Download the Strategic Action Plan
What this Strategic Action Plan is About
As a true demonstration of collaboration, the process to develop this Strategic Action Plan engaged County senior staff and elected municipal leaders through an open and transparent environment.
Great things are already happening in the County. The aim of this action plan is not to change direction but instead offer suggestions to help strengthen the County’s corporate culture, collaborative nature, cohesiveness and decision-making processes.
There are strong corporate values in place, and although not written everyone seems to understand the County is about serving people.
The plan is focusing on the current term of County Council and does not aim to focus on individual projects or opportunities. Instead, the plan is centred around how the County capitalizes on potential opportunities in the future. By putting in place mechanisms to ensure the current corporate culture continues will ensure the success of the future of the County.
What Wellington County is About |
Wellington County, located in southwestern Ontario, serves a larger regional community made up of predominantly rural countryside with smaller settlement areas scattered throughout the County. Wellington County is in a unique position in that it has the City of Guelph centrally located within the County but acts as its own single-tier municipality. With a population of over 90,000 residents, the County is home to 7 partner municipalities: Township of Centre Wellington; Township of Guelph/Eramosa; Township of Wellington North; Town of Erin; Township of Mapleton; Town of Minto; Township of Puslinch. What the Corporation of the County of Wellington is AboutThe Corporation of the County of Wellington already does a lot of great things for their residents and businesses, but County leaders want to ensure that the County continues to provide the best services and infrastructure in the years to come. The County takes pride in providing the best-valued and highest level of services to their residents and businesses including:
The County also provides services and works in partnership with:
As a corporate organization, the County takes a progressive and opportunistic approach to getting things done. Staff and elected County Officials work closely together to ensure the right decisions are being made and the County is taking advantage of every opportunity to ensure the highest quality of life for the residents and businesses. An example of the County being an innovative and opportunistic organization is illustrated through the County, and its partner the City of Guelph, being recognized as a “Smart City”. Through the Our Food Future initiative, the partnership has taken a smart cities approach “to improve the lives of their residents through innovation, data and connected technology”. As an employer, the County clearly values its employees and takes great pride in providing the best possible open and collaborative workplace, and environment, as evidenced by the numerous awards and accolades that have been won by the County. |
Message from the Warden and CAO |
We are proud to present the Wellington County Strategic Action Plan outlining the direction that the Corporation will be taking over the remaining Term of Council. The County is extremely fortunate in that it is set in naturally beautiful geography. It is a predominantly rural community offering a number of uniquely diverse urban centres with a small-town feel and passionate residents in the County. This strategic action plan entitled Future Focused. People Invested. is a product and a true reflection of how the Corporation works – in an environment that promotes openness, trust and collaboration. Each Councillor and members of the County of Wellington senior management team contributed to the development and crafting of this plan by expressing their priorities in an open public forum and working as a cohesive team to help provide clarity on the County’s strategic priorities. We know that there are great things taking place in the County and this strategic action plan is building on the good things that are already existing. As staff and Council, we understand the need to serve our residents with dedication, progressive-thinking and excellence. We are committed to building a prosperous future for the community and always striving to make the community a better place to live, work and invest. The Corporation will use this strategic action plan as an example of how the Corporation can continue to work together to plan and set the County’s corporate priorities and to build a strong foundation for the County to move forward on. Kelly Linton, Warden Scott Wilson, Chief Administration Officer |
Wellington County Values |
These County values help in defining "Who" the Corporation is and also represents "What" is guiding the Corporation. Wellington County above all values:
What does this mean?This really means the County values People. And it will continue servicing people through its customer-centric approach. Whether it’s:
The County is always focusing on making the community a better place for the people that live, work, visit and invest. This is achieved when Wellington County staff and Council share a willingness to work together for the betterment of the County. Strengthening and growing this relationship is key to any and all future success of the County. This includes how staff and Council are engaged, how decisions are made in an open and transparent environment and how the County communicates. The people currently in positions to lead the County (elected citizen representatives and staff) understand the need and demonstrate a strong willingness and desire to work closely together for the betterment of the County. And finally, the County currently has the right people in place who are having a major positive impact on the existing culture and future direction of the County. This people-centric culture needs to be captured and communicated through the organization. |
