A few dozen residents attended the Dresden Arena on Tuesday evening for the first community open house for the 2015 Chatham-ÂKent budget process.
Local resident Harold Snary said he was impressed with the information boards on display before the presentation took place.
You could get informed and “look at it ahead of time,” Snary said.
The meetings have improved compared to previous years, Snary added.
North Kent Coun. Leon Leclair said a lot of good questions were posed.
“Infrastructure was talked about… snow removal,” Leclair said.
“One person complained that his road was not getting the snow removed fast enough… another said his road was getting too much attention.”
Overall, Leclair said there were no major concerns raised or big issues.
“It was non-confrontational,” he said. “Lots of good questions.”
Leclair added one individual from the community said he was “OK” with the proposed tax increase of 2.2 per cent, while another individual was not happy with the time slot of the meeting being from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“It there is not the threat of an arena or pool closure… there doesn’t seem to be many people who come out,” he said.
During the meeting, members of Chatham-Kent’s administration provided a presentation, outlining the three main focuses of council: economic development, maintaining the population, and striving for a healthier community.
“We’re in a very strong financial position,” said Gerry Wolting, general manager of corporate services.
The proposed tax increase will start at 2.2% entering into deliberations next week.
Staff said there is the potential for approximately $800,000 in savings, however a number of changes to certain segments of the budget are needed, such as winter control.
The community will have the opportunity to attend two more community engagement meetings this week – tonight in Ridgetown and tomorrow in Chatham.
Following the community meetings this week, budget deliberations will be held February 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12
from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Civic Centre in Chatham.
– Story and photo by Andrew Roebuck
– With files from Aaron Hall
