Tillsonburg council briefs

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Water park hours return to normal

After operating with extended hours for 2023 and 2024 due to the closure of the indoor pool, the Lake Lisgar Water Park will return to normal hours in 2025.

The hours will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Funding for Founder’s Day

Council approved reallocating some 2024 unspent funds to Founder’s Day, an event to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the town’s founding.

The approved motion was to move any unused funds from the cultural grants and Twin City budgets to the 2025 Founder’s Day event.

Relief coming on fees at transfer station

There may be a fee reduction coming for tipping fees at the Tillsonburg Transfer Station associated with an automatic charge for both items in a trailer and vehicle, even though the vehicle may be empty.

Noting there was a $39,000 surplus in tipping fee revenue, Coun. Bob Parsons raised the possibility.

“If we have this fluctuation, we may be able reduce the cost to our citizens of having to take things to the transfer station. That would be a win,” he said.

Director of Operations Jonathan Graham said this was a county fee, but Mayor Deb Gilvesy said a resolution to that effect was passed at county council.

Town searching for new director of operations

Nov. 14 was Direct of Operations Jonathan Graham’s last meeting with the town. He is moving to the city of London.

Tillsonburg appointed Chris Baird, who was the interim director of recreation, culture and parks and had experience in public works with Norfolk County, will fill the position until someone is hired.

The cost of new bus shelters has increased.

Town council received a report that the cost of 12 bus shelters increased due to relocation of one shelter and a larger concrete base needed on each of the 12 stops where the shelters are to be installed. A grant will cover 90 per cent of the $207,000 cost, but the additional cost would require submitting the grant application, which could jeopardize the funding.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy suggested an easy solution is to install one less shelter, but that idea was shut down by staff as it would require an amendment to the application.

Council approved spending an additional $32,000 for the shelters, and taking the money from the infrastructure reserve fund.

Tillsonburg calls for rural road safety funding

Tillsonburg council endorsed a motion from the Ontario Good Roads Association calling on the province to invest in a rural road safety program.

The motion, put forward by Coun. Bob Parsons, points out that 55 per cent of fatalities occur on rural roads, despite only 17 per cent of the population living in rural municipalities. It also points to smaller municipalities limited tax base to fund road improvements and asks the province to fund a rural roads safety program.

Town phone app to be promoted

The Tillsonburg phone app will receive a boost after Coun. Kelly Spencer brought forward a motion at the last council meeting.

Spencer’s motion centred on using the app for awareness of people with dementia wandering, and using it to make people aware of any potential situations. The awareness initiative will also make citizens aware of the need to have push notifications enabled on their phones to be made aware of emergent situations.