As it has been, it seems it always shall be.

The King City Lions are the main reason why King City residents have any recreational opportunities to speak of. Having spearheaded the planning and fund raising for the King City Lion’s Arena that opened in 1972, and again for its expansion in 1997, the Lions are once again up to their good old tricks.

And if all goes to plan, the commencement of construction of a brand new outdoor ball hockey facility complete with concrete slab and boards will begin this fall. It might even be ready for winter ice for an outdoor rink due to its planned close proximity to the Zamboni. In summer it can also be used for basketball.

In the summer of 2009, members of the King City Lions Club came to me with an idea to build this project from the hard work of their fund raising efforts. They had noted how kids are always jumping the fences to play ball hockey in the tennis courts and felt that an asphalt pad with some boards would give them a proper place to play their ball hockey games. All they needed was a dedicated spot in the park, and permission from the Township to build it. Some of their members who work in the construction industry had estimated that an asphalt pad could be constructed for between $20,000-$25,000.

I set up a meeting with our Director of Parks and Recreation, Catherine Purcell, and the Manager of the King City Arena, Rick Hampton along with two members of the Lion’s last summer, and out of that came the idea to situate it beside the King City Arena and to build it to a higher standard than the the Lions had originally proposed. Having recently secured $30,000 from Shoppers Drug Mart for the purpose of a tangible capital improvement to the village it was decided that this project would be an ideal use of those funds. Our budget had now been increased to $60,000. Furthermore, through negotiations with a local developer in town, we had also secured an additional $45,000. Now we had $105,000 to play with.

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Then the project planning really began to take off as Catherine Purcell then pitched the idea of building a permanent skate park immediately adjacent to the new ball hockey court. Since then the Township has conducted a number of youth focus groups to get their input for design and implementation. The project has since been RFP’d for design build proposals and the total project cost has been estimated at $180,000 to be built in two phases with the first phase (the ball hockey court) coming this fall, funded 100% from privately secured funds, with zero impact to the Town budget. That’s right folks. This King City project is costing Township tax payers…NOTHING. A zero tax increase all thanks, once gain, to the proactive efforts of your King City Lions Club.

Additionally, this fall Catherine and her staff will be applying to various grant funds that are available for these kinds of projects. If all goes well we should see the skate park under construction some time next year.

Finally! A good news story for King City, and a place for the kids (and adults) to play, get some exercise and have fun.

It also could be used for games and events for a “made in King City” Oktoberfest, something new that I hope will take on a life of its own. Right now its just an idea that I’ve pitched to some friends, and to the King City Lions in order to fill the gap left by the discontinued Lions Auction that was a mainstay in October at the King City Arena for decades. With a little hard work – maybe something new will emerge.

Its something I’d like to be part of, and to share with you.

As the late Simon Kastner said to me in 2006, “Cleve, you are now the Bürgermeister of King City.” In that spirit (and hopefully with the help of the “boys” from the Clever Era..;), I hope to bring this to life.

Right now its just an idea – Live music, games, barbecued Oktoberfest sausage, micro-brewers like King Brewery on display with their craft brews for sale, and a beer garden for some earnest sampling. A farmers market, vintners from the Marsh. An open fire, corn roasting, kids in Halloween costumes…and here’s an interesting hook for you long time King City residents. Once a year on this day, we’ll rename Doctors Lane, to…are you ready for this?

Elmer’s Lane!

(Be sure to leave your empty’s…;)

The Bürgermeister of King City says

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I was notified by the clerk unofficially on Friday September 1oth, that I have been acclaimed to council. This was subsequently made official on Monday September 13th at 4:00pm and reported in the King Sentinel and King Weekly on Wednesday September 15th.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the residents and ratepayers of Ward 1 for the confidence they have expressed in me, and to especially thank you all for your kind words and expression of thanks.

I realize that acclamation does not mean everyone is happy with my work as councillor, so with that in mind I will continue to take a balanced approach in order to address as many interests as possible, with the overall welfare of King Township in mind.

As I have said previously, it has not been an easy job this past 4 years. A number of things that transpired over this term have further reinforced my contention that we need a change toward leadership that demonstrates a more equitable and fair treatment to all the residents of King with a paramount interest in working together to unite our Township, instead of perpetuating divisions. We have a lot of work to do in that regard.

