WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — With a good understanding of municipal politics under his belt and the key contacts he has made at the county and provincial governments, a one-term councillor is hoping to sit for another term.
Chris Olmstead said his experience the last four years will be vital to the next council.
“I understand how local politics work and how to get things done in politics versus business,” he said. “They are two distinct worlds.
“It takes quite a while to figure out how to operate in the political world.”
Explaining, he said in a business you create a project, determine the options and execute it. However, in politics, “there are several hoops and hurdles” to get through.
One of the biggest things Mr. Olmstead learned is it’s a myth that you cannot effect change at the municipal level.
“It’s the exact opposite,” he said. “Knowing how to get things done, you can effect 75 to 85 percent of the change in the township.”
Since arriving on council four years ago, Mr. Olmstead said this council is taking advantage of its natural resources, such as forming a community services department.
“That department looks after parks, boat launches, ball diamonds, assists with community events,” he said. “I think our biggest resource is our people, our festivals, our different communities. Everything was scattered before, there was no person you could go to on the township.”
In growth and development, the township is doing quite well Mr. Olmstead noted, advising this is the first time in the township’s history there was a tax decrease. This council is aware of the need for growth and development and has gone after it, he said.
It’s imperative the council listen to the ratepayers, he said. He strongly believes council has a “duty to all ratepayers in all regions of the township. We have to make decisions based on what’s best for the entire community.”
This council did that when it double-surface treated roads that had been taken back to gravel by the previous council because residents were not happy, he recalled. But, he did admit to receiving one phone call from a resident who was upset the road had been double-surface treated because it had gone from being a quiet road where his children could ride their bikes, to one where they are now limited to the driveway.
“There’s always going to be somebody unhappy with a decision, and you simply have to get used to making decisions based on the majority,” Mr. Olmstead said.
A strength of Mr. Olmstead’s that has helped him during council deliberations is his analytical nature, which comes from his business side.
“I’ve always been good with finances and math, so I’ve been able to step back and listen to several sides of an argument, or conversation, and analyze it and bring a common-sense approach to whatever subject we are discussing,” he said. “I’ve heard from my fellow councillors that they find this is a strength. Sometimes you need an analytical brain to cut through some very complex issues.”
As an example, Mr. Olmstead has heard it said enough that this council is overspending in salaries. Reviewing the records, he noted in 2013, the salaries totalled $2.509 million, while four years later, that had only increased to $2.537 million.
“You would never believe we have only increased by $20-some thousand over the last four years, would you,” he said. “The township has been taking advantage of grants, student work, and that kind of thing.
“It’s stuff like this that gives people perspective.”
Mr. Olmstead said evolving the township is also important, and the community services department proves that. Change has been happening and the township must change with the times, with what its residents want and need, he explained.
“People don’t like change, so they may see different staff and automatically assume it’s an addition,” he said.
The greatest explosion in the township’s history is going to happen over the next four years, Mr. Olmstead said.
“Base Petawawa is doing well, CNL is doing well, 417 is continuing to come up the valley and Whitewater Region is positioned centrally for people travelling both ways,” he said. “I think we are getting more and more people moving out of the city, both Ottawa and Toronto, we have an abundance of lakes and property that people are wanting to move to.”
In his business he has seen this, noting people are planning almost two years ahead because local contractors are busy.
There are also a number of developments in the region and they must be capitalized on, such as Beachburg, Kerr Line and Cobden, and be sustainable, he said.
Looking to the future, if council is going to have growth and development, it’s imperative it has its own Official Plan, Mr. Olmstead said.
“We need a greater say in what happens for the future of our township,” he said. “It’s because we are on that cusp of such tremendous growth. If we abide by that current official plan, our growth is restricted. The official plan is still punitive to rural regions.”
Other important issues are police costs, pupil review, education tax and jobs creation, he believes.
“The township’s not accountable to create jobs directly, but it must create an environment for current businesses to succeed and attract new businesses,” Mr. Olmstead said. “There’s lot of ways to attract.”
Looking back to the start of this council, and where it is now, he said it has come a long way. Not everyone knew each other and by the start of Year 3, “we hit our stride. Everybody has a great respect for each other.
“I see that council has done a lot, whether accomplishments or not, this council has been very active.”
One of the major changes at council, is how meetings are handled. He noted council packs, which were about two to three inches thick, were brought to council a day before the meeting many times.
However, now, it’s electronic and delivered by Friday afternoon, allowing the opportunity to review the information in a timely matter and ask questions prior to the council meeting so there are answers, he said.
Looking to the next four years, Mr. Olmstead is hopeful he will be at the able again.
“I hope the people respect my experience, both in business and politics, “he said.
“I truly do have the township’s interest at heart, the residents of the township at heart. I really take service above self seriously.
“I’ve made decisions a number of times that I know would hurt me personally, and hurt my business personally, but I know it’s the right thing to do for the township and I’ve made those decisions,” Mr. Olmstead said.
Council members can effect change, you just have to work at it, he said.
“No matter how big the decision is, you can really effect change with different levels of government,” he said. “We’ve gone to bat against the province, against the county, where I didn’t think it was possible before. I do see it as an advantage.
“You have to be strong and sometimes really hold your ground and be very affirmative in your stance on certain decisions.”
Mr. Olmstead has been married to Nicole for 25 years and they have three children, Andrew, Nicholas and Taylor.
“I have chosen to live work and play in Whitewater Region as I have a great appreciation for the abundance of beauty, natural resources, businesses and agriculture the region offers.”
Mr. Olmstead stresses, “Whitewater Region is on the verge of potential growth unlike anything we have seen in our history. “The council that will govern the next four years has a great responsibility, enabling us to live, work and play in our region.
“It is crucial voters elect a council that will work together toward a healthy and prosperous future for generations to come.”
