The Mayor of Sioux Lookout says 2020 will definitely be a year no one will ever forget.
Doug Lawrance admits a lot was different but from a municipal standpoint many things went on as they always do.
“We had quite a few things underway. Studies and reports. Our Community Safety and Well-being Plan got underway and it’s still carrying on to next year. We completed out Sports/Tourism strategy. We completed a Municipal Service Delivery and Organizational Review. Our Strategic Plan. Our Economic Strategic review.”
Lawrance adds required upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment plant were also completed.
He says they started on the Town Beach Revitalization project and that will be completed early in the new year.
Lawrance says about 4 to 5 kilometres of rural road upgrades were completed.
He adds they started work with several developers and investors to move commercial and residential development forward.
The year didn’t come without its difficulties as the Municipality, like others, were impacted on an operational front.
“2019. Over a 190,000 passenger movements through the airport and that dropped, worst case, I think it was down to 10%-15% of normal. I think on average we were at about 30% of normal traffic over the course of the year. That was huge and that has a ripple affect through the town. Less people visiting and staying.”
Lawrance adds the Recreation Centre and Arena as well as Childcare centres were also hit hard because of pandemic closures.
The local tourism industry also took a major hit as most traffic to the area comes from the United States.
To hear more from Sioux Lookout Mayor Doug Lawrance, visit the Audio link below.
