Warden lays out plans for next term
By Richard Blanchard

As he starts his second term as Simcoe County warden, Springwater mayor Tony Guergis sees council focused on the growth issues ahead.

Guergis was elected to another one year term during a recent meeting in Midhurst.

He defeated Midland mayor James Downer. New Tecumseth deputy mayor Rick Milne and Tay Township mayor Scott Warnock were nominated for the position but did not run.

"It is a momentous time for us with growth challenging us. We must plan for the future," he told county council in his inaugural speech. "The message is that we all are the county. We are not independent.

"Each municipality and each person, we need to act as a community of 19 municipalities, two First Nations and a federal air force base."

In an interview after his election, Guergis reiterated the need for concerted action on the pressures of growth.

"Everybody has their head around the estimate that the county will grow to a population of 667,000 by 2031.

What a challenge it's going to be to plan for the next 25 years to see that growth take place and where it will take place," said Guergis.

"There are many out there who believe that number is low and that we need to appeal to the province to see an increase. However, we can't emphasize enough the province has made it clear that number will stand.

"All we can do is rely on the five-year reviews, but that is going to require a strong united county message to make sure the province believes that we have the ability to plan properly."

Guergis said that the ongoing growth studies require input from all residents of the county.

"We can't empower enough," he said.

Both individuals and groups will be asked during the next year to bring their concerns about growth to a number of public information sessions.

"We want all our organized interest groups to come forward and be part of the growth process, as well as our member municipalities to all participate through the five sub-committees," he said.

The county has already held a number of public meetings on growth issues during the past couple of months and they will continue to be held.

Guergis said that his reelection was a strong vote of confidence in his past term as warden.

"It's not a part time position anymore," he said.

In the past seven years, three of the four Simcoe county wardens have served two year terms.

"Serving for another year allows you to be up to speed on all the issues," he said.

Guergis is the brother of Essa mayor Dave Guergis and a cousin of Helena Guergis, MP for Simcoe- Grey.