Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — The goals for Whitewater Region Township’s strategic plan were not only met, but surpassed.
“The first thing I would like you to do, is pull up, and I think we should all be very proud of this, pull up the highlighted sheet and look at what we have managed to accomplish,” said chief administrative officer Christine FitzSimons at last week’s planning meeting. “We are absolutely on target for our goals and objectives for 2014. As a matter of face, we exceeded our goals.”
The strategic plan is a living document that can change as it’s reviewed each year, she said.
“Nothing is written in stone,” she said.
In 2014, the goals were to: investigate hiring a community development officer; investigate development charges; review and increase user fees; explore opportunities to expand municipal services throughout the region (service kiosks); develop a joint recreation committee for the township and form the Muskrat Lake Community committee.
While all this was accomplished, one more thing that was to be done in 2017 was done as well, she noted, which was examine the serviceability of the industrial park.
An entrepreneurship development co-ordinator was hired, and while only a pilot project, it will demonstrate how the municipality will do on managing its own economic development, Ms. FitzSimons said.
Deputy-clerk Hope Dillabough is working on the service kiosks, she said. The idea is people would be able to purchase dog tags, pay taxes, etc., in other areas of the municipality. However, there are glitches, she said. Ms. Dillabough is continuing her research.
As for a joint recreation committee, Ms. FitzSimons noted there have been two meetings with representatives from the recreation associations, and they don’t feel they want to form one committee.
The Muskrat Lake committee has been formed and are holding meetings, she noted.
“The beauty of having such a simple and achievable plan, as opposed to making a list of 99 things to do, is we can manage this,” she said.
“It’s quite an accomplishment for the first strategic plan to have completed the list and now it’s time to look to the future,” she said.
Ms. FitzSimons noted the township has no vision or mission statements. She noted many of these types of statements are long and complicated. She believes they should be short and to the point.
The vision is what do we do here in the township? She came up with “The Township of Whitewater Region delivers quality municipal services and supports the creation of opportunities to prosper and live a balanced, healthy lifestyle.”
The mission statement she created is “The Township of Whitewater Region offers communities that are safe, affordable, vibrant, sustainable, and welcoming for all.”
She noted the committee did not have to agree or disagree with either statement, it’s just what she came up with for them to review. She believes there should be mission and vision statements that will become a part of the strategic plan.
“These statements define what do we do and where do we see ourselves in the future,” she said.
Deputy-Mayor Izett McBride, who is chair of the committee, said “Those are important windows of our municipality.”
Councillor Joey Trimm said, “They are succinct and lovely adjectives.”
However, he questioned the words affordable and sustainable.
“I don’t really see where we’re working towards that with specific objectives,” he said. “We need objectives to achieve our mission. I don’t see where our objectives are sustainable and affordable.”
Ms. FitzSimons is hopeful these statements will reflect what the township wants to accomplish and is hoping for feedback from the committee members to ensure that’s what they do.
Ms. FitzSimons then reviewed the lists of strengths and weaknesses for the municipality.
She noted Hwy. 17 is a strength, however, down the road, it could become a threat if the new highway, when constructed, bypasses Cobden.
There are natural assets and waterways in the township, however, Coun. Trimm said with the Provincial Policy Statement, they could be lost.
The municipality has two medical facilities, four public schools, a Mennonite school as well as a thriving Mennonite community, a long-term care facility and two senior homes, libraries, as well as year-round sporting opportunities, new senior management and a progressive council, growth in development, a feed mill and sales barn to go along with its vibrant agricultural community, a clean environment and healthy living, as well as hamlets and villages that provide the basics for living.
In the weakness list, Ms. FitzSimons included pocket communities, lack of organized sports for all ages, the people are not amalgamated, equipment is costly to maintain, perception of centralization of staff since Cobden is not in the centre of the municipality, loss of the community newspaper, and proximity to larger centres eliminating the need for new stores, car lots, etc.
Mayor Jim Labow pointed out there are fewer children for organized sports.
“There is a population shift,” he said.
Coun. Trimm agreed, noting there is a population above the average age for sports.
“Sports are not just restricted to young people, but we need to be supporting organized and recreational activities for the older people,” he said. “We can’t continue to focus just on children’s sports.”
Reeve Don Rathwell, who was involved with ball for many years, said driving by the ball fields now is sad, because they aren’t used as often as they once were.
Ms. FitzSimons also reviewed opportunities within the township as well as threats against the township.
She noted when she listed the attributes and assets of the township, it was staggering. Community events can be expanded, there are several successful community events, including Taste of the Valley, waste diversion strategies are being developed, which means the landfill will last longer, there are many recreational facilities (ball fields, arenas), tourism packages could be developed, and the township has its own industrial centre.
Andrew Kenny, who is the entrepreneurship development co-ordinator, said, “Our township is easy to sell.”
With time running short, Ms. FitzSimons said the committee can be proud of its strategic plan and is hopeful of setting up another working meeting to have a more critical review of the document before retiring it for another year to review what was accomplished.
