THUNDER BAY -- With half of 2015 in the rear-view mirror, the search for a new city manager is one of many projects city council will look to tackle by the end of the year.
Tim Commisso announced last week that he would retire in October. Coun. Larry Hebert said council and administration will be working hard to replace him.
"That's going to be a good challenge for council and senior staff," he said. "He's going to be tough to replace."
Hebert also wants to see Golf Links completed on time and on budget, along with several other major roads projects, by the end of 2015.
Getting a start on Boulevard Lake and securing funding for the Conservatory through the federal government's Canada 150 program are also on the wish list for the end of the year for Hebert.
Coun. Linda Rydholm said replacing Commisso will be a priority for council. On the infrastructure front, she said while council has been spending more in recent years, day-to-day maintenance on roads, ditches and culverts are starting to be a concern.
"We need to get back to doing better maintenance," she said.
She also wants to see a focus on traffic safety, particularly around Arthur Street and Highway 61 in her Neebing ward.
For McKellar Coun. Paul Pugh, his main focus is on social issues. More affordable housing and crime prevention by the end of the year would go a long way to improving the South core.
"It's going to be a long-term project but we need to get started on it," he said.
Paterson Park would be a good place to start Pugh said. A lot of great ideas were floated around during meetings several years ago on how to improve the park but there hasn't been a lot of work done so far.
"I think that park is a key to having a better look to the whole area," he said.
