Civil Municipal Magazine - Dec 2023

86 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 12 like a reliable road and bridge network, to get their product to market.” Eccles adds that collaboration with the local Chamber of Commerce is another source of small business support, along with the local BIA. Infrastructure Upgrades and a Downtown Vision As West Grey anticipates growth, infrastructure projects take center stage. Schipprack outlined plans for a new police station, a new long-term care home, and a county ambulance station, which is currently in the proposal stages. “This is all good news for the municipality,” he maintains. “These projects have been a long time coming, but they are all definitely needed.” The municipality is also working on an expansion of water and sewer systems with a focus on stormwater management. Schipprack continues, “There are also a number of smaller infrastructure projects that are equally important. For example, we are working with the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority to complete the mapping of the Durham Creek so we can move forward in that area.” The smaller projects may not necessarily be as fancy, and they may not even be noticed in the long run, but they are an important part of managing environmental matters and working with our natural surroundings, Schipprack added. For Mayor Eccles, a reimagined downtown center in the town of Durham is also top of mind, along with preserving the spirit of the Neustadt community. “The little village of Neustadt, which has the oldest operating craft brewery in Ontario, was also designated as the prettiest village in Canada a number of years ago. It has that little shop type business environment. Putting policies in place to maintain that in Neustadt, I think, is paramount,” asserts the mayor. In the town of Durham, he has a different vision, suggesting that the downtown main street of days gone by is no longer relevant, and it is time for the municipality to move forward with a walkable, restaurant and service-based