town of milton

Movember 2013 Milton MO’s

Mike Cluett

For those of us who anxiously look forward to this time of year, its now upon us. November 1st begins this years MOVEMBER campaign to raise money in support of Mens Health and in particular prostate cancer.

This year I have set up a team of MILTON MO’s for anyone to join and participate. SO…if youre up to it and have read the rules (yes there are rules to growing your moustashe) click on the link here http://ca.movember.com/team/1191621 and join.

If youre not up to joining the team….thats fine. You can click on my personal link and donate as much as you want here http://ca.movember.com/mospace/3343581

Throughout MOvember, I will be updating the page with pictures as well as other team members so check in often. I might actually continue with the annual tradition of having the person with the largest donation to my personal MO getting to chose the colour from November 24th to 30th…so keep that in mind. The last couple of years its been blonde and in keeping with the grey cup Calgary Stampeder Red last year.

Just a few more days to prepare to grow the MO…so join the Milton MO’s today.

Steam Era Returns Labour Day Weekend

Mike Cluett

Many people think that the CNE getting ready to close down is the official sign of the end of summer.  For those of us in Milton, its the Steam Era!

Starting this coming weekend is the 53rd edition of the Steam Era at Milton Fairgrounds.  According to the Steam Era website, their goal is “to advance knowledge, appreciation, and  interest in rural antiques and  our rural agricultural heritage. This is accomplished through the preservation, restoration and renovation of articles, vehicles,  machinery and power equipment of antiquity.”

The Steam Era is an “annual show held by the Ontario Steam and Antique Preservers Association  each year. At the Labour Day weekend show our members exhibit and demonstrate their equipment, models, cars and trucks, along with  craft and other displays for the public.”

So if you’re looking for something interesting to do over the long weekend in Milton, head on down to the fairgrounds and see history come alive in front of you.

Friday afternoon starting at 1pm there is the annual steam era parade through town and its not to be missed.  With all the whistles going off, it would be hard to miss it.  Later on Friday night at 6pm is the corn roast and movie night.

On Saturday there are a number of competitions from the tractor pull to log sawing (which is much more difficult that you would think) followed by more steam games, live entertainment and a talent contest.

More games are slated for Sunday along with mini tractor pulls and on Monday it wraps up with more competitions and the Steam Era Skills competition.  The full schedule of events can be found here.

Come and take part in Milton’s rich agricultural history this long weekend at Milton’s Steam Era and the real unofficial end of summer.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Free Garbage Tags Expire Sept 7th

Mike Cluett

Just a reminder to Milton residents that the Region of Halton free bag tags expire this coming September 7th. After that you will be required to purchase them at $2.00 each.

If you have any questions about the Halton Bag Tag program, please visit this website for more details OR you can call 3-1-1.  The 3-1-1 service is a very valuable tool to use to find out about a number of town and region services, garbage pick up and also where you can report roadside dumping.

Speaking of illegal dumping, thank you to the many residents in wards 1, 6, 7 and 8 for calling and emailing me about these incidents.  In order for these statistics to be included in any future region of Halton reports, they do need to be called in on the 3-1-1 line as well as letting me know.

Before the 3 bag limit was approved by Halton Region council members (unanimously) there were a number of incidents of illegal roadside dumping of household garbage.  After the program was in place we have seen a spike in these occurences and I have been sending this information to both the Town and Halton Region staff for their actions.

What we have been seeing in the last several weeks is residents using town garbage containers to dump their household waste on the garbage pick up days.  These containers are NOT for that purpose.  When people dump their household garbage in the green containers, it attracts animals, rodents and it usually ends up being a big mess.  Add in some wind, and local residents get their areas covered in trash.

If you see any overflowing containers of garbage, please let me know by email mike@mikecluett.ca and call 3-1-1 to report the locations as well.  By working together, we can help solve this problem as we continue with the “growing pains” of a 3 bag limit.

I’ll see you at the doors

Milton Strawberry Festival This Weekend

Mike Cluett

This weekend marks the first official weekend of the summer.  For Miltonians for many years this means Strawberry Festival!

For 33 years running the Milton Hospital Auxiliary has been putting on this amazing event that never ceases to amaze.  Lots of fresh strawberries, ice cream, smoothies … you name it, its there.

The festival is held at the Milton Fairgrounds and goes from 8AM to 4PM.  Get there early for some strawberry shortcake and other goodies.

We Want Your Input Budget 2014

Mike Cluett

Its that time of year again.  No, not just getting the lawnmowers out and warming up the BBQ’s.  Its time to begin the process of providing input on the 2014 Town of Milton budget.

As readers of this blog know, this is an important part of the process and I urge all residents to contact me and the town with their opinions on the direction of the towns finances.

Its the beginning stages of this process and there will be more to come as the year moves on.  As always, I will be having my public budget input sessions in the later part of the summer / early fall so please keep that in mind.

You can forward your comments as always to me directly mike@mikecluett.ca or through comments on this blog, or on social media as well. My Twitter handle is @Mike_Cluett so feel free to tweet this post, share it with your friends and colleagues and lets get the discussion going on what you would like to see or not see in the 2014 budget.

You can also go to this link to complete the Town’s official survey.  It only takes a few minutes to answer so I would appreciate if you would take the opportunity to complete it and send me your thoughts as well.  Too long?  Too short?  Better questions to ask?  All feedback is good.

From the Town of Milton

Town of Milton seeks community input on 2014 budget

The Town of Milton is inviting members of the community to provide input into the programs, service levels and priorities for the 2014 Operating and Capital budgets.

The annual budget assigns financial resources to various municipal services, programs and infrastructure projects within the community and establishes the associated tax levy that is required to meet these needs. The budget is developed by staff within the guidelines approved by Council in July and takes into account input received from the public in person, by written submission and through an online survey. Council will deliberate and approve the 2014 budgets in December 2013.

A brief public input survey will be available on the Town’s website at www.milton.ca from Tuesday, May 28 to Friday, June 28, 2013. Residents and business owners are encouraged to complete the online survey to express their opinions of Milton’s municipal services. The results of the survey will provide information to staff for consideration in preparing the 2014 budgets, including satisfaction with levels of service, recommendations for new services or elimination of existing services, and level of support for property tax increases.

A presentation will be made at the beginning of the Council meeting on Monday, May 27 at 7 p.m. to introduce the 2014 budget process. The meeting takes place in Council Chambers, Milton Town Hall (West) at 150 Mary Street, Milton. Those wishing to provide input in person are required to register as a delegation by filling out a Delegate Request Form, available at the Town Clerk’s office (Town Hall West, 150 Mary Street, Milton, L9T 6Z5) or on the Town’s website, www.milton.ca. Completed forms must be submitted to the Town Clerk’s office or faxed to 905-876-5022 by 10 a.m. on May 27.

For more information, visit www.milton.ca or call 905-878-7252, ext. 2470.

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For further information, please contact:

Linda Leeds – Director, Corporate Services and Treasurer

905-878-7252, ext. 2142

Liliana Busnello – Communications Specialist
905-878-7252, ext. 2154