Tillsonburg District Chamber of Commerce hosts Breakfast with the Mayor
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At 7:30 a.m., some people in town are just getting started with their morning routines. For 50-plus members of the Tillsonburg District Chamber of Commerce on Thursday morning, it was time to begin the annual Breakfast with the Mayor, at The Carriage House.
"Stephen, today, is going to talk to us about 15-20 minutes," said Andrew Burns, Tillsonburg District Chamber of Commerce president. "He'll review highlights of the past year, comments on the budget that was just passed, a mention of the industrial lands available, and comments on what the future holds."
The Chamber of Commerce breakfast participants got that and more from Tillsonburg Mayor Stephen Molnar.
Molnar's opening comments mentioned the positive partnership between the Chamber and the Town of Tillsonburg.
"The history of this positive partnership... is impressive. We don't always have to agree, although our directions are normally aligned. The longstanding mutual respect and the opportunity for constructive dialogue will remain imperative. These past few months have reinforced this partnership and a number of our mutual goals are being realized as we continue to work together to create a stronger Tillsonburg and indeed the surrounding area."
Molnar said his intention Thursday was to share some of the opportunities and successes over the past 12 months, and some of the challenges.
"And I'll ultimately leave appropriate time for questions, comments, and most appropriately suggestions."
Highlights
* Tillsonburg Strategic Plan, ratified in early 2015, setting priorities for council and the community as a whole.
* 2016 Budget Plan, with its moderate 1.46% increase to the median residential taxpayer, with no loss in services and a recommitment to building infrastructure in the community.
* Community Engagement Policy, rejuvenating the spirit of community in listening, engaging and providing the opportunity for conversation.
"In the last month along there have been two significant purchases of industrial land in our Van Norman industrial park. That park is now sold out. That's the good news. Along with that now comes the challenge... of where we'll be able to provide the next serviced industrial land."
Molnar gave an update on the Town Hall initiative, a task force to investigate "any and all opportunities to find a future, responsible Town Hall for this community.
"Currently they're going through a comprehensive review of space needs in conjunction with an architect. We anticipate hearing more from that focus group... with recommendations to council in the future."
The lease at The Town Centre still has a few years left on it, and they may stay at the mall. But it was time to review all options.
The Mayor touched on physician recruitment and retention. "It remains, it's an adamant focus, as recently as yesterday... we're seeing real positive movement on some of the opportunities."
He discussed regional partnerships, including SCOR (South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation) and a refreshed SOMA (Southwestern Ontario Marking Alliance).
"These are the type of regional partnerships that bring value back and we're seeing the fruits of those labours and the value of that investment," he said, noting the SOMA delegation to Asia last fall, including Cephas Panschow, Tillsonburg Development Commissioner.
"It's not an overnight turnkey success. It's about the building blocks. You can't stop. You can't see this momentum that's being built and being built, and then eliminate it, falling off a cliff. What really makes me proud is that the local industrial sector sees that, whether they have foreign investment here now or whether they're looking to expand, or whether others are looking to come here and be partners in some of the things they're already working on. They see the long term need to be a part of that vision, and I'm proud of that."
Other partners he mentioned were Long Point Region Conservation Authority, and their recent activity regarding woodlots and trails, as well as watershed management; the Tillsonburg District Chamber of Commerce and the BIA.
"There are no standalones in this town.
"I still believe that we've got a community that, when comparable to others, it's a great place not just to do business, but to do your daily business.
"I want the community to know that from the government's point of view, we know there are challenges," he continued, branching briefly into 'operations.' "And that we listen, we take direction. And hopefully, on a continuing improving basis, we find internal ways to improve life for those who are choosing to invest, live, and retire in our community.
"We always can do better," he said, noting their are plans in 2016 to review the customer service model. "We are trying to evaluate our efficiencies, what are we doing well, where are our challenges?
"I want to speak very highly, complimentary, about the culture. There's been a transition, I'm very proud of it, I think the people who choose to work for the corporation of the Town of Tillsonburg are pleased to come to work in the morning."
As part of a corporate review, he said they are doing an inventory – what is in the downtown and what is missing? There are culture and recreation initiatives, including a Memorial Park master plan – outdoors and now indoors; and a focus over the next few months on possible redevelopment of parklands as part of Canada 150 initiatives.
"The corporation and other partners in the town are looking forward to ensuring that there's wise, long term legacy investment being made there for the value of all members of our community."
He mentioned partnerships with the County of Oxford, and trails, and the Tillsonburg CIA (Cultural Improvement Alliance)
"I think it (CIA) is just an amazing group of individual artists and agencies and groups that is on a quick ramp to providing extreme value and inclusion in the arts and cultures."
A slight detour occurred when Molnar touched on efforts to develop new industrial land, and their frustration in dealing with the Ministry of Transportation.
"One of the more frustrating ministries to deal with in the province..." he said. "No apologies."
"We are in this game together. Really, aren't we all just looking for collaboration? We're all one taxpayer, we're all citizens of the province of Ontario... the increasing barriers, especially in the rural or small urban environments in this province, are frustrating. We just want equitable access to the values that members stand up in Queen's Park and say should be available to everyone in this province. I'm not naive to say we shouldn't be contributing resources to improve the transportation in our large urban centres. It's not 'all or nothing.'
"We come back to the infrastructure that's key to us, a King's Highway, right across from a signature plant. Siemens Wind Blade Plant is a signature plant that the Province of Ontario hangs on a mantle every time they bring up green energy in this province. And yet right across the street is an opportunity for a design plan to put shovels in the ground to get the servicing to municipally-owned industrial land... yet there's a King's Highway in between.
"The barriers to that..." said Molnar, noting the passion and frustration.
Efforts are continuing and progress has been made, but he said the end result will be a higher development cost to the town.
"We were prepared to make that investment last year when Highway 3 was being dug up. Now we have to go under, over, through – and 7,000-8,000 vehicles a day, I believe, will be impacted while we make an investment that's ultimately going to cost you, me, more money. And that was because of an operational barrier.
"The attitude of working together was not there. That's the frustration."
If there's a positive, the final design work is now underway. And with the sale of industrial lands, and additional financial resources, he said "we are now in a more responsible way to get this servicing done on this land faster.
"This is a priority, and it became an absolute acute priority, and the town is treating it as such."
Other valuable partnerships have been developed with THI, and the County of Oxford.
"I would be remiss if I didn't spend one moment of time focusing on Oxford's Community Sustainability Plan, Future Oxford. The three pillars of the Sustainability Plan being community, environment, and economy. From a local standpoint, I'm very proud. The County of Oxford CSP has 70 or 72 goals/objectives. We came back and we addressed each and every one of them, on where our base level is, what we can do, who takes ownership of it, and how we can get closer to sustainability ourselves.
"I continue to think that that's the way it should have been done, we're pleased with the way we're working on that and we're looking for that integration along with the County.
"Actually it was just as recent as yesterday..." said Molnar, noting movement at the back of The Carriages House room almost 35 minutes after he opened his remarks.
"Whoa," Molnar laughed.
"Who's the guy at the... oh, now you're standing up," he quipped as Burns made a slicing motion with his hand.
"Okay, in closing..." Molnar said, quickly changing gears.
"One of the greatest things that we have, and that we continue to work on, is this environment of partnership and trust. I believe it. I believe that when you can sit down, and you can remove the barriers and you can discuss things logically... that at the end of the day that's how we can get things accomplished.
"In Tillsonburg we encourage entrepreneurial spirit," said Molnar, quoting from the town's recent branding exercise, "We enjoy a high quality of life, we believe in a strong sense of community and we value arts and culture.
"The logo that is here," he said, nodding toward the Tillsonburg sign propped up next to the podium, "is the result of a positive community engagement process, that was led in no small way by representation from your local Chamber. I thank you for this.
"The process, the story, the brand, where we've come from, who we decided to be... have brought us here. And I'm proud of it. Not of 'the logo,' although I am proud of the logo, it's so much more than what you see here. It's the people behind it. It's the people that brought it to us. It's the history and the legacy of those that were here so long ago that have handed off something a little better to the next generation.
"It's our job to make sure the next generation has a little better life."