My name is Tyler Zacher-King, I have lived in Norwich Township for the past nine years with my family. My children have grown up in Norwich Township, my wife and I have invested in Norwich Township and I currently run a business out of Norwich Township. My business allows me to deal with Manufacturers, retail stores and end users of products in the Automotive Aftermarket industry.
These relations and dealings will be an asset to Council, as we move forward and grow within the township. My family and I have had the opportunity to use a number of the facilities that the Township has to offer: The Norwich Community Centre and Arena, The baseball diamonds in Burgessville, Otterville and Norwich, walking trails, the conservation area in Norwich as well as many of the parks in the area. Norwich is a beautiful area and filled with many people from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. This diversity is what can make Norwich Great! We need to embrace and empower the diversity! I would like to bring a common sense leadership approach to the township.
We need Accountability, Accessibility and Affordability !
With all the young students at Emily Stowe, Do you support a New High School?
This is not the decision of council, the council can support these initiatives by working with other community leaders and supporting each other. I had the opportunity to speak with members of Rural Education Task Force and they are passionate about keeping the Rural
Education and making sure that we are not left in the dark. By having council members working and communicating with other like minded townships it will give Norwich Township and the rural communities a stronger voice and like minded community members to stand in solidarity with. I do believe that the townships should have a voice and input when school boards are looking to remove or add schools in the township. I think having a high school in Norwich would be great for the township and the students/families using it. In the past it seems that smaller townships are getting pushed aside and we need a strong voice to fight for the township in the Council Chambers and at the County Council Chambers. We need a strong voice.
With hate crimes on the rise in Norwich, do you support a greater police presence in Norwich?
A greater police presence is not the answer, we need to look at how community Policing is done. We need leadership working with the Community and the Police to create a Community Policing Program that benefits and supports all residents. This does not mean we have to throw more money at the problem. I would like to see the 1.4 million dollar OPP contract and have it reviewed. Once the review is done we need to have measurable goals and targets that we as a township expect from the OPP. The days of handing over 1.4 million dollars and hoping for the best have to end. Council has just approved $178,000 plus an additional $25,000 for the first year to have 1 OPP officer work on traffic issues in Norwich. I do not feel this is a good value for the taxpayers. We should look at restorative justice options, and more community involvement to support the policing efforts.
I would also like to see a Municipal Enforcement Team put in place in the township. Previously we hired a bylaw officer from Sarnia to cover the township THIS DOES NOT WORK!. I would like to see a Local Municipal Enforcement Team made up of people from the township. This will build on the community presence, faster turnaround times on calls, local presence to deter thefts, damage to property and traffic concerns (parking, speeding, careless driving) This Enforcement team would work with the OPP but be run by the township and the collection of fines would be able to stay in the township.
With the increased traffic on HWY 59 through town. Do you support traffic calming measures?
Yes, but the Police are never there when the time is needed to catch the speeders, I think that the township should look into Automated Speed Enforcement. These cameras can work remotely and do not need an operator, they capture the vehicle speed, license plate, date and time and direction being traveled. A ticket will then be mailed to the owner of the vehicle. I believe this would be the best option to support traffic calming in the township. Speeding is happening in each town in the Township it is not just Hwy 59 or Norwich, Rototiller, Burgessville and Oxford Centre each have their own speedway it seems. I have heard from residents who are concerned to cross the road to check their mailboxes due to vehicles speeding.
How would you support Merchants (stores and business) in town?
I think that as a township we need to support the stores and businesses with different attractions to bring more people to the area. The success of Nostalgia Days in Norwich shows that we can draw a crowd to the core areas. I would like to see something in Otterville built around the Car Show that can support the stores, Norwich used to hold a rodeo that would bring in crowds, or a fall fair. When you look at the businesses and the farmers that we have in the township we have some of the best Pork, Beef, Poultry and Cheese around, we have unbelievable fresh farm produce. Let’s build off of this , create a
festival around this and be able to show off what we have to offer!
A Strong Community working together will Support the local merchants.
Would you support merchants if they opened their establishments on Sunday?
Yes I believe it is every merchants choice to be open or closed on Sunday or any day of the week they choose. Everyone deserves a day of rest and they have the right to choose which day they would like. When I speak of festivals and fairs these are usually 2 day events and it would be great to be able to offer them for both a Saturday and Sunday.
Do you support the charter of rights and freedoms (I.e. race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, disability etc)?
YES, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) is entrenched in our constitution.