NOT SO TINY

The challenges facing the councils in North Simcoe are wide ranging and it doesn’t matter if the communities are the urban towns or the rural townships.It’s name may be Tiny, but it too has big challenges
By DOUGLAS GLYNN Midland Free Press December 8 2010
The lined writing pad on his desk -chock-a-block with detailed notes -is classic Ray Millar.
It’s a reminder that being prepared -a habit he learned as a Scout in the 4th Midland Troop “more than a few years ago” -has stuck with Tiny Township’s new mayor.

Before taking office last week, Millar outlined his short-term goals, listed some things he would like to accomplish in the next four years and talked about changes he believes are needed at Simcoe County Council.
“The first thing I would like to do is fulfill some campaign promises and deal with issues raised during the campaign,” he said.
“Rising taxes are obviously a concern, but I’m not fixated on increases or decreases. I’m concerned about whether -year over year -taxpayers are receiving value for their money.
“I would like to see a zero-based budget process implemented, whereby we develop a business-case analysis of spending. It’s a worthwhile exercise to look at what your spending objectives are; what your methodology is.
“Can you provide the service? Do you need to provide the service? Are there better things to do with your money?” he asks in rapid-fire succession, an indication that, as usual, he’s done his homework.
“Tiny’s residential assessment base,” he points out, “allows the township to keep tax rates low, while providing the level of services requested or demanded by ratepayers.”
“I don’t see any reason for us to expand our tax base into commercial and industrial. It would be ruinous to do that in competition with our neighbours.
“Rather than compete with one another for scarce jobs, I think we should work collaboratively, because many of our residents are employed in businesses in those communities.”
But, he wants to seriously look at economic development.
“I know certain North Simcoe municipalities have put together an economic development plan, but it’s silent on agriculture.
“I think there is a terrific opportunity for Tiny and, perhaps Springwater, to develop our agricultural-based economies.”
He envisages small-scale food processing operations that could create “real jobs” and still meet the township’s environmental guidelines.
One item that will require immediate attention, he says, is the proposed amendment to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
The plan allocates 2031 population and employment numbers to county municipalities.
Millar says much of the township’s land inventory was created more than 30 years ago. “Those are stale-dated inventories. They need to be reviewed.
“Another major issue we need to address is how we handle sewage and biosolids (treated sewage sludge).”
(The dumping of septage on open fields –while licenced by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) -was a major issue in the election campaign.)
Millar says the MOE wants to cease land application of sewage. “But,” he adds, “they can’t do so because Tiny is just one of many municipalities that don’t have the capability of treating sewage.
“The MOE is working on a number of different issues, including sewage treatment facilities, lagoons. There are a number of things in the works for municipalities to consider when they develop their own plan.
“Tiny has engaged consultants to assist in assessing what options may be available. “I don’t know how broad the terms of reference are, but it’s my view we will want to expand them, not limit them to solutions that would only fit within Tiny. I don’t think we are well served by adopting a parochial view of these things.
“We need to look at the bigger picture; to explore opportunities to participate with either Midland, Penetang or the Ontario government through the Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene for sewage treatment.
Does he see other opportunities to work with neighbouring communities?
“Absolutely!” he says. “I think we need to look at all aspects of our municipal operations to see if we can benefit from economies of scale.
“At the same time,” he adds, “it is equally important that we maintain our autonomy as individual municipalities. One doesn’t necessarily need to come at the expense of the other.”
His observations on other topics of concern in Tiny, include:
Wind turbines: “We need to recognize that we do ourselves a disservice if we continue to rely on fossil fuels for power generation. It may be inevitable that wind turbines may have a role to play, but there needs to be further studies of the effects of low frequency noise and the harmful effects it might have on people.
Solar farms: “It concerns me as well to see food producing lands -specifically class 1, 2, 3 and 4 farmland -being taken out of production to be used for solar farms when there’s acre upon acre of space available on roof tops and hydro corridors
Shoreline access: “It is always going to be an issue in Tiny. The municipality only has control over those lands we own. We have five major waterfront park plans. We will continue to work on those sites to provide safe and efficient access to the residents and the visitors. As I’ve said before, the only place those (access) issues will be resolved with any certainty is in a court.”
Asked about his relationship with Simcoe County when he was chair of the Site 41 community monitoring committee, he acknowledged that, “much of my dealing with the county has been adversarial in nature.
“That having been said, I am optimistic we can work together.
“I think what staff at the county level need is policy direction from the elected representatives, saying: we are going to be looking at open and transparent government and what can you do to assist us in that regard?
“I have some concerns about the governance model presently in place at the county. It’s a model that may have worked well in the past, but I’m not sure it’s going to serve us well in the future.
“The weighted (voting) system favours those more populous regions to the south of us. We need to make sure the interests of North Simcoe municipalities are put forth. That’s something I hope to address.
“Given that the county seems to be taking on a greater role in providing services, I think it’s time we considered whether we need to have direct elected representation on county council.”
“The range of issues are huge at the municipal level and they are even more so once you get to the county level. It’s a lot of work and I think that, in part, is why you don’t have the level of discussion that I think would be beneficial.
“I think it’s important that county staff provide briefing information for councillors, but it’s incumbent upon each councillor to do their own research. “If you rely solely on staff to identify the problem and to propose solutions you do a disservice to your ratepayers. You need to think about the problem.
Where I think our elected officials have let us down in the past is that they see their role as deciding between the options presented by staff. They fail too look beyond those options at the bigger picture.
“Again it’s a parochial view of things and we are not well served by that!”