Current Saugeen Township Ward Councillor Mike Myatt said he is eager to take on more responsibility and has filed his nomination papers for the position of Vice Deputy Mayor for the Town of Saugeen Shores.

In a June 11 media release, “I served as your Town’s Director of Community Services from 2001 to 2010, and over the past four years I have served on Council as Saugeen Township Ward Councillor,” he said. “Both experiences have been gratifying and rewarding,” he added.

Myatt went on to say that Saugeen Shores was the envy of other communities with its beaches, trails, and the recently announced $13 billion refurbishment program at Bruce Power, saying that it “augurs well for the Town of Saugeen Shores.”

“We are blessed with an amazing core of volunteers that represent dozens of minor sport and adult organizations and it’s important to provide support to these groups if we are to remain vibrant as a community,” he said.

Myatt and his wife Jean live in Saugeen Shores along with their son Jeff and his wife Katie, and grandchildren Peyton and Colby. Their son Andy and his wife Melanie reside in Binbrook, Ontario.

Myatt believes in transparency and open government and was successful, along with Councillor Cheryl Grace, in introducing the Open Forum prior to Saugeen Shores Council meetings. The Open Forum allows members of the public to speak to Council about any item on that night’s agenda.

“I’m always just a phone call away and I want to hear of public concerns as I have always believed that public input is the key to Saugeen Shores success,” he said. “While we may not always agree, I want to hear your views,” he added.

Myatt’s vision for a collaborative council:

• Our residents deserve a Council that recognizes the importance of local businesses and a Council that strives to support their requests for increased parking, downtown beautification, and changes that makes good planning sense.
• Our residents deserve a Council that welcomes dialogue as Council needs to hear your voice and I will listen and respond to your concerns.
• Our residents deserve a Council that understands and supports “quality of life” in Saugeen Shores and this means listening to the needs of older adults in our community, listening to the needs of our youth, listening to those with housing needs, and listening to participants in various sporting and cultural activities.
• Our residents deserve a Council that is strategic with their thinking and aggressive with their efforts to leverage full benefits from Bruce Power’s most recent significant investments in Saugeen Shores and in the region.
• If elected, I will continue to lobby the Provincial and Federal Government for increased partnership funding and for capital infrastructure dollars to assist with funding numerous outstanding capital projects in Saugeen Shores.
• Above all, our residents deserve a Council that recognizes that Saugeen Shores is the absolute best place to live in all of Ontario, but we must not rest on our laurels; Council needs to continue to ensure that Saugeen Shores remains as a safe and healthy place for all residents.