Wellington County Aspirations |
These County aspirations illustrate what the County wants to continue to be in the future. Wellington County will embrace its values as it aspires to...Continuously work collaboratively to ensure the County has the:
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Strategic Actions |
Wellington County's Top 5 Priority Activities for this term of CouncilTo achieve its aspirations the County should consider these top activities as priorities to be undertaken in this Term of County Council:
The following sections outline additional strategic actions broken down into the following priority areas:
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People as the Main Priority of Wellington County |
Why Is This Important?People provide an organization with its talent, give an organization its unique character and ultimately give an organization its humanistic qualities. People set the tone and the corporate culture of an organization and without people – the right people – the Corporation of the County of Wellington would be governed differently, run differently, and act/interact with its taxpayers completely differently. As a strategic priority it is paramount that the County safeguard its main driving force – its people – to ensure as an organization, it can continue to be built around the most talented and driven staff complement in order to be the best place to work and ultimately driven by providing the best service to its customers/taxpayers. The County is in existence to serve its taxpayers. By ensuring the County, as an organization is built around the best people, and values its people, then, in turn, the County will have the best staff to be able to provide the best and most effective services to its taxpayers. What We Heard
Strategic Actions - People as a Priority
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Making the Best Decisions |
Why Is This Important?Historically, Wellington County has taken an opportunistic view when approaching new ventures or activities that may positively impact the community – this is something that needs to continue both in terms of being part the County’s corporate culture as well as how the County makes decisions. Currently, there is a decision-making process in place. This process works and allows the County to be nimble and quickly respond to both issues and opportunities that arise. This decision-making process allows all County staff and subject matter experts, the public and County Council an opportunity to get involved in public-facing decisions. It is important that everyone is involved in the decision-making process and understands the impacts of the County’s decision, and the “Why” they are making these decisions. What We Heard
Strategic Actions - Decision Making
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Providing the Highest Level and Best Quality Services |
Why Is This Important?Wellington County is in the business of providing services to its residents and businesses – its taxpayers. What the County provides are supports and services that positively impact the daily lives of its residents such as childcare, libraries, long term care housing, social support, and solid waste disposal and management. Without these services, most County residents and businesses would find day to day living a challenge. The County takes its role as service provider very seriously. What We Heard
Strategic Actions - Service Delivery
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Planning for and Providing the Best Physical Infrastructure |
Why Is This Important?Hard physical infrastructure in Wellington County primarily means roads and bridges, and the County builds, maintains and plans for a lot of kilometres worth of roads and hundreds of bridges. This type of infrastructure is the physical backbone of the County, crucial to ensuring the movement of people and hard goods into, around and out of the County. Without this infrastructure, the County and its taxpayers would physically and literally be cut off from the rest of the world. Infrastructure also means the number of buildings and facilities owned, operated and maintained by the County. Whether a building of historical significance or a new modern facility, each building the County is responsible for comes with a cost and series of life cycle maintenance and upgrades to consider. Providing for this infrastructure places high demands on both the County’s staffing and financial resources. Unfortunately, due to the limited life cycle of this type of physical infrastructure, there will continue to be high levels of pressure put on the County’s financial resources as it strives to ensure the proper development, maintenance and replacement of these community assets. It is therefore paramount that the County plan for and adequately finance this critical backbone. Two other pieces of infrastructure that are critically important to the County, but not traditionally a County responsibility are accessibility and affordable highspeed broadband and the provision of housing. These types of infrastructure play an important role in how the County’s residents and businesses go about their daily functions. What We Heard
Strategic Actions - Best Physical Infrastructure
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