2021 ‘full of uncertainties:' a look at Georgina's top priorities for new year

Pefferlaw fire station, high-speed broadband and online payments on tap in 2021

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 4, 2021
Amanda Persico

It was wishful -- and hopeful -- thinking to assume that once calendars rolled over to Jan. 1, 2021 the global pandemic would be over.

Similar to 2020, plans will have to be adjusted as the town deals with the ongoing pandemic, said Mayor Margaret Quirk.

According to the town’s mid-year capital project report for 2020, more than half of the town’s 107 capital projects planned for 2020 were delayed.

As the current pandemic continues, the high demand for materials could mean limited supplies or higher prices, which could further delay a number of projects.

That's not to mention the risk of further COVID-19 safety restrictions or closures imposed by the province.

“We need to be cautious and aware that 2021 will continue to see the impacts of COVID-19,” Quirk said. “2021 is a year full of uncertainties.”

That means the town's Emergency Operations Centre will remain operational. The town incorporated $1 million into the 2021 budget from reserve funds to deal with ongoing pandemic issues, she added.

Not only is the town faced with many unknowns, residents are also facing uncertainties when it comes to schooling, working from home, or not being able to work during the provincewide lockdown.

“Many of our residents will be challenged with their finances,” said regional Coun. Rob Grossi. “So, we will have to tighten our belts (The pandemic) has taught us that the way we did business in the past is changing and we have to adapt with that change.”

This entails redefining workspaces as more people are working from home, he added.

With that in mind, building a new civic centre has been put on hold, Quirk said. Town staff are working on a report looking at the current condition of the old building, costs involved in maintaining the existing civic centre, along with other options.

Georgina Civic Centre

“There are several issues I would like to see resolved or moved forward in 2021,” Quirk said. “During the pandemic, many of these issues were delayed. (But) the reality is, impacts of the pandemic in 2021 may continue to delay them.”

Aside from dealing with the global pandemic, there’re plenty of projects keeping the town busy in 2021, including opening the Pefferlaw Fire Hall, working on the Julia Munroe Park in Sutton, continuing with the Lake Drive jurisdiction project, anticipating construction of the Bradford-bypass link connecting highways 404 and 400, and planning for future operation of the Pefferlaw dam.

Here’s a look at some of council’s priorities for 2021:

High-speed Broadband:

“The need for reliable high-speed broadband has certainly been highlighted during the pandemic,” Quirk said.

High-speed broadband impacts everyone in town, from those working or schooling from home, to small businesses offering e-commerce in times of lockdown.

The town is working with YorkNet and third-party internet providers to bring fibre broadband to more areas in Georgina, Quirk said.

Laying the fibre network is currently progressing in the Udora community and surrounding area.

Waterfront Parks Master Plan and Keswick Secondary Plan:
Both projects continued during the pandemic through virtual meetings and online community workshops.

The Keswick Secondary Plan is expected to be complete in 2021 and public engagement will continue throughout 2021 on the waterfront parks master plan.

Modernizing town services:
The town is working toward providing more online services including online payment options for items such as garbage tags and permits, launching a customer service app, and installing a new phone system at the civic centre.

Business Park on Woodbine Avenue:
A recent staff report looks at private servicing on portions of the business park as an interim measure, allowing businesses that do not require high volumes of water to set up in advance of full services.

Maple Lake Estates:
The town will start a conformity exercise to implement appropriate zoning for the area. Other areas of the town will be getting zoning updates in keeping with the town’s official plan.

Upper York Sewage Solutions:

Recently, the province notified York Region, via a non-disclosed letter, of the option of discharging wastewater into Lake Ontario via the existing Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in Pickering, instead of discharging into Lake Simcoe. The region is still waiting for clarity from the province on the alternate solution and a decision on the Upper York Sewage Solutions environmental assessment.