Originally written for Port Rowan Good News during Noel Haydt’s 2014–2018 term as Ward 1 Councillor. Published here from the original archived document; spelling and wording have been preserved.
I’m very proud to have the support of the board for the position of the chairman at the LPRCA.
Our vision is to sustain a healthy watershed with clean streams, vigorous forests, abundant green space and balanced growth that results in strong livable communities.
In the last 2 years, the board at LPRCA, has taken the necessary steps to stop relying on the reserve funds and have made investments in our asset’s. This move has paid off and we are now seeing the benefits of our decision with an increase in revenues as well as happier customers.
Moving ahead, these business decisions will have to be taken into account as well as an improvement to customer service in our planning matters. Updated policies will require input from all stake holders.
While it may seem odd to some that I am now the chairman of the LPRCA after just asking Norfolk County staff for a report on how dissolving the LPRCA would affect the County, that decision was made as a Norfolk County Councilor. Norfolk County has some serious financial issues that need to be addressed as our reserve accounts have been depleted and are now in a negative position and the current forecast showing that we will need to take double our debt in the next 3 years. The LPRCA calls for a million dollars worth of tax payers money each year and anything of that value needs to be looked at. I also asked staff for a valuation on the municipally owned Port Dover Harbour Marina. Council has decided not to sell that asset but with the business valuation complete, we now know what it is worth. This is prudent management of our assets and helps in the decision-making and investment planning principles.