Written By Sue Clarke, Mayor of Adelaide Metcalfe
It is hard to believe that this term of council is ending. Here are some of the accomplishments we have achieved over the past four years:
- A positive culture exists within Adelaide Metcalfe staff and Council. This ensures a productive and respectful work environment. At the beginning of this term, we introduced annual employee performance reviews, linking compensation directly to performance.
- A great relationship between our volunteer firefighters and Council.
- Improved relationship with neighbouring municipality Strathroy-Caradoc. The two CAOs and two mayors, with the support of their respective Council teams, put together an Interim Service Agreement that opened the door to economic development for our area.
- The Township is also the first in Middlesex County to have a farm worker housing policy within our Official Plan, along with Community Improvement Incentives.
I could go on, but it is equally important to focus on the next four years.
With ever-increasing costs to non-discretionary expenses like policing, education, and the County levy, we need to continue thinking creatively when it comes to long-term financial prosperity and economic growth. The Township is in a very strategic position when we look at future opportunities. Port Huron is less than an hour away, and there are three Highway 402 interchanges through our municipality. We know that Canada is ranked fifth in the world for food production, and that southwestern Ontario is a major contributor to this food supply.
Our focus over the next term is to support our farmers by developing an Industrial Park, prioritizing food processing. This will support not only our farmers in the region but bring employment opportunities for generations to come. To get there, we must “set the table” to attract investment and commitments to the region. We know we need to spend money on things that do not yield an immediate benefit. Engineers’ reports, surveys, and infrastructure, to name a few. This will ensure the industrial and commercial tax assessment needed to reduce the burden on our ratepayers well into the future. We will continue our philosophy of thoughtful growth, while protecting agricultural land.
From an administration and operations perspective, we will continue to look for efficiencies and improvements in the way we deliver services to our residences. We know there are always areas to improve, and staff are committed to that philosophy. Council commends staff on the many successful grant applications over this term and looks forward to future successes as opportunities present themselves.
One of the continuing areas of focus will be Property Standards and Bylaw Enforcement. This is a complaint-driven process. Many of the issues throughout the municipality have not occurred overnight. In some cases, they have been around for over 50 years. Please be patient as staff work through these files with the property owners. Everyone throughout the municipality wants a safe and visually appealing community to live in.
When Council was presented with the Ministry report saying our School Road Landfill had reached its end of life, staff and Council arrived at a very cost-effective decision. Once Ministry approval is received, we will convert to a transfer station in 2027. This model allows us to provide a green solution without having to incur a $733k expense to close the site up entirely.
Adelaide Metcalfe’s Asset Management Plan (roads, bridges, water/wastewater) is due for review in 2027. The provincially legislated 10-year service levels and financial strategies are in place, and we are in excellent shape. An additional five-year analysis has been done to ensure a longer runway for long-term fiscal sustainability and eligibility for federal and provincial grants.
Please remember to exercise your right to vote between Oct. 19–26 and slow down on our roads as we are in harvest season.
