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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-01-06, Page 88 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Funding cuts, no CAO challenges for 2015 but bright future ahead: Mayor Galen Simmons Postmedia Network According to West Perth Mayor Walter McKenzie, 2015 was a busy year. With the Streetscape revitaliza- tion project taking place in downtown Mitchell and the CAO position at the municipal office vacant for much of the year, municipal staff and coun- cillors had their work cut out for them. Early on, 2015 got off to a rather sour start, as the province continued to reduce Ontario Municipal Partnership funding (OMPF) to municipalities across the province. This year, West Perth was hit particularly hard with a reduction of more than $600,000 in OMPF funding. "We knew what that was going to be I think maybe this time of year last year - so it was a year ago now that we knew what our cuts were going to be in 2015," McKenzie said. "We were cut around $600,000 - a fairly significant cut. That kind of gears what we have to do when we go through budgets... This year (2016) we know already that we're going to be cut $364,000, but I think we have maybe one more year left to go on cuts. "It's harder for rural municipalities because they don't have as many areas to tap into for build- ing resources and that," McKenzie continued. Looking past the nega- tive, one of biggest munici- pal accomplishments in 2015 was the completion of the downtown Streetscape revitalization project. "It's been more than 70 years since there had been really any major work downtown in terms of infrastructure. A year ago was so cold that we were having water issues and the time, it had come, that we had to replace some of the infrastructure. That was a major project for the downtown," McKenzie said, adding that thanks to Streetscape, all but four downtown businesses are now compliant with Interested in Selling your Home, Call Century 21 Home Realty Inc. 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Looking back, McKenzie said that although keeping one side of the street open at all times during Streetscape delayed the project longer than if the whole street had been closed, downtown busi- ness owners did not expe- rience as much of an impact as would have been expected with the complete closure of Ontario Road. By next summer, McKenzie said the final touches will be completed downtown and he thinks residents will be quite pleased with the final result. After nearly eight months without a full- time chief administrative officer (CAO), the munici- pality finally managed to hire Jeff Brick, the former coordinator of hydrology and regulatory services for the Upper Thames Con- servation Authority (UTRCA), to fill the vacancy. "Jeff came on -board in September and I think he's really been quite an asset to the municipality, just with the few things we've had to deal with so far," McKenzie said. Alongside Streetscape, West Perth also took on another major infrastruc- ture project in 2015 - the construction of a west -end water tower to alleviate water pressure problems on that end of Mitchell. "That's a $2.1 million project and it will be wrapped up I would think in late spring/early sum- mer," he said. "I think they're working on the actual water tank right now - they build it on the ground and then they actually lift it up the tower and then it sits on top." Residents who enjoy many of West Perth's rec- reation and leisure facili- ties and services will be pleased to note that the municipality has hired a planning firm to develop a recreation and leisure master plan to help tie everything West Perth has to offer together and to pave a clear path forward for the municipality's rec- reation and leisure ser- vices. The planning con- sultants, McKenzie said, should have some recom- mendations to show for their efforts by the spring of 2016. Turning his attention to the West Perth Fire Depart- ment, McKenzie said the municipality has entered into a longer fire services agreement with Monkton and the fire department has hired five or six new firefighters to replace department members who have retired or resigned in the past year or so. As of September, 2015, the municipality has sold 282 building permits, which was more than the municipality had sold in the first three quarters of 2014. Also in 2015, 29 new residences were started and $21.4 million in total was spent on new construction. "We've got a couple of new seniors housing units (being built) - and I think that's a much needed amenity for West Perth, in Mitchell," McKenzie said. "So we've got a couple, there's a couple more in the wings and if every- thing works out they'll probably be coming to council in the new year. "We're trying to address the seniors housing issue, and while we don't have any apartments with assisted living, we're kind of working with the (Ritz Lutheran) Villa - that's kind of their specialty - but certainly with town - homes and seniors residences we're looking at trying to make things happen there." Looking forward, McKenzie hopes more of the provincial grant appli- cations the municipality has submitted and will continue submitting be successful - especially grants that would provide funding for the rapidly deteriorating Blanshard Street Bridge. McKenzie said he is more hopeful than ever now, thanks to the visit to Mitchell by Premier Kath- leen Wynne at the end of November for the Rotary Club of Mitchell's Rural Urban Night. Since McKenzie and council were able to get some face time with the premier and express their concerns over the lack of infrastruc- ture funding for much needed provincial high- way projects, he is holding out hope that the llth application for funding for the Blanshard Street Bridge revitalization will be successful. On behalf of the Munici- pality of West Perth, McKenzie would like to wish all residents of West Perth a very happy New Year and all the best in 2016. if it's local, it's here seaforthhuronexpositor.com ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! DEADLINES / Our Weekly Deadlines are as follows: ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL Friday @ 2:00 pm y OFFICE HOURS: Mon. - Thurs. 9am - 5pm • Fri. 8am - 4pm CLOSED TUESDAYS NGron Expositor 8 Main St., Seaforth PH: 519-527-0240 www seaforthhuronexpositor.co et s do our 'art s ease rec cI;