Tillsonburg council briefs

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Council pay released

As required by the Municipal Act, remuneration and expenses for the mayor and council members were released for 2024.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy was paid $44,387, plus per diems for sitting on the police services and hydro boards as well as expenses and health benefits for a total of $64,699. Deputy Mayor Dave Beres received a salary of $22,238 and additional per diems for police services, hydro, outside meeting per diems and expenses for a $41,398 total. All councillors received salaries $20,716 (plus or minus a few cents), plus health care and expenses for totals ranging from a low of $26,935 for Coun. Chris Parker to a high of $31,324 (her total included police services board) for Coun. Chris Rosehart. Coun. Kelly Spencer’s expenses were the highest amongst councillors at $3,546, but second highest overall.

Police Services Board members Art Baumonk, Larry Scanlan and Rebecca Turrill received total payouts ranging from $3,213 for Baumonk to $7,865 for Scanlan, who is the board chair.

Tillsonburg Hydro Board members Ken Edwards, Robert Kent, Laura Pickersgill, Kyle Pratt, Dan Rasokas, Cedric Tomico, John Veldman and Ernie Vidovic received renumeration ranging from $7,312 to $9,141 for Rasokas, who is the chair.

Runway repairs

Tillsonburg council adopted a recommendation from its Airport Advisory Committee to seal the cracks in the runway. The committee asked for the repairs to be included in the annual budget.

Coun. Chris Parker said this needs to be done before the condition of the runway gets worse.

“It’s imperative we do this on a regular basis so we don’t have a major problem,” he said.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy said it hadn’t been done in a long time.

“If it doesn’t get done, we risk having to repave the runway, which would be in the millions of dollars versus $60,000 for crack sealing,” she said.

Loads of Laundry receives grant

Loads of Laundry, a new business on Tillson Ave., was a recipient of the town’s community improvement plan. The business received $10,000 for exterior repairs.

Lease extended

A lease for agricultural land with VanQuathem Farms was extended for a year by town council.

The lease covers land in the second phase of the VanNorman Innovation Park. It includes an increase in the rent fee from $340 to $370.

Lake Lisgar weir repair

Following reports of growing sedimentation in the north end of Lake Lisgar, Tillsonburg council endorsed a bid from Watech Services Inc. for $120,00 to fix the low flow water weir adjacent to Concession Street. The weir is essentially a drain, which is stuck and was last opened in 1969.

Fixing the weir would be the first step in draining the lake to allow silt removal.