By Matt Weingarden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter
In an ongoing effort to keep on top of maintaining efficient Ward needs, wants, and services Lakeshore mayor Tracey Bailey and deputy mayor Kirk Walstedt have embarked on a “Ward Tour’ with municipal councillors.
“When I ran for mayor I wanted to make sure that all council members were heard and representing local Ward issues. So, I came up with the idea of starting a Ward Tour.”
Said Lakeshore mayor Tracey Bailey. “We’ve done five of the six tours.”
Coming from a background of a sitting councillor, Bailey says it can be a challenge to bring different issues from different Wards and have your particular voice heard.
“Council is such a team effort with councillors keeping their eyes and ears on their particular Ward to highlight local issues,” explained Bailey. “I thought that this was a great idea to keep in top of issues…jump in the car, go for a ride and visit areas in each Ward.
This allows for sitting council members to go over what the priorities and local issues are especially headed into budget time.
And, what are some of the issues they have encountered along the tour?
“Its an opportunity to see what going really well, challenges we might want to work on, some issues are small allowing us to work on things that don’t really need to go through council,” said Bailey. “We’ve been reviewing things like road conditions and potholes, bridges and culverts and pump stations. We’ve found outdated and aged signs, as well, as sidewalks that lead essentially lead to nowhere, a review of the CWATS trails, traffic issues along streets…like the redesign of Cty Rd. 22.”
Results so far?
“There has been some great conversation with members of council,” said Bailey. “It’s always great timing to have these things top of mind, so we can strategize what will make it into budget and what wont.”
Bailey says that after completing the Tours and gathering thoughts, ideas and data, the entire process will begin again.
Ward 5 Councillor Ian Ruston says the recent tour he did with the mayor and deputy was successful and included stops at a number of parks, some road issues, and minor issues that constituents have brough forward.
“In my Ward, there some issues with roadwork…conversion of gravel roads to tar and chip…park updates and expansion, as well, a few small businesses that have run into some hurdles while trying to expand,” said Ruston. “These are things that we can work through.”
The final Ward Tour will be done with new Ward 2 councillor Michael Hoffman in the near future.”
“This council has been very connected, positive and collaborative…sharing concerns from one Ward to another,” added Bailey. “We have a majority of council that looks at all of Lakeshore as a whole, highlighting the local issues.”
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