2011 WARDEN'S ADDRESS

Welcome Past Wardens, Councillors, Family, Friends and Guests.

It is with great pleasure that I accept the honoured position of Warden for Elgin County. No one can say that I rushed into this position. It has been 21 years since I first started my political career. I have indeed had the pleasure of working with a number of Wardens, County Councillors and Senior Staff in my years at County Council.

I would first like to thank the residents of Central Elgin for putting their faith in me to represent them over the years as a Councillor, Deputy Reeve and as Mayor on two separate occasions, ten years apart.

I would like to thank my council and staff at Central Elgin for supporting my opportunity to fulfill the role of Warden.

Thank you to my fellow County Councillors for their faith in me to represent you in this position for the coming year.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to Dave Mennill for leading County Council this past year and for setting a good example of how to fulfill the Warden’s position.

Most importantly, I would to thank my family for supporting me throughout my political career. Firstly my wife Barb and my children, Sarah and Dan for covering everything at home while I have been away or preoccupied with political business. Thank you to my parents, Steve and Betty for guiding me and making sure the farm work gets done.

Elgin County faces some serious challenges, not only for 2012, but for many years ahead. With our long-term care homes, this council must review options with Terrace Lodge. Everything from remaining status quo to rebuilding needs to be discussed and debated.

Roads issues, such as the finalization of a road maintenance agreement, need to be implemented. Priorities need to be given to the huge demand for road reconstruction, safety and relocation.

Council’s role in the east side servicing of St. Thomas and Central Elgin needs to be introduced and given consideration.

Space needs discussion at our County Administration Building must take place in order to adequately support departments such as the museum, archives, planning and the provincial offences courts.

One very important item that demands this council’s attention for the whole of the community is our commitment towards the St.Thomas-Elgin General Hospital Redevelopment Project. We need to determine how much money we will support them with, when and over what period of time.

Even with our sizable challenges, we have great opportunities within our great county. We have wonderful natural assets that have economic development and tourism potential due to our proximity to huge markets. We are blessed with clean and bountiful drinking water to support our economic development throughout the county, as well as our lake-front redevelopment from Port Burwell to Port Glasgow with Port Stanley in between.

We are a county that is “Progressive by Nature” and we are proud of it. With a new county official plan, we have an opportunity to shape our communities locally. Elgin County has an entrepreneurial spirit and with an abundant labour force and a relatively low cost of living comparing housing prices, small businesses thrive here in our creative economy.

We have a vibrant and resilient farming community that produces first rate products which are among the safest to eat in the world.

Elgin County and this council, along with staff have an opportunity to tell the world our story, to build long-lasting partnerships with our neighbours, their businesses and municipalities. This includes our 7 local municipal partners, the City of St. Thomas,  and Provincial and Federal counterparts.

So let’s seize the moment, work together and promote our opportunities. Let’s work hard together, be responsible and have fun doing it.

On that note, as a follow-up to last year’s event and in partnership with the City of St. Thomas, I would like to challenge Mayor Heather Jackson-Chapman to a friendly 2nd annual hockey game to be played in the county to raise money for United Way.

I would ask staff to prepare a report with the details, timing and logistics for discussion at the January meeting.

As newly elected warden, I take this position very seriously and I am honoured to guide this county forward with the input and guidance of this council and staff.

In closing, as you know, the first order of business following this ceremony is a Social one held downstairs- these are my favourite events!  Please join me in the lounge and thanks again for this important honour!

Warden Bill Walters