Like a stallion “raring to go,” Chatham-Kent just needs a drop in interest rates to unlock its future development potential, the municipality’s top bureaucrat says.
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The municipality has come a long way in attracting residents and businesses in recent years, chief administrator Michael Duben told attendees at the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce’s year-in-review breakfast at Retro Suites Feb. 22, but there’s more work to do.
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“Things are going well, people want to be here,” he told the roughly 50 guests.
Chatham-Kent faced significant challenges years ago, with many businesses closing, he said, but there has been a resurgence.
“At that time, Chatham was not what it is today,” he said. “It just wasn’t the place that a lot of people wanted to come to. . . There wasn’t that much happening.”
He’s impressed with how in touch economic development staff are with area businesses, noting that office is usually the first point of contact for any concerns, rather than mayor or council.
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“That’s actually a really good thing. You don’t see that in a lot of municipalities,” he said.
Last year, more than 300 new businesses opened in Chatham-Kent communities, Duben said. But to continue that trend, more commercial-ready land is required.
“We need to move ahead with the second phase of (the) Bloomfield (business park),” he said. “We have a few areas where we haven’t seen the growth that we would like to see, for different reasons.”
Managing species at risk and ensuring commercial sites are adequately serviced are other aspects to consider, Duben added in a wide-ranging talk that also touched on the importance of social services, protecting the vulnerable and maintaining infrastructure so future councils aren’t burdened.
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When municipalities freeze taxes, they often find themselves playing catch-up later, he said. “It may get you some votes, but it’s just not sustainable.”
The municipality’s 2,200 employees have important functions, with many working in emergency services, for example, and at Riverview Gardens, the municipal long-term care home.
“It’s a very busy spot, 24/7. People with complex needs need a lot of care,” he said, crediting the team for their efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “They kept people safe and they continued to do that every day.”
Duben also discussed council’s recent decision to buy part of the Downtown Chatham Center mall as a potential new home for the civic center, library and museum.
Nothing is a done deal, he stressed, given the buy-back provision if renovation costs prove too high for council.
Wherever the civic center ends up, it must be safe and accessible for staff and the public, he said.
Duben stepped into his current role in September 2022, replacing the retiring Don Shropshire.
He had been Oxford County’s top administrator since 2020, after a seven-year stint as chief administrator for the District Municipality of Muskoka.
He also has 10 years of experience as a senior corporate law partner at Miller Canfield LLP in Windsor.
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