Written By Jan Sims
MIDDLESEX CENTRE - Money matters were highlighted at the October 16th Middlesex Centre council meeting, with questions raised about a whopping increase in the 2025 Ontario Provincial Police billing statement.
The projected increase is 22% over 2024 for services provided by the OPP to the municipality. The total cost for 2025 comes in at $2,828,336. That compares to $2,310,674 for 2024. A report to council also notes that the 2024 increase over 2023 was only 1%.
Deputy Mayor, John Brennan, told council he wants to see why that’s happening, adding a 22% increase is “…huge in this climate.” Brennan told council, “There’s been quite an increase in costs there. Perhaps it’s the amount of service we’re getting, but I think when we have our first Police Services Board meeting, we can talk about this.” The Police Services Board meeting is scheduled for the end of October.
Chief Administrative Officer Michael DiLullo told council that municipal staff have reached out to the OPP Detachment Commander, and that Inspector Ross Stuart will be at the November 6th council meeting to answer questions.
The staff report included numbers from the OPP about service calls in Middlesex Centre in the past few years. Property crime and traffic offenses were among the top reasons police were called out to investigate in the community.
The October 16th council meeting also looked at a request by staff for money to upgrade washrooms at the Coldstream community centre, which is adjacent to the municipal offices. The report cites the advantages of doing the work, while trades such as painters, electricians, and carpet/tile layers are already on site as part of the $5.2 million renovation project at the municipal building.
“I think it’s a good move… to go ahead with the additional renovations because if we wait a year or two it’s only going to cost a lot more money,” said Deputy Mayor John Brennan. “To have the building redone and open to the public and have the washrooms in the state that they’re in today would be a very demoralizing thing for our staff and us,” added Brennan.
