King councillors looking ahead to the coming year
By Anneleen Naudts

King Township councillors are looking forward to a busy year in 2008, anticipating the environment, budget and construction issues to be high on the agenda.

Councillors have have taken one last look at 2007, and are now looking forward toward the new year.

Mayor Margaret Black declared that 2007 was a very successful year for the Township.

"I am very proud of the accomplishments we have made over the past year and how we are moving forward ensuring a sustainable community, providing environmental leadership, excellent customer service and maintaining a healthy and safe community," she said.

The introduction of the Organic Waste and Disposal Green Bin Program has been a huge success, she observed. In 2005, King had a waste diversion rate of just 28.9 per cent, but it achieved a 60 per cent rate after the start of the new waste program in September.

Councillor Bill Cober emphasized his support for the Green Bin, stating he was "really pleased" to see it implemented. Even though the implementation was not without its challenges, the program is now "going quite well."

For 2008, Cober said he anticipates the budget will to be an ongoing challenge, particularly in terms of finding resources to maintain, create and enhance infrastructure. Creating the budget "is interesting this year, as it always is," he stated.

Cober mentioned he is looking forward to expanding the commercial and industrial tax base. Currently 95 per cent of the tax base is residential, he stated, which "may not be sustainable."

The year marked the the first one on the job for Councillors Jeff Laidlaw and Cleve Mortelliti.

Laidlaw regarded 2007 as an interesting time, which he spent "assessing and listening to staff."

As 2008 gets under way, Laidlaw commented he is looking forward to "more, and more effective communication, and more and more effective interaction between staff and residents." He said he has perceived a gap between staff and residents, and hopes to "close the disconnect and better serve people."

Laidlaw said he expects construction on the new sewer system in Nobleton in March to be the biggest project within his ward.

"My hope is that the project will occur as expediently and costeffectively as possible," he asserted.

He added he hoped connecting to the sewers will be optional, knowing not everyone in the community wants it. "I don't want to force anything people don't want," he remarked.

Mortelliti saw 2007 as a "pretty big learning experience."

"I tried to go into it with an open mind and learn about the process," he added, reporting he came away with a few disappointments and hoped to see council stick to more protocol and procedure.

Mortelliti thought there were certain things approved at council that weren't given due time for consideration. This included the Nobleton sewer construction and the renaming of the arena in Nobleton.

"I am not opposed to renaming the arena, but very opposed to the process under which it occurred," he commented.

Mortelliti further remarked he expected construction in his ward to warrant changes. The councillor said he understood the need to accommodate a lot more people in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) over the coming years. "I really don't want to see King City change that much, but I realize that changes can be for the better."

He also stated the traffic problem through the township needs to be dealt with, and that doing nothing would not improve things.

Heading into 2008, Councillor Jack Rupke reported "there is a lot of work to be done."

Rupke anticipated the first important project will be the new budget.

He also said he expects draft plans for a new subdivision, the Hydro One transfer station and a generator for peak-hours to "provide for a busy agenda."

"We are preparing ourselves by hiring consultants who will provide the information necessary and help with negotiations," Rupke reported.

He added that "we will look at the benefits for the municipality and if we benefit we might consider."

Both he and Black noted the draining of the Holland Marsh has had, and will continue to have an impact in King.

The formation of the Holland Marsh Drainage System Joint Municipal Services Board, in conjunction with King and the Town of Bradford - West Gwillimbury, to control, manage and supervise the business affairs of the Holland Marsh Drainage System is a huge accomplishment, remarked Black.

Rupke reported council is still awaiting the approval by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to sign off on the proposal to drain the exterior canals of the Holland Marsh. "We should have received (the approval) weeks ago," he said.

Councillor Jane Underhill remembered 2007 as "a horrendous year for sewer installation in King City."

"Construction took an enormous toll on roads and ditches, and people want their ditches repaired or brought back to its former state," she added.

In looking forward to 2008, Underhill emphasized the "enormous amount of construction and development we are faced with."

Lake Ontario water will be introduced in King City, now that York Region has confirmed that it is needed to support proposed growth, she said.

Underhill added she was worried about the environmental tolls of construction and commended her community for vocalizing on the issue. "I was really proud of my community (who) came out and again spoke out in opposition," she remarked.

Black also had the environment on her mind as council heads into 2008.

"My goal is to make King the greenest community in Canada," asserted the mayor.

"King Township, with its green belt and agricultural lands, 25 per cent forest cover, 70 per cent Oak Ridges Moraine and its history as an environmental leader, is already green, and we strive to be even greener."

She added that in 2008, she will ask council to launch the King Environmental Energy Program (KEEP).

As part of KEEP, the mayor will ask council and staff to ensure that new acquisitions of Township vehicles are hybrid or biodiesel when reasonable, to update the Township's Web site to inform residents and businesses about environmental practices, as well as grants and loans for building energy-efficient retrofits and new buildings, and to set environmental targets in all areas of the Township business.

She also plans to host a round table session early in the spring with council, landowners and senior staff, to set up a strategy for ensuring all future building in King is built to the highest of environmental standards possible.

"The major challenge for 2008 and beyond will be the issue of economic sustainability in our Township," Black declared.

The first council meeting of 2008 is scheduled for this coming Monday (Jan. 14).