Lincoln sets priorities, still seeks provincial answers

By Mike Williscraft NewsNow

A set of priorities for Lincoln was approved Monday at Committee of the Whole, but a key component of any future planning strategy is still missing, says CAO Mike Kirkopoulos.

While council approved strategic priorities for the current term, Kirkopoulos noted - during later discussions regarding an audit report – the mu- nicipality still needs details on the province’s “make us whole” statement made with regards to the impact of new planning policies.

In the short-term, the new priorities will help steer council through the next phase of its current path.

“Our priority plan acts as a roadmap regarding council’s expectations and what will be accomplished through this term of council,” said

Kirkopoulos.

“Ultimately, council’s priorities guide the investment of resources and corporate initiatives. The new plan will anchor our priorities in three key areas building on the previous three key areas.”

The three pillars are:

• Welcoming and Connected Community

• Vibrant and Prosperous Community

• Responsible and Resilient Community

These three areas, will be implemented to:

• Inform the draft budget directions and annual budgets approved by Council and these annual budgets in turn inform the strategic initiatives that will advance Council’s priorities within the departmental plans.

• Guide municipal decision-making.

• Guide service areas in the development of work plans that align to achieving Council’s priorities.

• Monitor progress towards desired outcomes.

“We will focus on things like community engagement, inclusivity, governance, community spaces and connectivity, the Town’s transportation network, economic prosperity and tourism, agricultural excellence, promoting a healthy and safe community, environmental, heritage and smart growth stewardship, and last but not least, sustainable financial management,” said Kirkopoulos.

“As we roll this out to the community, we will build on each of these. It will guide decision-making and ultimately investment in what matters most to our community.”

The initiative was approved unanimously.

During a subsequent portion of the

See STRAT PLAN, Page 3

Strat Plan

From Page 1 meeting, Mayor Sandra Easton questioned if the volatile nature of today’s economy could hinder council’s chosen strategic direction.

“I just want to know, whether or not the movement we’re taking, the way we’re looking at the future is going to help us if we’re confronted again with unstable years, high inflation, a number of things that are coming at us?” Easton asked of Kirkopoulos.

Kirkopoulos noted that in the last 18 months the municipality has created some measures to anticipate economic uncertainty such as reserve thresholds and long-term borrowing limits.

“Those are all appro- priate measures and add that level of rigor and oversight that I think council wants,” said Kirkopoulos.

He noted a series of complications seen during COVID’s run, cybersecurity and volatility in the development and planning sector of the Town’s business.

“We have construction projects coming in 50, 60 to 100 per cent more than were budgeted a few years ago,” said Kirkopoulos.

“Most recently the CAOs got together and we were looking at a recreation project in a neighbouring municipality that is almost double. What does that mean? How do we account for it?”

A key unknown, still comes from the provincial government and legislative changes announced which did not come with any follow through on how impacts of those changes would be dealt with by municipalities, he added.

“The legislative changes are going to impact us. I think the scope of that impact is something that we need to get some further analysis on,” said Kirkopoulos.

“The Province continued to say they are going to make us whole. I have yet to see what ‘make us whole’ means, and how that is going to occur.”

“As you look at roads projects...development activity, those things are coming back and we’re hoping for stability in terms of interest rates and confidence.”

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