Written By David Gomez
ADELAIDE METCALFE - Emergency responses and upcoming changes to commercial recycling services were among the topics discussed during council’s April 20 meeting, where councillors also approved annual drain maintenance levies and supported the return of the Kerwood Annual Ball Tournament.
Fire Chief Dan Parker opened the staff report portion of the meeting with an update on the Adelaide Metcalfe Fire Department’s first quarter activities, describing the opening months of 2026 as “very bustling” due to icy roads and repeated snowstorms.
“In the first quarter, we had 23 responses in the township, 15 motor vehicle collisions, one motor vehicle extrication, three alarms, three false alarms, one alarm malfunction,” Parker said.
Several incidents were tied to hazardous winter driving conditions, including a collision involving five transport trucks jackknifed on Highway 402 westbound near Kerwood Road.
Another major response occurred in February when a 10-car pileup took place near Calvert Drive and Sexton Road during highway closures and redirected traffic.
“They were people traveling to Windsor trying to get home,” Parker said. “So, a lot of people there from out of the area.”
Alongside emergency response activity, Parker outlined ongoing firefighter training and safety initiatives. Training during the quarter included medical emergency scenarios, high-rise operations at the Holiday Inn Express in Strathroy, tanker shuttle exercises and large-scale accountability procedures. The department also hosted a mental health and wellness presentation attended by firefighters and their spouses.
Parker reported that the department’s former 2000 GMC tanker, which served the township for more than 25 years, had recently been sold. He also noted that an inspection by Office of the Fire Marshal advisor Joseph Krogman resulted in positive feedback regarding the station, equipment and firefighter recruitment efforts.
Mayor Susan Clarke asked about the department’s automatic aid agreement with Strathroy-Caradoc. Parker said the departments had already worked together successfully on Highway 402 calls and were preparing for a joint training exercise involving aerial operations, water supply and drone deployment.
Council later approved a request recognizing the Optimist Club of Kerwood Adelaide Metcalfe Annual Ball Tournament as a municipally significant event. The designation allows organizers to obtain a Special Occasion Permit from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario for alcohol sales during the June 12 to 14 event at Kerwood Park.
Clerk and Manager of Legislative Services Michael Barnier described the request as a standard annual process. Clarke noted the tournament remains “a significant fundraiser for the Optimist Club.”
Treasurer Johnny Pereira then presented the township’s annual drain maintenance report under Section 74 of the Drainage Act. Pereira explained that drainage maintenance costs are billed back to upstream landowners and road authorities according to established assessment schedules.
“There’s a total of $65,457 of repairs undertaken,” Pereira said. Of that amount, approximately $16,648 will be recovered through the province’s one-third drain grant program, while the township’s road-related share totals about $6,171.
Council approved the 2025 drain maintenance by-law without discussion.
Another topic discussed during the meeting was the changes to Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) recycling services following Ontario’s transition to a producer responsibility framework under the Blue Box program.
Pereira explained that ICI properties are no longer included in the residential recycling program, leaving municipalities to determine whether and how to continue offering service.
The Bluewater Recycling Association has proposed a user-pay system beginning in 2027 at a cost of $160 per recycling bin annually. Staff recommended introducing a partial-year fee of $71.40 per bin beginning July 1, 2026.
“So, that would just ensure that this program is being paid by those who are benefiting from the service,” Pereira said.
Councillors discussed how the changes could affect businesses currently using multiple recycling bins. Councillor Mike Brodie expressed concern about added costs for local businesses, while Clarke said businesses should be given advance notice and an opportunity to evaluate more efficient collection options.
Council approved the cost recovery model and directed staff to notify affected properties ahead of implementation.
