Waste a challenge for county

By IAN MCINROY Barrie Examiner December 17 2010
MIDHURST — Simcoe County growth issues, economic development and waste management top county Warden Cal Patterson’s to-do list over the next few months.

The Wasaga Beach mayor, who has been warden for the past year, was the only person nominated to lead Simcoe County council during its 169th inaugural meeting on Thursday.
Patterson will be the first warden to serve a two-year term of office.
Oro-Medonte Township Mayor Harry Hughes was also elected the county’s first deputy warden at the meeting, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was delayed due to this week’s major snowfall.
“Simcoe County council has made remarkable progress over the past 12 months, working hard to bring respect back to Simcoe County,” Patterson said. “We’ve worked diligently to right the ship, being fiscally responsible while being transparent and open.
“Today my colleagues showed they have faith in my leadership,” he added.
Patterson said negotiating with the province about how and where growth will take place in the county is one of his priorities, adding that the Liberal government has had two years to consider the county’s plan.
“The delay has stymied growth in a couple of communities and development has been put on hold,” he said. County officials will be meeting with the minister of infrastructure Bob Chiarelli the first week of January to discuss the issues, he said.
How to deal with Simcoe County’s trash is another pressing issue the 32- member county council must come to grips with.
“We have a new waste management strategy with 59 recommendations and none of them include a new landfill,” Patterson said. “It’s up to council how how aggressive we want to be with (the waste management strategy).”
Bolstering the economy across the area is also vital, Patterson said. “We’re looking at some major economic development in the county.”
 New council members, as well as those returning, went through an extensive three-day orientation process.
“That’s the first time we’ve ever done that. I think the new council members will be able to hit the ground running,” Patterson said. “We have 15 new visions (councillors) on council and that’s exciting. I want to bring us all together as partners.”
Simcoe County is ushering in a new season of changes, the Wasaga Beach mayor told his fellow councillors.
“We have the opportunity to forge new partnerships. There are challenges and huge opportunities. Together there is nothing we can’t accomplish,” he said, adding, he is looking forward to working with the two separated cities of Barrie and Orillia.
Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman is also hoping to create more co-operation between the city and the county.
“I think there were divisions in the past, but we’re focusing now on where we’re going,” he said, during a reception after Patterson’s swearing-in as warden.
“I’m looking forward to working with county council and working much more closely than in the past,” Lehman said. “The county is already our biggest partner with paramedic services, seniors’ housing and social services. It would be silly for us not to work together on those issues.
“People are looking for a new direction and one of those directions is increased co-operation,” he added.
Orillia Mayor Angelo Orsi also wants to bring more partnerships forward and is looking for “synergy” between communities.
“Partnering is the new word and how we work together and help each other out. Together we can achieve a lot,” he said, adding that there is a need for a waste management solution “now, as opposed to later. I see a definite need to bring forward a regional solution to waste management. Orillia can play a part in that and be a part of the discussion and solution.”
Former warden Dennis Roughley (2005), president of the Past Wardens Association, named some past wardens in attendance at Thursday’s meeting, including Art Stewart (who also piped in the new county council at Thursday’s ceremony), Don Bell, Jack Hunter, Garfield Dunlop, Helen Coutts, Dr. Thomas Garry, George MacDonald (not present), Terry Geddes and Tony Guergis.
During the meeting, councillors also elected the chairs of the county’s standing committees.
Ramara Township Deputy Mayor Basil Clarke was elected chair of the performance management committee and Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor Doug White was elected vice chair.
Clearview Township Deputy Mayor Alicia Savage was elected chair of the human services committee and Wasaga Beach Deputy Mayor David Foster was elected vice chair.
Clearview Mayor Ken Ferguson was elected chair of the corporate services committee and Collingwood Deputy Mayor Rick Lloyd was elected vice chair.