Tillsonburg council briefs

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Parkette renaming

The parkette at the intersection of Broadway and Oxford Street will have a new name.

Formally known as the Oxford-Broadway Parkette, its name will be changed to the Tillson Family Parkette. The only cost associated with the name change will be a new sign, which was estimated to cost $1,200

Easements approved

Council approved the necessary expenditures associated with registering storm water flow easements on property at 1 Clearview Drive and 3,500 Highway 3.

These properties, which are owned by Titan Trailer, were developed when the area was not included within the Tillsonburg boundary. Having the easement is necessary for storm water drainage.

The cost associated with registering the easements is $3,000 to $5,000 in surveying and legal costs.

Tax installment dates set

The first two installment of Tillsonburg taxes will be due Feb. 27 and May 29, The initial installments are based on last year’s rates. Tax increases for 2026 will be reflected in the third and fourth installments.

Tender for Stoney Creek work approved

A tender for Stoney Creek sanitary sewer work was approved by Tillsonburg council at the Jan. 12 meeting.

The project involves bank stabilization and stream erosion control along Stoney Creek between Quarter Line Road and Concession Street West. The work is expected to take 12 weeks during the summer.

This project is actually a county project that is being administered by the town as per existing agreements. The lowest tender of $869,900 for the work, and $66,135 for contract administration and inspection, exceeded the $850,000 the county budgeted for the work.

Ball diamond accessibility upgrades on hold

Upgrades at the Sam Lamb Ball Diamond that would have provided an accessible path to spectator seating and four accessible parking spaces was put off due to grant funding not coming through.

Town staff had applied to the Enhancing Access to Spaces for Everyone Grant to fund the work. Estimated costs were between $22,000 and $27,000. The grant would have covered all associated costs without impacting the tax levy.

Director of Recreation, Culture and Parks Andrea Greenway said staff will continue to seek funding.

Council wrestles with assessment report

Town council was divided on a request for a pavement and sidewalk assessment from Carlos Reyes, Director of Operations and Development.

In 2025, council approved $70,000 to be spent on a roads assessment report that would rate the condition of the town’s streets for use in asset management planning and when to repair or resurface the pavement. In a report to council at the Jan. 12 meeting, Reyes suggested reports were also needed on the condition of the parking lots, sidewalks and the airport pavement.

The price tag for all the assessments, which Reyes suggested be funded from reserves, came in at $192,815 through the tender process.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy understood the need for a report on the roads as there are more of them, but questioned the need for the other reports, specifically mentioning the need for repaving parking lots.

“I would rather take the money and spend it to fix than to pay a consultant,” she said. “I can see it’s in poor condition.”

Coun. Chris Parker questioned what a sidewalk condition assessment will bring that can’t be seen. Reyes answered it’s also an inventory tool for tracking.

Saying the town paid students to walk sidewalks in the last couple of years, Coun. Chris Rosehart questioned the need for the assessment.

Reyes said the assessment would be more detailed. After another question from Rosehart about the timing of sidewalk replacement, Reyes said sidewalk construction is often done in conjunction with road construction.

Council backs resolution to protect pension funds

Tillsonburg council passed a motion asking the province not to change the governance model for the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System Pension Fund.

Deputy Mayor Dave Beres, who presented the motion, explained the provincial government is proposing to change the governance model overseeing the fund and could borrow money against the funds in the pension.

“OMERS is a municipal responsibility, not a provincial responsibility,” he said.

Money in the fund was contributed 50-50 by municipalities and their employees who are part of it.

“If something went wrong, the responsibility to make up for it would fall on municipalities,” he said.

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter