Warden Chris White has been elected for a second term to Wellington county’s top political post.
County council held its pre-Christmas meeting on Dec. 14, electing a warden and new committee chairpersons. The vote is always held in closed session with no information made public on the number of votes cast for each position.
“The first item up is the budget,” White told the Advertiser. “We’ve got to keep the taxes down. All this has to come in at tax rates that are at inflation.”
White said the first step in the budget process will see all county committees present their individual budgets to county council. The idea is to have all councillors aware of what the budgets are and how they impact on the overall county budget process.
The budgets will then go to the individual committees for review and then to the administration, finance and personnel committee – headed up by councillor John Green, who was re-elected to the post – for review before coming back to council.
The first budget meeting will be held the first week of January, with a potential final budget coming before council for approval by the end of January or early February.
White wants to prioritize areas where the county should concentrate its efforts, including a strategic economic development plan presented to council in late November. He said the recently-created county economic development committee, headed by re-elected chairman councillor George Bridge, will play a role in finding significant economic development areas pointed out in the plan. County economic development officer Jana Reichert will have to focus her efforts on specific initiatives, the warden said.
Some of the issues raised in the plan include the county’s low unemployment rate and its smaller workforce for companies wanting to locate here and hire locally, a lack of transit for workers within the county, and the county’s failure so far to create a profile of local amenities to attract new workers and businesses.
White said the county and its seven lower tier municipalities will have to work together on economic development initiatives, along with Guelph, for an overall approach.
“We’ve got to move forward,” he said.
On the transit issue, White said the county has to explore ways to providetransportation between municipalities. As an example he pointed to a possible transit link between Guelph and northern communities such as Fergus for workers and residents, including seniors. He pointed to the Guelph transit system as a possible source to expand transit elsewhere in the county or to private businesses that already provide transportation services.
“We can’t set up our own transit system,” he said. “We’d work with Guelph and use their transit system. It gets cars off our roads.”
He also pointed out a shortage of skilled workers in the northern part of the county where car part companies continue to grow and look for workers.
“Minto needs labour,” White said. “We have to figure out how we can help.”
Improved signage and a web-based community profile is another integral part of the economic development efforts.
However, White said the work of the county’s economic development department doesn’t mean hiring more people.
“I’m not empire building,” he added, referring to the department being maintained with current staff. “The idea is to keep a lid on this and keep it functional.”
The warden also wants to see local, provincial and federal agencies set up shop and work together within the county.
“We’ve got a bunch of agencies sitting at the same table. The county is one part of a bigger plan.”
According to the warden, an economic summit is scheduled between county and Guelph officials early in 2013 to discuss possible joint ventures.
With plans for the Fergus Library redesign nearing completion and construction expected to start in the spring, White said the county will formalize the redevelopment of its final two libraries in Palmerston and Hillsburgh.
Other councillors elected as committee chairpersons included Ray Tout, police services board; Lou Maieron, planning; Joanne Ross-Zuj, roads; Gord Tosh, social services; Don McKay, solid waste; and Mark MacKenzie, information, heritage and seniors.
