Tops 2013: City Council happenings

Politics is never dull, especially at the local level.

While decisions made by the federal and provincial governments undeniably affect each of us, the decisions made by City Council at the community level are the ones that seem to affect us in the closest way, touching our finances, homes, families, the everyday services we enjoy as a community, and even our emotions.

With that, SooToday.com has compiled the following list of what we feel are the Top City Council stories of 2013.

The Sault Ste. Marie PUC, with the City of Sault Ste. Marie as its main shareholder (in other words, the taxpayer), seemed to dominate local news in 2013.

At Council's December 2 meeting, the PUC addressed Council and dissatisfied customers regarding its delivery of services throughout the year.

This is our Top City Council Story for 2013, and you can read about it here

Secondly, we will all remember the heavy rain and subsequent flooding that struck our community in September.

City departments did their best to address the problem, and Council for its part passed a resolution to apply for provincial disaser relief funding to repair infrastructure damage caused by the severe weather event.

Third, the Pointe Estates subdivision, as proposed by local contractor and developer Jeff Avery, was rejected by Council in a marathon Council meeting this year.

Avery, with City Planning staff in agreement, called for Council's approval of the project.

However, persuaded by area residents who remain concerned the development would have seriously adverse effects on area wetlands, Council voted not to give the go ahead  to the Pointe Estates plan.

The matter will come up for appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) in 2014.

Our fourth top story once again concerns the Sault Ste. Marie PUC.

Council decided to put limits on PUC's corporate donations after a $100,000 donation from the corporation to Algoma University raised several eyebrows in the community.

Finally, Council approved its City budget for 2013.

As always, budgets do not please everyone, and some items contained in 2013's budget, such as money for flags and support for the perenially struggling Norgoma, among other budget items, generated some discussion.

We at SooToday.com are certain that our loyal readers who follow City Council will remember these highlights from 2013, among many others.

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