MISSISSIPPI MILLS - The same day Mississippi Mills Mayor Al Lunney officially
announced that he would not seek a third term, Pakenham Ward Coun. Brenda
Hurrle filed her paperwork to run for Lunney’s soon-to-be-vacant chair.
Hurrle made her decision two months ago but filed the papers
with the town on June 28. Before making her decision official, however, she met
with Lunney, who officially announced his retirement as mayor at the town
council meeting on June 28.
“He and I talked before I declared and I told him what I was
going to do,” said Hurrle last week.
“One of the reasons I’m running is because I’ve been
involved in the community for a long time,” she added. “I think I have a lot to
offer the community.”
A resident of Pakenham since 1980, she served as executive
director of the United Way
of Lanark County
for several years, and was the manager of a Royal Bank of Canada branch.
Even though she stepped down from her duties with the United Way back in
September, she indicated she felt that she still had things to accomplish,
including running for mayor.
So far, Hurrle is the only candidate for the Mississippi
Mills mayor’s job.
“(But) I’m sure that there will be more. It’s early days
yet,” she said.
Hurrle predicted that there will be certain issues, like
hydro and septage, that will dominate discussion on the campaign trail.
She noted that provincial downloading of certain
responsibilities to smaller municipalities was still being felt financially.
“I think we have to step back and look at our financial
position,” she said. “We’re not in a bad position…(But) we have to find a way
to do things differently.”
Hurrle stated that she wants to explore alternative revenue
streams and examine what savings can be found in the town’s budget.
“My parents used to tell me that it takes 10 dimes to make a
dollar,” Hurrle said. “But people don’t think like that anymore…You have to
think small in order to get big. There are little things that you could do to
get where you wanted to go.”
Another election issue may be the urban/rural split.
“Yes, we have a bit of a problem which has been brought
about by the waste water treatment plant,” said Hurrle. “(But) I don’t see
that...Overall, I think we do try to work together and I want to bring that to
the fore.”
Speaking of the different wards that make up the town, she
noted that, “each part has its strengths.”
One change Hurrle would like to see around the council table
would be to open the meetings up to the public even more.
LUNNEY CALLS IT A DAY
Lunney told the Canadian Gazette on Saturday, June 26 that the decision not to seek a third term was final.
“We’ve known for some time,” he said. “So it is only fair we let the world know.”
Lunney officially made the announcement during the town council meeting on June 28, but broke the news beforehand on his online blog.
“I have so enjoyed the past seven years as mayor,” wrote Lunney. “There are no words to adequately describe how much I have enjoyed the ride…I am so proud to have been the mayor of this great community of Mississippi Mills.”
In his online blog, Lunney said that there was one main reason for his decision.
“Jeri and I need some down time, some time to visit grandchildren and children, some time to just hang out with each other,” Lunney wrote.
Lunney cited renovations to the Old Town Hall, the creation of the Almonte Riverwalk, upgrades to the Stewart Community Centre in Pakenham, the creation of the waste water treatment plant, and low tax rates compared to neighbouring areas, as sources of pride from his time in office.
“I feel proud of what we’ve accomplished,” said Lunney.
~With files from Katie Mulligan.