Schadenberg hoping for a third term on Woodstock Council as City/County Councillor

Mark Schadenberg. (Contributed Photo)

Lee Griffi, Editor

Woodstock is Mark Schadenberg’s hometown, and he says it remains a wonderful place to raise a family.

“As my two kids grow up, it’s easy to see that a positive and correct influence, and creation of stability and necessary amenities, should be nurtured and improved,” he said.

Schadenberg, who has served eight years as an elected council member, is seeking a third term as Woodstock’s city/county councillor.

He said he wants to use his experience to improve both Woodstock and Oxford County through forward-thinking ideas, strong planning and close monitoring of spending.

“Using the budget as an example, it must be pointed out that creating a smart financial game plan at both levels (tiers) is a balancing act of factoring in many areas — recreation and culture, infrastructure, fire and police, ambulance, long-term care homes, the unhoused, attracting employment, landfill services, and well-constructed bylaws, zoning and planning.”

Schadenberg said the city needs to keep a close eye on its Asset Management Plan (AMP), arguing that infrastructure needs should take priority over beautification projects.

“The AMP refers to everything ranging from aquatics to arenas, artificial turf at indoor soccer, but more importantly the end-of-life condition of sewers, bridges, foundations and elevators, aging infrastructure, and perhaps a building’s roof or computer equipment, or the recently renovated cupola at the museum,” he said.

“The visible and invisible condition of depreciated components is the AMP. The city has a director in the engineering office who monitors this, and council must listen to that person and keep the flow charts in the position of improving and not depreciating.”

Schadenberg spent eight years in the Woodstock Sentinel-Review newsroom and was sports editor for much of that tenure in the 1990s. He also spent 20 years as a realtor, showing, listing and selling properties while gaining experience with zoning and subdivisions, bylaws and building permits.

“I have a thorough knowledge, and in my opinion, above all others on the current council,” he said.

Community volunteerism is also important to Schadenberg. He has been a member of the Lions Club of Woodstock for 20 years and has served as chair of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and the WDDS Sports Celebrity Dinner.

He was inducted into the Woodstock Sports Wall of Fame in 2016 and has served on the Woodstock Recreation Advisory Committee for 25 years, including seven years as chair.

He has also served on the city’s environment advisory committee and as a member of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA).

“In 2015, I was vice chair of the UTRCA. You can say it’s leadership, but at the same time it’s earned respect and admiration, as everyone around the table at the UTRCA is either an elected council member in their city/town or a former council member.”

Schadenberg said one of the reasons he wants to continue on county council is to participate in the development of an updated Oxford Official Plan, which is currently underway through online surveys and public meetings.

“When a consultant like Watson & Associates projects phenomenal growth in population for our county, you want the best representation possible,” he said.

“As a Woodstock member of county council, I want to analyze the many projects on their books that are not nearly as necessary as they may think. While many offices are integral, some others are not so much. The Official Plan is much more integral than the Strategic Plan.”

Schadenberg also said Woodstock’s commitment to reducing development charges is important, arguing that doing so would result in provincial funding being returned to the municipality for new amenities associated with growth, such as a fourth arena, second pool or satellite library.

“The number of issues is endless, but the number of available dollars is not,” he said.

“Replacing the Civic Centre Arena does not qualify as a development charges item, as it’s not something brand new depicting growth.”

Schadenberg said one of the biggest issues facing local government is the proposed shelter for unhoused people at the former YMCA.

“The County paid too much for the building, didn’t conduct enough public discussion, hired a single-source architect-contractor, and the facility could have overall renovation costs balloon to the $10-million range before an operating budget is created,” he said.

“The city gave the county a cheque for $2 million from the Building Faster Fund; was that ‘gift’ spent properly? Certainly not.”

Schadenberg said Woodstock needs wraparound social services for everyone, as well as a 24/7 shelter.

“Especially so unhoused people have a place to keep their belongings and don’t have two homes — The Inn and also day space at Operation Sharing — but the YMCA is the wrong location, and the evolution of its creation has been incorrect and poorly handled,” he said.

Schadenberg can be reached at 519-608-8219 or through his website, www.markschadenberg.blogspot.com.