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14FOCUS-JANUARY2015issueswithlloperationsnegotiatingmunicipalunionagreementsandminimizingthetaxburden.ScugogTownshipisabeautifulfourseasoncom-munitytheenvyofmanynotedTom.Asmayormylongtermgoalistomaintainandaddtothebeautifulassetsourtownshipownswhilesolvingourshortfallssuchasroadsbridgesqualityemploymentruralinter-netandyouthactivities.Hethinksoutsidetheboxtocomeupwithsolu-tions.ForexamplethenewmayorhasalreadyinitiatedtalkswithMPErinOTooleregardinghisuniqueideaforimprovingruralinternetserviceandsimultaneouslybringinganinuxofrevenueintothetownship.OneofeightregionalmayorssittingontheTransitAdvisoryCommitteeTompointedoutthattransitisoneareawhereScugogoverpaysfortheserviceprovidedbyDurhamRegion.Thisisthecaseforallthreenorthernmunicipalities.ThemayorsandregionalcouncillorsfromUxbridgeScugogandBrocktownshipshavetobeunitedandstandstrongtogetherattheRegionofDurhamregardingtransitandotherinequities.Ifthereisnotfairtaxallocationforservicesweneedtolookatalternativeshesuggested.RememberScu-gogonlyretainsonequarterofthetaxescollectedwhileDurhamRegionandtheprovincetaketherest.TomplanstoinvestigatetheconceptoftheRegionsubsidizingtaxifareswhichmayprovetobeamorecosteffectivewaytoprovidepublictransitinthenorth.Hisresearchshowsthatreplacinglongbuseswithshortbuseswouldresultina13savingssoheslookingintothisaswell.Heexpectssomefrustrationwithpoliciesandproce-dureswhentryingtoturnhisideasintorealitybutthatwontholdhimback.Hisshort-termgoalsincludendingoperationalinefcienciesinoraroundthetownship.Collectivelyheaddedwiththestaffandcouncilwehavetoworkasateamtoquestioneverythingandsavemoneywhereverpossible.Manyofourroadsareindesperateneedofattentionandwedonothavethemoneyinthebudgetyetwehavetostartreversingthedeteriorationorthecostswillescalateexponentially.Weneedacomprehensiveassetplanwithatimelinethatwecanadhereto.Thenewmayoradvocatestakingadvantageofgovern-mentgrantsforinfrastructureandotherprojectsbutnotrelyingonthem.Healsocalledforexploringoppor-tunitiesforrevenuesourcesandpartnershipswithintheprivatesector.Tomattendedthetri-municipalityeconomicdevel-opmentmeetinglastyearandheplanstobeactivelyengagedineconomicdevelopment.Hesinterestedinthepreservationoflocalheritagewhenitaddsvaluebutnotifitscost-prohibitivetothetaxpayers.Hislocalrootsrundeep.ThesonofConnieandJimRowettTomwasbornatWehavetoworkasateamtoquestioneverythingandsavemoneywhereverpossible....MayorTomRowettContinuedfrompage7PortPerryHospital.HeenjoyedgrowingupherelivinginfourofthevelocalwardsenjoyingsportsonthelakeandswimmingatBirdseyeswimmingpool.ThereusedtobealocalmovietheatreandabowlingalleyinPortPerrytoo.Tomwouldliketoencourageprivatesectorinvestorstobringtheseattractionsbacksothatlocalyouthinclud-inghis14-year-oldsonTylerhavemorenon-organizedlocalactivities.GracingthewallsofhismayoralofceisahistoricpaintingoftheOldGrainElevatorbyTomsunclethetalentedlocalartistHarveyWalker.The2014ChristmascardsTomsentfeaturedtheimageofapaintinghecommissionedhisuncletodo.Harveysrenditionofthesnow-kissedlakesidegazeboinPalmerParkalldeckedoutfestivelyisquitecharming.WhatapositivewayforMayorTomRowetttostartoffhisnewcareerbypromotingaquaintlandmarkandalocalartistinhisbelovedhometownwhileofferingseasonsgreet-ings.ByLynnCampbellFocusonScugogReferralsarethecoreofourbusinessCallJohn90543405179059858569www.lucykrenovations.comRenovationsfromtheoutsideinwecandoitallYoucantransformyourhomecottagetooBEFOREAFTER