There are many reasons why Petawawa is a great place to live. At the first council meeting of 2020, Petawawa Mayor Bob Sweet took a few minutes to reflect on the accomplishments and disappointments of the last year. Council met briefly last night (Monday, January 6th) and the first item on the agenda was the presentation from the mayor.
Sweet says seven new businesses opened in 2019 including Fleurish Flowers and Gifts, J&E Bored and Saucy, Giant Mart, Tick Tock Escape Room, Boston Pizza, Nook Creperie On the Go and Michelle Letourneau Mortgage Alliance. He adds there were major renovations at many more local businesses and in total, $26-million in development permits were issued. The mayor adds hiring Christine Mitchell as Economic Development Officer is benefiting the local business community. Sweet says 2020 will be another big year for the planning and development department with the grand opening of the Mariott Townsuites Hotel, Parkview Place Luxury Apartments and RE/MAX development in Town Centre.
The mayor says in 2019 the Town of Petawawa spent $2.4-million upgrading roads, sidewalks, water and sanitary systems, the municipality twinned a section of the Algonquin Trail, replaced a snow plow, built a new sand dome, created an energy plan, and celebrated the retirement of the public works supervisor Tom Renaud after 45-years. He adds they continue to work with snowmobile clubs for trail improvements. Disappointment came as the town failed to receive funding in 2019 to four lane Petawawa Boulevard from Doran Road to the gates of Garrison Petawawa, but the mayor adds Highway 17 will be extended past Renfrew, which benefits the entire county.
With the flooding this year the mayor says the community services department was kept busy. Canada Day celebrations were moved to the Civic Centre as repairs were needed at Centennial Park. Sweet says the Petawawa Point benefited from a green space grant that included the planting of 10 trees, installation of four shade structures and solar lighting. Other improvements at the Point this past year include a safe launching docking system, ability board, fully accessible picnic tables, water mobi-chair and 100 feet added to the existing mobi-mat.
In the summer, the town recognized four members of the fire department for 20-years of service including Deputy Chief Craig Proulx, Assistant Deputy Chief Phil Smith, Captain Jamie Knott and firefighter Tim Allen. Sweet says they hired an additional seven probational firefighters and also upgraded equipment for water rescuing.
Mayor Sweet says in 2019 the Town of Petawawa was assessed at $1.94-billion. Petawawa continues to offer the lowest tax rate in Renfrew County for an urban centre and remains a debt free community. In 2019, there was 475 homes sold in the community at an average cost of $296,000.
Other accomplishments in 2019 include Petawawa presenting the Freedom of the Town to the Royal Canadian Dragoons for their 136th anniversary, being recognized as one of the safest places to live in Canada, ranked 120 on a list of 415 best places to live in Canada and 2nd highest place in Ontario for a medium sized family income.
Upcoming events in Petawawa in 2020 include Cabin Fever, Civic Centre Days, Hell or High Water, Upper Ottawa Valley River Race and Paddle Festival and Get to the Point Beach Festival. Staff received government funding last year to launch a 4-year transportation pilot project and have introduced a new pet licensing program.
Finally, Mayor Bob Sweet took time to thank staff for their hard work, council for their support and wishes all the best for all residents in the community this coming year.