Written By Olena Riznyk
NORTH MIDDLESEX – At its latest meeting on February 4, council reviewed a wide range of municipal matters, including infrastructure projects, drainage works, social service updates, and several internal policy decisions affecting municipal operations. The session provided residents with updates on ongoing municipal work, services, and administrative matters currently before council.
One of the main presentations came from Middlesex County Human Services, where staff outlined housing-related supports and prevention programs operating across the county. Officials explained that housing challenges in rural municipalities often differ from those in urban centres, with many situations involving temporary or unstable housing arrangements rather than visible street homelessness. Rising rental costs, increased demand for food supports, and pressures related to utilities and household expenses were identified as factors affecting some residents. County representatives described ongoing outreach efforts, including community navigators, prevention programs, and partnerships with local organizations intended to connect residents with available services and housing resources.
Council also received several infrastructure updates. Staff confirmed that a sanitary sewer modelling project for Parkhill and Ailsa Craig has been completed within the approved budget. The modelling work fulfills environmental compliance requirements related to municipal wastewater systems and provides technical information to assist with infrastructure planning, system monitoring, and maintenance.
Drainage matters occupied a significant portion of the agenda. Council approved additional petitions related to municipal drain projects, including requests connected to agricultural drainage needs and extensions to previously approved drainage initiatives. Members also considered a request for improvements to the Dixon Thompson Drain, where an aging road crossing was noted as being in poor condition. The matter will proceed through the engineering review process under the Drainage Act to determine the scope of any required work.
Council also addressed several administrative and governance items. Committee reports included notices of upcoming meetings for economic development and recreation committees, while other committees reported no new business at this time. Council approved updates to internal municipal policies, including revisions to the employee vacation policy aimed at ensuring consistent practices across departments and aligning procedures with current legislative requirements. Additional policy-related discussions were also held as part of routine municipal governance.
Regional coordination on housing services was also discussed. Council heard updates regarding collaboration with the City of London, which administers certain housing programs for Middlesex County. Officials noted ongoing work to clarify responsibilities, review available resources, and maintain communication between municipal and regional partners involved in housing supports.
