TOP 5: Items on docket for 2018 in Georgina

YorkRegion.com
Jan. 4, 2018
Heidi Riedner

Big ticket, high-priority projects totalling some $60 million make up much of the mandate for the “new year” in the Town of Georgina, with a couple of elections thrown in and a 200th birthday. Here are five top items on the docket for Georgina in 2018.

1. Site selection for the Multi Use Recreation Facility (MURC), as well as a more detailed design and business plan for the $35-million project that will bring a pool to Keswick, as well as youth and seniors spaces, indoor rec facilities and outdoor sport fields. A new library and fire station are also part of the plans.
   
   
2. Plans for a new Civic Centre on the current site as well as a rebuild of baseball diamonds in Keswick's West Park make up the majority of the remaining $60 million in projects in the queue. Further substantive financial commitments are required for the estimated $3.7 million new fire hall in Pefferlaw and close to $1 million for the Link in Sutton.
   
   
3. Georgina celebrates its 200th birthday, with a volunteer committee already hard at work for the past few months and the town kicking in just over $32,000 to help facilitate administrative, marketing and event management culminating in a July party.
   
   
4. The provincial election is  June 7. For the first time in 23 years, York-Simcoe will get a new MPP. Longtime representative Julia Munro is retiring and star PC candidate Caroline Mulroney is running in her place. The only other declared candidate is David Loft of the Trillium party. Loft is a retired businessman who previously served as vice-president of Triad Financial Services.
   
   
5. Voters will head back to the polls Oct. 22, 2018 for the municipal election to cast their ballot for mayor, regional councillor, five ward councillors, school board trustee and regional chairperson. Residents can expect a shorter campaign period after changes to the Municipal Elections Act bumped the nomination opening date from Jan. 1 to May 1.