Reeve's Welcome
Welcome residents and visitors alike to the Township of Minden Hills. Located at the gateway to the Haliburton Highlands, we are a community with a permanent population of 5,500 and another 7,000+ seasonal residents.
For more than 15 years I have enjoyed our beautiful community from my home on Gull Lake - first as a cottager and now as a permanent resident. As Past President of the Gull Lake Cottagers Association and Municipal Councillor, Ward 2 (Lutterworth) for the past 4 years, I understand the need to listen to people and respond to a range of issues and opportunities.
When I joined Council in December 2006, the federal government enjoyed a surplus, unemployment rates were low and investors were confident. Not two years later, in December 2008, the world was in the eye of a global economic upheaval that will, it seems, have long-lasting effects.
Most municipalities in Canada are facing significant challenges. Costs are increasing and taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet. Municipalities must provide essential services like roads, police and fire services – services that are required by all residents - permanent and seasonal alike. We also want to continue to support the services that bring our community together and make it livable, like our award-winning Cultural Centre, arena, community centres and our extensive parks network.
Over the past 4 years, we have enjoyed the benefits of many federal and provincial grants. R.D. Lawrence Place, which houses the collection of one of Canada's most respected field biologists, Ron Lawrence, was built by students in the sustainable building program at Fleming College. We have a new library that is serving four times the people the old library did. We have a beautiful Riverwalk trail in downtown Minden that is already becoming a "must see" destination. We have a new snowmobile bridge over the Gull River in downtown Minden that will help bring winter tourism back to our area. We have a new water tower that will facilitate development and growth. It's been an incredible ride and we've got a lot to be thankful for and proud of.
I think the next 4 years, however, will be very different. The Federal and Provincial governments, facing record deficits, will be hard pressed to continue offering the grants available to municipalities made available over the past 4 years. The new Council is committed to making an active effort in the area of economic development. We want to help existing business thrive and attract new business to our community. We must find ways to use tax dollars more efficiently and make our municipality financially sustainable. We need to reach out and engage all members of our community - permanent and seasonal alike. There are so many people I've met over the past few years that have great ideas, experience and community spirit and I’m looking forward to their participation on our various Committees of Council.
We have very experienced and capable municipal staff working together with a new Council that understands the realities of today's economic pressures and the need for efficient and effective service delivery. This combination will, I believe, prove to be very effective for Minden Hills over the next 4 years.
My door is always open so please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Reeve Barb Reid
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