A look back and ahead with EZT’s mayor

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It is a decades-old tradition for politicians to sit down with journalists at the end of a year and talk about not only the 12 months that was, but also the year that is yet to be.

East Zorra-Tavistock (EZT) Mayor Phil Schaefer agreed to chat with the Gazette about his thoughts on 2024 and what’s coming in 2025. Schaefer said there were several accomplishments in EZT last year that stood out to him.

“Our first-ever strategic plan was completed, council meetings are now livestreamed, four new ‘Welcome to EZT’ signs were installed and the township declared itself an unwilling host (in a unanimous vote) for wind turbines. Sadly, we had to end the transit pilot,” he said.

A strategic plan is a document that guides a municipality in its overall direction regarding policies. Schaefer explained it shapes everything they do.

“If you look at staff reports in our meeting agendas, each report indicates how the recommendations made by staff fit into our strategic plan.”

EZT Transit was scrapped in September of 2024, a move made strictly for financial reasons. The project’s annual cost would have been in the neighbourhood of $100,000 annually and would not have broken even, something council was not prepared to make the tax base spring for.

The township is close to completing its secondary plan, something used to strengthen existing development areas and to promote the orderly and appropriate development of vacant lands. Schaefer was hoping it would be approved last year, but the province created red tape.

“I would have liked to have had it completed in 2024, but it has been delayed a bit by the new Ontario Provincial Policy Statement being issued. County planning staff and our consultant are making sure the secondary plan coincides with the new policy statement,” Schaefer said.

The City of Woodstock has made it well known it is in dire need of land on its northern border and has asked EZT to enter boundary adjustment negotiations – something delayed by the secondary plan not being completed.

The Gazette’s sister newspaper, the Woodstock-Ingersoll Echo, recently spoke with Woodstock mayor Jerry Acchione regarding that city’s need for land. He suggested EZT would also benefit from the process.

“There has to be growth, and growth also helps EZT residents with more grocery stores. There is so much going on in the north end of (Woodstock). I’d love to see good commercial development on those lands in addition to housing. It benefits everyone,” Acchione said.

The biggest order of business in 2025 is budget deliberations, which will begin shortly and include, for the first time in the township’s history, a five-year capital budget.

“We still need to deal with our old office building and complete our new salt-and-sand sheds (being constructed just east of Hickson). The bridge on the 13th Line south of Tavistock will be replaced as well,” said Schaefer.

Recreation has become a hot topic for residents of the township, particularly after the formation of a recreation advisory committee (RAC). While it has no decision-making power, it does advise elected officials on recreation priorities. Currently, EZT does not supply residents with programming, just the facilities.

“We will be discussing in our budget deliberations how we can take a bigger role in recreation programming,” said Schaefer.

What that looks like on a budget line remains to be seen, but the RAC gave the township a wish list including a multi-use recreation facility and a spray pad in Innerkip.

He added one option he would like to see is more drop-in type events and said he is open to staff suggestions.

“The RAC has received feedback regarding what people want, and the public sessions were an avenue for ideas to be presented,” Schaefer said.

As a result of his position as mayor of EZT, Schaefer has a seat at the Oxford County council table. That council recently approved a new townhome project for Tavistock, something he is looking forward to.

“I am pleased with the new townhouse development being planned for the property next to Optimist Park,” he said. “I like its density and the fact that it is infilled, and I think there is a demand for these types of homes. I don’t know what the price range will be yet, but I assume they will be more affordable than a single-family, detached home. As for affordable housing, we need land for that and, right now, it is in short supply.”

Schaefer added the upgrades at Punkeydoodles Corners were a much-needed project he was glad to see completed, as well as the all-way stop at County Road 28 and the 16th Line. He added a pair of infrastructure developments are also on the horizon.

“Even though completion won’t happen until past 2025, the new Tavistock well plan and the upgrades to the William Street Pumping station are two very large projects being undertaken by the county to secure and grow a safe water supply, and also to deal with the growth needed in our wastewater infrastructure.”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the restructuring of Oxford County, which brought Tavistock and East Zorra together. 

“Residents can find comfort that we will continue to practice fiscal prudence in this anniversary year,” he added.