor Barb Burrow said she very much appreciated the lead-in time.
“Personally, this is the completion of my 14th year serving on council.
The first four years were in Palmerston.
The highlight of the those years was the lead in to amalgamation.
“That was a challenging time, but here we are now,” she said.
Burrows said some of the more recent highlights include the downtown revitalization project, with Belinda [Wick-Graham] spearheading that.
“There’s more work to be done obviously, but thank you so much Belinda for your hard work and dedication.”
Another highlight was the Communities in Bloom national win.
“I was involved in writing the sections dealing with the Palmerston leg of the tour as well as riding in on our bicycles on the White’s Junction Trail.”
“Louise, Deb, and many, many volunteers worked so hard on that. The tours, the gardens … It was just a very memorable accomplishment.
“This council, I believe, has worked very hard to form partnerships, with service clubs, volunteer groups and special interest groups. I really sincerely hope the new council continues to build these working relationships with our volunteers.”
Burrows thanked Anderson and Judy Dirksen for their leadership.
“What a great team you two have been,” she said. “They have helped us to form partnerships with our federal and perhaps more relevantly with our provincial representatives.
“I raise the challenge to our new council to keep these partnerships growing.
She offered a special thanks to Minto staff members.
“I have found you all to be so helpful, at all times – even when I asked the same question three times in a row.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with you all and I will miss you.”
She thanked fellow councillors “for a challenging and interesting term.”
Burrows offered thanks to all those who entered the recent election.
“Whether elected or not, you cared enough to run.”
She congratulated the incoming council.
“The next four years belong to you, make the most of them.”
Tammy Reiner
Reiner believed her term on council was a wonderful experience.
“I’ve met a ton of wonderful people while on council.
“I was quickly taught there was no sense trying to please everybody, or that you can’t please everyone.
“So, whether you are a member of council, or a staff member, or a member of the community you can consider us on a train. We don’t all have to be on the same car, as long as we’re all heading in the right direction.”
She thanked council’s and staff’s patience while she learned the ropes.
Reiner thanked her family for picking up the slack at home while she was at meetings, and dealing with endless emails – or even when she was at home, preoccupied with council business.
“I’ve truly enjoyed the short time I’ve been on council.”
She added that when her life calms down a bit, she might considering running for council in the future.
David Turton
Though returning to council for another term, he, too, had commentary on the past term.
“I consider it a privilege and pleasure to have served as a councillor for the town of Minto for the past seven years.
He wished current council members the best.
“It’s quite amazing sitting here for seven years; I am still amazed at the stuff we talk about.
He is excited about working with the new council – with new people and new ideas for the next term.
Turton was pleased to see the number of town staff attending that night’s meeting.
“It’s heart warming to know that we are small rural Ontario.”
He wished the new council luck, and was pleased to see most of them in attendance as well.
Rick Hembly
“You’re stuck with me for four more years,” Hembly quipped.
“I don’t know who all voted for me – but thank you.”
He said “The last year has probably been the most ‘trying’ in my political career.”
Hembly hoped that people do realize the work that did get done in Minto over the past four years.
“There was a lot of work done, and I can’t say enough about this council. We do have our disagreements, but everyone has their own opinions and their own ideas. In the long run, I think everything turned out pretty good. I think we’re in pretty good shape for the next four years.”
Wayne Martin
“It’s been 10 years, and boy has it gone quick,” said Wayne Martin.
“I’ve always been interested in politics at the local level.”
He said that 10 years ago as his interest grew, and members of his family had moved out on their own, he decided to make the move.
He thanked the Town of Minto citizens for providing him the opportunity, and the staff that provided support.
“And at this point, it would be really wise of me to thank my family … and my wife, Sharon, for her tolerance.
“When I started 10 years ago, things that were happening then really excited me.”
At that time the TG Minto plans were being finalized, the municipality was working on getting into medical clinic in Clifford and working on doctor recruitment.
“Those things make you feel good as a council.
“Heading out and moving on,” Martin pointed to the Lions Heritage Park, the railway bridge, Old ‘81, and the Norgan Theatre.
“I was really glad to help bring those artifacts and facilities to life in Minto.”
To mayor elect Bridge and his new council, “I’d like to wish you all the best. Being here, you start to understand what you have to deal with at a council level.
He added the last several days have been interesting with the number of calls and emails, requesting him to be part of groups and organizations.
“It’s like being recycled.”
“The Town of Minto has been my home forever. The people here and the volunteers and the things they do are just phenomenal.”
