It is no secret that this corner of the Township is in dire need of a new library facility. The current facility is too small for amount of users who frequent the public library and doesn't provide appropriate space for programming. Our current facility is not accessible for those with walkers, wheelchairs and strollers and is limited with stacks because of its size.
Did you know that the New Dundee library is the only Regional library in the Township that we don't own? Currently, the Region of Waterloo pays the rental costs for the facility, however the Township owns the Baden and New Hamburg locations.
Over the past year and a half, I have been working closely with Township and Regional library staff to locate a NEW library facility for our community. I have made this a priority to have completed before this term of council ends in 2010.
So far, we have made site visits to 4 potential new library sites but not yet found a final location. We need a location which is central, large, has adequate lighting and is available for sale or rent.
I have been approached over the past six months from numerous people about the former TD Bank building on Queen Street as a potential library facility. This site does appear to be an ideal building and location for us; we have been in discussion with TD since they announced that the bank was going to close last year. While efforts to save the branch in New Dundee were unsuccessful, we may be able to realize a new library instead.
I hope to see a recommendation come to Council this year as to a new location for the New Dundee Library branch - which will also include impacts to the municipal budget with the purchase price and renovations. I hope to make this a reality soon!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
What's going to happen to the New Dundee Creamery?
I can only be honest when I say that I am continually frustrated with the situation we face with the site of the former New Dundee Creamery at the corner of Bridge St. and Queen St.'s. I would never have guessed that seven years after first taking on the challenge of cleaning up the site we would still be looking at a vacant and underdeveloped lot.
Many people have asked me over the years what is going on with the site. It is good to point out a few things;
- contrary to some thoughts, the property is not owned by the Township of Wilmot and never has been. It is still owned entirely by Parmalat Corp. based out of Italy.
- The site is currently zoned "Light Industrial"
- I and the Township are not privy to any information regarding the environmental situation of the site, however I understand the site to be up to environmental standards for its' current use.
A group of concerned citizens met with staff and members of Council, along with our MPP and MP over a year ago to see what could be done to clean up the site. Since then, I have personally been in contact with senior executives from Parmalat Canada through phone and email conversations as well as meetings that I have personally chaired. Progress has been slow, yet Parmalat has shown a sincere interest in seeing the property off of their books and potentially into the hands of the Township. Everyone recognizes that even though the building is down, it remains a scar on the community; the site has much more potential than what it is currently being used for, it is a large open space in the centre of town which could be put to much better use as a green space, arboretum, the possibilities are many.
As a gesture of goodwill, Parmalat did do a good job of keeping the site clean of debris and maintaining the weeds and grass over the past season. I passed on my thanks to them yet encouraged them to continue to work towards a more permanent solution to my concerns.
I will continue to work with all parties to fix the problem once and for all. I sincerely appreciate the patience that many of you have shown over the years and the persistence that some concerned residents have shown in working to get the site in a more desireable state.
Many people have asked me over the years what is going on with the site. It is good to point out a few things;
- contrary to some thoughts, the property is not owned by the Township of Wilmot and never has been. It is still owned entirely by Parmalat Corp. based out of Italy.
- The site is currently zoned "Light Industrial"
- I and the Township are not privy to any information regarding the environmental situation of the site, however I understand the site to be up to environmental standards for its' current use.
A group of concerned citizens met with staff and members of Council, along with our MPP and MP over a year ago to see what could be done to clean up the site. Since then, I have personally been in contact with senior executives from Parmalat Canada through phone and email conversations as well as meetings that I have personally chaired. Progress has been slow, yet Parmalat has shown a sincere interest in seeing the property off of their books and potentially into the hands of the Township. Everyone recognizes that even though the building is down, it remains a scar on the community; the site has much more potential than what it is currently being used for, it is a large open space in the centre of town which could be put to much better use as a green space, arboretum, the possibilities are many.
As a gesture of goodwill, Parmalat did do a good job of keeping the site clean of debris and maintaining the weeds and grass over the past season. I passed on my thanks to them yet encouraged them to continue to work towards a more permanent solution to my concerns.
I will continue to work with all parties to fix the problem once and for all. I sincerely appreciate the patience that many of you have shown over the years and the persistence that some concerned residents have shown in working to get the site in a more desireable state.
It's an election year...but let's get to work!
On January 4th, people all across Ontario began registering as candidates for the fall 2010 Municipal elections. Without a doubt, municipal government is an extremely important and yet often overlooked level of government that people should pay more attention to.
It was three years ago that the current council began its' work. That means there is almost one year left in the term.
As a Councillor, I have made a decision to focus on the remaining 10 months of my term and to do the job that I was elected to do three years ago. Over the next 10 months, we have a lot of work that needs to be done; we have only begun work on the 2010 budget, a budget that will see impacts to roadwork, recreational infrastructure, services and programs throughout the Township of Wilmot.
I have always said that being on Council is a job that you can only do as long as you love doing it. I absolutely love serving this community and doing the work that I've been elected twice to do. It is extremely rewarding and I want to continue to be a great role model for my children.
It is a fact that I have not yet made a decision as to the direction I will take in the fall of 2010. My wife Amy and I will sit down together closer to the summer and consider what is best for our family, my career and the Township. Having said that I also see a few risks in registering as a candidate this early as well as a risk declaring an intention not to seek re-election: as there is still 10 months left in this term I want to be able to focus on doing my job for as long as possible and I don't want people to interpret decisions I make actions I take to be part of a grand re-election plan. Accordingly, let's focus on working, and not politicking.
There are a number of projects that i have taken on and have a particular interest in which I would like to focus on over the next 6 months. To be fair to the community and to myself, I have to focus on finishishing what I started!
It was three years ago that the current council began its' work. That means there is almost one year left in the term.
As a Councillor, I have made a decision to focus on the remaining 10 months of my term and to do the job that I was elected to do three years ago. Over the next 10 months, we have a lot of work that needs to be done; we have only begun work on the 2010 budget, a budget that will see impacts to roadwork, recreational infrastructure, services and programs throughout the Township of Wilmot.
I have always said that being on Council is a job that you can only do as long as you love doing it. I absolutely love serving this community and doing the work that I've been elected twice to do. It is extremely rewarding and I want to continue to be a great role model for my children.
It is a fact that I have not yet made a decision as to the direction I will take in the fall of 2010. My wife Amy and I will sit down together closer to the summer and consider what is best for our family, my career and the Township. Having said that I also see a few risks in registering as a candidate this early as well as a risk declaring an intention not to seek re-election: as there is still 10 months left in this term I want to be able to focus on doing my job for as long as possible and I don't want people to interpret decisions I make actions I take to be part of a grand re-election plan. Accordingly, let's focus on working, and not politicking.
There are a number of projects that i have taken on and have a particular interest in which I would like to focus on over the next 6 months. To be fair to the community and to myself, I have to focus on finishishing what I started!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The Olympic Flame comes to New Dundee!
Well, this isn't Wilmot Council related, but it is exciting none-the-less! Just a few photos of the flame as it came past the Baptist Church on December 27th, 2009.
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