Wellington County is still at least several months away from deciding if it wants to create an economic development committee.
The administration, finance, and personnel committee minutes sent to council Nov. 23 noted that councillor Chris White had reported over $450,000 in incentive grants had been shared by the lower tier municipalities.
The minutes also referred to a meeting hosted by Mapleton Township that included all the mayors, as well as top administration officials from the municipalities, as well as economic development staff.
Some municipalities have voted in favour of considering a county wide economic development committee, and others, like Centre Wellington Township, have rejected that idea.
The minutes noted that the Mapleton meeting included discussion about having a committee that would include the mayors of the seven municipalities, the warden, and a staff representative from each municipality, and “possibly a representative from the Community Futures Development Corporation.
The minutes concluded, “Once the report has been released early next year, a meeting will be arranged to decide where we want to go as a county.”
Committee chairman John Green added that there had been discussions, but nothing further was decided.
Councillor Lou Maieron said, “I always thought this would be a good role for the planning committee.”
He added that the mayors are very busy, and this might be a good opportunity for the county’s ward councillors to become involved.
White explained the idea is a “longer term project,” and would include both tiers of government if it comes to pass. He said the groups would be meeting again in late winter, but that the lower tier municipalities could pick a contact if they wish.
“I assume that down the road there would be a committee,” he added. “We’re trying to do something at the county.”
Green said the reason for that is to avoid having eight different committees working on economic development in Wellington County.
