To help provide strategic direction for Chatham-Kent’s rural economy, the municipality will examine the feasibility of creating a new advisory committee.
count. Trevor Thompson had entered a motion requesting the committee during Monday night’s meeting that was ultimately referred to staff for further information.
Thompson said there are roughly 6,200 businesses in Chatham-Kent, of which 3,900 are located outside of Chatham and Wallaceburg.
“I’ve heard in the community, over the last number of years actually, that they feel disconnected sometimes,” he said. “That’s not to speak ill of the work that we’ve done. I think we’ve done a lot of very good work even, both from staff and council standspoints.
“I think our economic development team has done a very good job, at least as good a job as they can without, maybe, always understanding the rural point of view.”
Thompson acknowledged there were efforts in the past dedicated to this endeavor that had mostly fallen to the wayside in recent years.
Noting recent positive announcements related to economic development, as well as other growth, Thompson said now is the time to get started.
“I think this is a great opportunity,” he said. “We are growing in ways that we haven’t grown in decades. I think that’s a very good thing.
“We need to do some long-term strategic planning and we need input to do it.”
His original motion stated that some municipal programs, such as community improvement plans, have been inaccessible to rural entrepreneurs and businesses owners. The motion also noted the municipality has been without a staff agricultural specialist since 2019.
Thompson also believed the timing was right given a new term of council is coming later this year.
However, Coun. Aaron Hall asked the request be referred to staff for details, which received council’s support.
Saying he agreed with the sentiment of the original motion, Hall noted the point of the suggested referral was “avoiding duplication of work” that may be done by various other committees in the municipality.
“I believe sending this back, gathering more information and just getting an overall perspective of all our committees would be the best and most prudent way forward for council at this time,” Hall said.
Municipal clerk Judy Smith said staff could return to council with the information by the June 20 meeting.