I personally will be disappointed to not see my name on the ballot as a result of this acclamation. I like to be able to cast a vote for my candidate, as i am sure do all of you. It was also a lot of fun last time to see my name on the ballot and a real thrill to win.

But I have been told that I should be proud of this. That acclamation in this Township, in this Ward specifically, is an accomplishment an and indication “that you’re doing a good job” as it was put to me.

So I am going to enjoy this for a while, give myself a little pat on the back, and get ready for term number 2.

I do however, intend to put my signs up in a few select locations with a big “Thank You” sticker over the re-elect portion of the sign, and to help remind you that there is still a Mayoral race on this Ward and you absolutely must

GET OUT AND VOTE ON OCTOBER 25TH,

or at any of the advanced polling locations (Click here for more info).

Once again.

Thank you King! Stay tuned thru 2014, and stay engaged. Our home needs your attention.

Sincerely,

Cleve Mortelliti

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A carved oak table,
Tells a tale
Of times when Kings and queens sipped wine from goblets gold,
And the brave would lead their ladies from out the room
to arbours cool.
A time of valour, and legends born
A time when honour meant much more to a man than life
And the days knew only strife to tell right from wrong
Through lance and sword.

Peter Gabriel – Genesis, Foxtrot

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Some people just don’t get it. Or maybe they just don’t care. What if those people are your council?

Being a councillor is easy. Being a conscientious councillor is not. If you take the approach that you want to balance the needs and wishes of all of the people you represent, then you’ve taken the more difficult path. Being a conscientious councillor is a high wire act as you are constantly focused on trying to maintain a balance. You often find yourself being forced to make difficult decisions in less than ideal circumstances. Constantly forced to choose the lesser of two or more evils. You’re put into positions where the so-called “right answer”, the “right decision” just feels so profoundly wrong, and you’re pushed to disregard those feelings.

You’re advised by professional staff who tell you things you don’t want to hear. If you got into this business because you felt you wanted to make a difference, then inevitably you’ll find yourself compelled to push back, to start digging for information, for arguments to counter the argument you’re being given. You feel at a disadvantage, sometimes you feel betrayed, suspicious, misled. Now imagine being a member of a council, where a number of its members have formed a voting block, a country club of sorts, where the criteria for admission is to turn off your brain, to tow the line of its leader, and discard every principle you ever vowed to up hold? Party politics isn’t supposed to exist at the municipal level, but there is definitely something of the like going on in King Township. There is an agenda at hand. One that is being relentlessly implemented, regardless of what so many of us think.

YOU BETTER WATCH OUT…THERE MAY BE DOGS ABOUT!

I am always amazed at the conduct of some councillors. So willing to shut down discourse, to thwart discussion on issues that are significant to the individuals being impacted. I think one of two things must be going on. Either they don’t care, or they have been doing this for so long – too long – that their skin has thickened to the point of being numb to any feeling but their own – except when election year roles around…

There are more people in this world who would make ideal political leaders than there are candidates because there is a vast difference between the act of governing, and the act of running for election. But elections, although one of the core principles of democracy, give advantage to those who are more than willing to flat out lie to your face. Some are willing do ANYthing to win, and since most are not, that cuts the field down substantially, and what we are left with are a handful of good intentioned individuals left to slay the dragon.

What makes a government, the peoples government, are fresh ideas and a fresh approach. Without that injection of change, complacency rules the day. So often we see our leaders walk down the path of serving the minority voice. And once a politician becomes useful to minority groups, they become detached from the majority, and cease to uphold core democratic principles. This is when they should have the good sense to move on, or the system should have safe guards to ensure this. Instead many stay on, for all the wrong reasons, perhaps to justify ones own existence, or to maintain the suppression of secrets, to fill a void, or perhaps to simply collect a pay cheque.

Inverse of the conscientious politician, is the mindless politician. Its an easy road. You don’t have to think, you just do as your told, and follow the lead no matter what path your sent down. You’re not watching the road, you’re just along for the cushy ride. Or maybe you’re an ambitious politician who has learned that towing the line becomes synonymous to climbing the ladder, high enough to pick of the fruit. Again, repugnant to the core principles of democracy.

Our system, it seems, is not devised to reward good deeds, but rather to reward individuals that serve to feed the machine.

Is it any wonder apathy takes hold?

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