Mayor Greg Wilson provided the Club with an update on the “state of the City of Dryden.”
Highlights from the first three years of Wilsons term include:
- implementation of the Financial Recovery Plan that reduced debt from $22.6m to $13.9m;
maintenance of service levels while living with almost no tax increases, and- negotiated settlement of the tax dispute with Domtar,
- expanded 502 dump hours on Saturday,
- established proper operating and capital plan submission requirements,
- updated asset management plan,
- initiated Roads Condition survey,
- updated many corporate policies
- completed LED street light project,
- made several key hires of personnel,
- supported the construction of the multi-use building at Rotary Park
- supported or participated in Pinewood School conversion,
- site plan agreement for Bridge Road Senior housing project,
- Fire Centre Expansion,
- Dudley Hewitt Cup,
- Little/ Big bands tournaments
- made capital investments in a street sweeper, sander truck, grader, and electronic signage at City entrances.
In the time left in his term, Wilson is planning on meeting with Provincial Ministers August 20th at the AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) convention. Further work ahead for Council includes looking at a possible new police model - either OPP or stay the present course, preparation for the new marijuana legislation, and work on a town square and a waterfront pavilion.