Midland Mayor Gordon McKay optimistic

By DOUGLAS GLYNN Midland Free Press January 8, 2013 h

At the halfway point of his first term as mayor, Gordon McKay remains optimistic about Midland’s future.

Heartened by a budget crafted to keep tax increases in the 1% range, he describes 2012 as “a major turning point for Midland.

“It wasn’t just another year when you come up with a budget, then decide what the number is,” he said in a year-end interview.

“It was, to my knowledge, the first time council has come to grips with the question of how the town structures itself; what is the most efficient form of operation and where we service light and service heavy.”

He is upbeat, too, about the progress made last year in his working relationship with the mayors of Midland’s three neighbouring municipalities: Gerry Marshall of Penetanguishene, Scott Warnock of Tay and Ray Millar of Tiny.

Not only have they formed the Huronia Economic Alliance to help maximize the area’s economic prosperity, but they are trying to persuade Simcoe County Council to help fund economic development.

In addition, he notes, they are working to create a coalition of mayors to bring to the attention of senior governments the economic impact that low water levels on Georgian Bay are having on shoreline businesses.

One of his proudest moments of 2012, he says, “was the resolution of the Recycling Specialities Inc. situation (when people protested against a recycling facility being located near the Martyr’s Shrine and Sainte-Marie among the Hurons).

“We took a step back and said, let’s get together and see if there’s a solution. We have much better relations now with the Shrine and Sainte-Marie. This was one of the those things where you can positively intervene in a fragile situation and come away with a good solution.”

What does he anticipate for 2013?

“We have to maintain the budget discipline and focus on economic development. We have never really dealt with economic development in any formal way, but it is a theme our council has picked up on.

“Quite simply, it’s about jobs; about where the wealth of your community comes from. We have to make sure Midland has a future with good jobs. We’re doing our level best to attract our fair share.”

He’s aware that when he talks about economic development, people are asking: where’s the beef?

“For many people economic development is about attracting a new car manufacturer to town. They’ll ask, where’s the factory?

“Economic development is not like that at all. It is changing the landscape so that business can be successful.”

He said manufacturers are in a cautious hiring mode right now. “Some are actually looking to add jobs in 2013,”?the mayor said.

“Growth is taking place. Building permits topped $10 million last year, which is not insignificant. The BIN development on Highway 12 will add to our community, as will the expansion of our hospital.

“I’ve told everyone who will listen it’s a 10-year time frame. It will take time to turn the ship around,”?McKay said.

“The cultural centre is transforming the downtown,” McKay said. “The library continues to attract people downtown. The BIA is working to make downtown a popular shopping destination.”

McKay said much is happening behind the scenes.

“The investment is happening and we’ll continue to support the development of downtown,” he adds.

One of the first challenges facing council in 2013, he concedes, will be final approval of the budget. While most departments have met the direction to hold the line on spending, the police service and fire department budgets have not been finalized.

“We spent $50,000 (hiring KPMG consultants) to make sure we had professional advice on some crucial questions, including: How should the town operate? What are some better practices? Where can we look for efficiencies?

“The KPMG study is an action plan. It contains recommendations I would like to see followed through — not just in 2013 — but for the next few years,” said the mayor.

“We have fundamentally re-thought how the town should be financed and operated,”?McKay said.

He said there is a new fiscal reality; the good old days of going into debt and waiting for the senior levels of government to bail you out are over.

“Is it going to cause change? Yes, it is going to affect a number of things, from plowing snow to picking up leaves,” he said.

“The KPMG study made it clear that if we continued spending the way we have been we would be looking at increases of 4 to 7% for the next five years.

“We know people are having a tough time. Some have lost their jobs. Others have had their hours cut. They are feeling the effects of the shaky economy,”?McKay said.

“We are sympathetic and we know the town has got to do its part. We just can’t keep increasing our spending.”

This is an issue that won’t go away.

“I don’t want anyone to believe this is a one-year wonder; that OK, we’ve done our belt tightening, now we can go back to 4 and 5% increases,” said the mayor.

“We are going to start talking in January about vehicle replacement, our insurance programs and the staffing situation. We are on a course of action that will take continued attention.

“Council has to maintain the fiscal discipline, while providing useful solutions that will allow us to provide services and not continually annoy people with service reductions.

“Given what we have done, I believe we can maintain the services and deliver them more efficiently,”?McKay said.

“There will be further effects in 2013 and 2014 — even beyond — but I think we have a package now we can maintain.”