ERIN — Mayor Allan Alls gave a tearful farewell Thursday before the council, staff and a small audience.
“First I have to say that been chosen by the residents of this town to lead them and this community not just once but twice has been the privilege of my life,” said Alls, who is not running in next month's municipal election.
Alls noted that the council has succeeded in many ways. But one major achievement was dealing with the aging wastewater systems largely by having a wastewater treatment plant set up.
“This council has had the vision, the foresight, and the resolve to take action on the wastewater file.”
Alls further noted council addressed the problem without undue pressure on taxpayers.
“Looking at where we are today with the project being awarded and raising over 200 million through the private sector, not the taxpayers, this council should be proud of what we have accomplished together in such a short period of time.”
Alls expressed his belief that he and the council have had a positive impact on the town.
“The other day I had an older member of the community, sorry of the town, who was born here, raised here, and had a business here. He crossed the street and shaked my hand and said ‘thank you, thank you, thank you. You’ve done what nobody else has been able to do and should have been done.’”
However, the mayor has faced serious criticism, even during this council meeting on Thursday afternoon.
“I overheard during our public meeting here somebody say: well he won’t care, he’s leaving. I have lived here the vast majority of my life. I will always care.”
Alls expressed his support of others working or potentially working in local government.
“I’m continuously impressed by the local experts who have a wide variety of subjects in our community. And I encourage those people to step forward, to volunteer, serve on our town committees and to help ensure we develop the tomorrow we all want to see.”
Jesse Gault is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
