Komoka Community Centre

Council keeps an eye on periphery growth

Like slow-moving tectonic plates, ­London and its surrounding municipalities continue to grind up against one another as they grow.

Efforts to smooth the wrinkles along London's boundaries with Middlesex County continued in council chambers last week.

Along with a close 8-6 vote shutting down a deal that would have let Arva tap into London sewer services, city council passed a resolution directing city staff to discuss concerns over the county's ­development plans in Komoka-Kilworth and Ilderton.

That vote passed easily 13-1, with Coun. Harold Usher the only one opposed. Mayor Joe Fontana was absent.

Middlesex County is in the middle of an analysis of its official plan, a process that all Ontario municipalities must go through every five years.

"We have several areas that have lands that we can't service because it's not affordable to serve a little tiny village with a sewage treatment plant," explained Middlesex County Mayor Al Edmondson. "So these lands exist, all we're ­(planning on) doing is transferring them to areas … where they can be serviced."

But as with concerns over new homebuyers taking advantage of expanded London service in Arva — city staff estimated that deal might have cost London $45 million in lost assessments — larger potential bedroom communities near London's western and northwestern edge, where more developable lands may be added, is also causing some unease.

"There is a cost both upfront and ongoing to providing services to accommodate growth in the city and we want to make sure there isn't expensive growth on the periphery of the city that is utilizing those services without compensating," said John Fleming, director of land use planning. "So what we're looking for is a balanced approach to growth in our city and our neighboring municipalities. We certainly acknowledge that we're going to succeed together and we ­certainly want to take a cooperative approach.

Fireworks for Canada Day - Strathroy Age Dispatch - Ontario, CA

People in Strathroy-Caradoc will have plenty of options when it comes to celebrating Canada Day this year.

Those who live in the Mt. Brydges area will have the opportunity to attend the annual Del-Ko-Brydge festivities, which rotate between the communities of Delaware, Mt. Brydges and Komoka, where they are taking place this year.

On July 1 at the Komoka Community Centre there will be a free pancake breakfast from 7:45 to 10:30, a parade leaving Parkview School in the morning, entertainment and music, and the preliminary Western Fair Ontario Youth Talent Search. There will be a horseshoe challenge for local councillors, dog agility demonstrations, bingo and euchre in the hall, and food available all day. There will also be sports events and of course, fireworks.

This year will be the 30th time that the Del-Ko-Brydge event has been held.

In Strathroy, Bethel Baptist Church will be holding celebrations on Sunday, July 3 at the Gemini Sportsplex.

They decided to stage the event on the Sunday instead of on Friday, July 1 – Canada Day, because this way families who are going out of town will be back from their trips and able to attend.

"In the past when it fell on a Friday, the town moved it to Sunday as well," said David Switzer, who is organizing the event with Bethel. "In the town's experience there is a significant change in attendance from Friday to Sunday."

The event will start at 7 p.m. and include a car show, live entertainment, a classic car show, children's activities, games and bouncy structures. The first 3,000 people through the gates will receive a free hot dog.

The stage program will start at 8 p.m. and include local country-western singer Justin Platt as well as a band that will be covering songs by The Beatles.

"Hopefully we'll have a great day," Switzer said.

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