r/OwenSound

Had an interview with candidate for council Thomas Arakal yesterday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yCv76fcvDo

Thomas discusses various community concerns including transit reliability, infrastructure maintenance, park amenities, municipal transparency, downtown safety, affordable housing, and waste management services. Thomas notes that residents often walk to work due to unreliable transit and expensive taxi fares, suggesting a need for more consistent service and better road conditions. Regarding parks, the speakers say there is a desire for more active options for children and seating for seniors. On financial matters, Thomas suggests that budget information should be transparent and accessible without requiring specialized knowledge, while noting they cannot comment on specific mismanagement until official numbers are released. The discussion includes suggestions for affordable housing initiatives, such as utilising existing developments for low-cost sustainable dwellings, and the need to prioritize community resources over hiring external consultants.

Disclaimer: I'm Andrii Zvorygin candidate for mayor of Owen Sound.

HELP!!!
At the Gitche Namewikwedong Reconciliation Garden (Kelso beach) is a goose with an obviously broken wing. They’re still walking and eating. I’d guess they’d been there for a little while with their mate. I‘ve left a message at the Ministry of Natural Resourses.
I am aware of Fuff-Fuff-Fuff, yet I do not believe this is their jam**.**

Hey everyone,

I run InfaWeb, a small web design business based in Ontario. I started it this summer through Ontario’s Summer Company Program and I'm looking to connect with graphic designers who have clients needing websites.

If you handle branding, logos, or other design work but don't build websites yourself, I'd be interested in collaborating or exchanging referrals.

I build custom, mobile-friendly websites for small businesses and can work with an existing brand identity or designs you've already created.

I'm also happy to refer clients who need dedicated branding or graphic design work.

Portfolio: https://www.infawebdesign.com/

Feel free to DM me if you'd be interested in working together.

The City finally provided at least a partial 2025 outstanding debt schedule.

It shows:

• $28.62 million in external debt
• $3.58 million in annual debt payments
• about $17.19 million tied to clearly identified water and wastewater projects

That last part matters because the City says water and wastewater services are supposed to be fully funded through user fees.

So I’ve asked the City to clarify which debt payments are being funded through:

• property taxes
• water/wastewater user fees
• other revenue sources

There is also a reporting gap.

The City’s own debt policy says the annual report should include the interest rate, principal-versus-interest breakdown, and funding source for each debt instrument.

Appendix E is missing those items.

Once the City provides them, we should be able to separate tax-supported debt from rate-supported debt and get a much clearer picture of the actual burden on property taxpayers.

Full update and source documents:

https://helpos.ca/c/owen-sound-council/8659/update-on-owen-sounds-286-million-external-debt

https://1being.org/pfet/AboutAndrii.html

https://youtube.com/shorts/juqvlkIUj7M?si=eL-Wqt3c0YJJ_T-2

https://1being.org/pfet/AboutAndrii.html

https://www.llresearch.org

I emailed every mayor and deputy mayor candidate in Grey County about a shared proposal for affordable rural living geared to local incomes.

The working model could enable:

• Single adults: home + 1 ha (2.5 acres) for about $500–$750/month

• Couples/families: home + 2 ha (5 acres) for about $900–$1,050/month

The idea is one clear County-wide framework that farmers, families, co-ops, land trusts and others can use to create affordable rural communities on suitable land with a straightforward approval path.

Would you or anyone you know be interested in this kind of living in Grey County?

I am candidate for Mayor of Owen Sound.

Here is the email I sent to the other mayor and deputy mayor candidates in Grey County with the proposal in more detail:

https://helpos.ca/c/grey-county-council/8551/a-shared-grey-county-affordable-rural-housing-proposal