Bob Crate will be back at the helm of Northumberland County council for a second term, saying it makes sense to keep the momentum going on County priorities in 2022.
“We’re to a point now where there is so much going on at the County that by the time they figure out what’s going on you’ve gone through at least half a term,” said Crate, who also serves as Mayor of Trent Hills. “I felt that with some of the things we were trying to do going forward that doing a second year gives you a chance to finish up on projects and get things in place.”
County council, said Crate, has left it as a one-year term as warden, with an option for a second term. Cramahe Township Mayor Mandy Martin will also serve a second term as the County’s deputy warden.
Despite COVID-19 in the background of all that goes on in Northumberland County, Crate noted a good start has been made to the new County-run Golden Plough Lodge Long-term Care Home on Burnham Street in Cobourg as well as the Northumberland County Archives and Museum project.
“Having the extra beds, we’ll be able to accommodate more residents is a big thing for the county,” said Crate of the new Golden Plough Lodge, which is expected to be completed in the spring of 2023. “When you look at the building there now, it’s been there for over 60 years. And, retrofitting it wasn’t an option and there’s no way to
expand it, so the new building is important to the county.”
County council also completed deliberations and delivered its 2022 budget in early December. The budget calls for a 3.11 tax hike, which includes for the first time hospital capital funding for the Northumberland Hills (Cobourg) and Campbellford Memorial.
“The hospitals have always been in a position of being behind the 8 ball. The province doesn’t fund the capital part of it. So, they’re always looking for new imaging equipment. We came out somewhere in the middle,” said Crate of the five-year $1.25 million capital commitment from the County. “Everyone wants to help the hospital, but there is only one taxpayer. I think we came out in a position where we are supporting the hospital. If we could do more, we would.”
Crate said he’s hopeful the COVID-19 pandemic will be less intrusive on daily life in Northumberland and around world in 2022.
“It’s just such a changing landscape. You think you see some light at the end of the tunnel, then somebody blows out the light. I hope that we’re into sort of the last progression of this, if we can keep getting people vaccinated, I think we’re close to being at the end, but I can be surprised again. It won’t be the first time,” said Crate.
“People are tired, there is a stress level out there that I haven’t seen before and it’s because there is no positive answer. It’s a moving target all the time.”
Crate said Northumberland has largely been spared the kind of COVID numbers experienced elsewhere in the province due
to its spread-out population and the vigilance of its citizens.
“I think people out here have been responsible, they’ve listened to the advice of the health board and have been careful. It’s a combination of space and caution that have put us in a position where we haven’t seen the numbers (of COVID cases) we’ve seen elsewhere (in Ontario),” said Crate.
In 2022, Crate said there are a number of items on the priority list, including expanded broadband connectivity throughout Northumberland County — an issue that has been problematic for businesses and households in many parts of the county.
“Under economic development our strategy is to improve broadband connectivity and I hope in the new year that the county will be able to provide broadband to everyone in the county no matter where you live. I live in
the north end of the county and connectivity up here is definitely a problem,” said Crate.
The County, said Crate, is also looking to improve and expand its affordable housing stock in 2022, including the Elgin Park and Ontario Street community housing projects within Northumberland.
Promoting entrepreneurship as well as boosting tourism within Northumberland County are also priorities in 2022, said Crate. He pointed to the fact more than 30-plus new entrepreneurs came through through the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre in Colborne in 2021. And, tourism continues to be a job creator within the county.
“Next to farming, it’s one of the biggest employer in the county,” said Crate of the tourism industry.
Crate said the Official Plan update is due to be updated in 2022, a document that will look 30 years into the future to guide the development process within the county.
“What they’re looking at is what is available, what are employment lands, all those things that you want to have in place so when things happen you’re ready and not reacting to a crisis,” he said.
Crate said the county is also looking to get started in 2022 on building a public transportation network that will include the more rural areas of the county outside of the transit that already exists in Cobourg and Port Hope.
“We’re going to try to come up with some way of getting people moving throughout the county. There are jobs in all the areas, but it’s sometimes hard for people to move about to get those jobs,” he said.
Crate said the county will continue to work with its seven member municipalities partners within Northumberland to find more efficiencies in 2022.
“Whether it’s through technology or IT, we’re looking at ways we can do things together and hopefully save money. It’s tough every year when you look at a budget and things go up (in cost) all the time, so we’re trying to look at efficiencies to keep that increase as low as possible,” said Crate.
