Kevin Eccles addressed County Council for the final time as the 2015 Warden at the November 24 session of Grey County Council. He was the first warden elected for the 2015-2018 term and helped lead a new council following the 2014 municipal election.
Warden Eccles's final address can be found below.
"As I sit in front of County Council I feel I owe a great debt of gratitude to the elected officials sitting before me. It was through your belief in my leadership that you gave me the opportunity to represent and be the voice of this Council in what has been a very eventful year.
Yes it is always a pleasure to be at grand openings, ribbon cuttings, giving welcoming remarks and hosting visiting dignitaries; but this year has been more than the function aspect of this title, this role. Thank you County Council for working together to build a
strong team that carried out the duty of cohesive decisions that continue to move this County forward.
If you would indulge me for a moment to reflect on some of those directions that this past year has provided. There has been continued support for our tourism endeavours and Grey Roots evolution into a world class program. Economic Development has
made great strides in the last couple of years as now the small, but mighty group has delivered some innovative and fruitful programs and events. Pilot projects that are being looked at by the Province need to look no further than Grey if the Wynne Government wants honest and straight answers to delivery on new initiatives. Paramedics making house calls in rural Ontario is but one great example. I have cut ribbons before on big projects in the past: 08 was Lee Manor expansion opening, and 09 was the new Health Unit building, and this year it was just last month with early childhood education in partnership with Blue Water District School Board in Dundalk.
Bringing a negative budget in was nice but like all things political it is not a permanent thing. It was another example of upper and lower tiers working together for the best interest of the County taxpayer no matter whether they live in the north, east, south or west, or anywhere in between.
Most important I will reflect on 2015 as the year a new Chief Administrative Officer came back to Grey to be the bridge between council and administration. I look forward to many years of Grey't administration guidance. Thank you Kim.
I will look forward in the next year moving Grey to being a connected community; a place that looks after our youthful expectations and our seniors who got us here. I look forward to continued work with the great staff and great County Council to further the positive experience of living, visiting, working, or just enjoying Grey County every day of the year.
Thank you Council for your faith.
Thank you Sharon for stepping up.
Thank you Penny for your patience.
And thank you Jo-Ann for standing by me.
Respectfully submitted,
Kevin Eccles
