December 21, 2011
County warden
predicts "bright" future
by Vance Gutzman
The new warden of Renfrew County is not new at all.
Bob Sweet was acclaimed last week to a record fifth term as the head of
county council, where, in conjunction with his 17 fellow mayors and
reeves, he will oversee a municipal corporation with a budget of more
than $100 million.
Sweet has been the mayor of Petawawa since 2000, and previously served
as warden of the county for three years from 2004-06, and then again
last year in 2011.
After taking his oath of office last week, Sweet outlined some of the
goals and challenges the county is facing in the upcoming year, and he
linked the highway and the railway together in doing so.
"The removal of the CP rail lines is a major concern for all of us, and
we will continue to work with CP Rail to acquire this land for some
future purpose," Sweet said of the abandoned rail line which runs
through many of the county's municipalities.
With the tracks on that line due to be torn up in the near future,
Sweet said the timing has never been better to lobby for improvements
to Highway 17, to compensate for the increased volume of traffic that
will be taken off the tracks and placed on the road.
"More than ever we must encourage the provincial and federal
governments to move forward on the Highway 17 expansion," he stated,
referencing the fact the county has, for the past several years, been
lobbying higher echelons of government to four-lane the highway.
"Many of us have seen firsthand the dramatic economic impact the
twinning of the highway is having on the communities around Arnprior
and McNab/Braeside," Sweet stated.
"We must be more vigilant than ever to work with the provincial and
federal levels of government to maintain the momentum of twinning
Highway 17 all the way up the Ottawa Valley."
While Sweet believes the four-laning of Highway 17 will bring economic
prosperity to valley communities, he also believes the county can play
a more direct role in that regard by working hand in hand with the
county's top employers.
"One of our major employers, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, has seen
some major changes," the warden pointed out.
"This institution and facility is vital to the economic well-being of
Renfrew County.
“We look forward to working with MP Cheryl Gallant and Dr. Robert
Walker as AECL evolves and continues as one of the world's premier
nuclear research facilities."
Sweet said he also wants to maintain the integrity of the county's
close relationship with CFB Petawawa, and particularly to help develop
a seamless transition for the new 450 Helicopter Squadron that will
housed there by 2013.
Turning inwards to the county's own machinations, Sweet said 2012 will
be a busy year for the corporation in terms of planning matters, such
as the development of a new forest management plan to oversee the
16,000 acres of forest properties owned by the county.
The county will also be undertaking a (provincially mandated) five-year
review of its official plan, while working on the development of a
transportation master plan and a strategic plan.
The county will also be looking outside of its borders, Sweet said, for
help in meeting its goals in the upcoming year.
Key to that will be its continued membership in the Eastern Ontario
Wardens' Caucus (EOWC) - a consortium of 13 upper-tier levels of
government in eastern Ontario.
Sweet said the EOWC's united voice can play a lead role in lobbying the
provincial government on a number of key issues for its members,
including the provision of sustainable funding for municipal
infrastructure and completion of the Eastern Ontario Regional Network,
which, when completed, will see more than $200 million invested in
high-speed Internet services for rural municipalities.
"I look forward to working with all of county council and staff to
ensure a positive future for Renfrew County," Sweet concluded, before
wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.
"The future is indeed bright and positive for Renfrew County."
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