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STRATFORD VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 10
25
DECEMBER 13, 2024
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North Perth deputy mayor acclaimed as Perth County warden for 2025 GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
North Perth deputy mayor Todd Kellum has been acclaimed as Perth County warden, taking over from outgoing warden and current Perth East Mayor Rhonda Ehgoetz after two one-year terms in the position. Kellum, who has served on county council for a decade, including most recently as deputy warden, took his oath of office and accepted the warden’s chain and gavel from Ehgoetz during the annual Perth County warden’s election Dec. 5 at the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford. “I am delighted and honoured to serve as the 154th warden for Perth County this year,” Kellum said. “I appreciate the trust you’ve placed in me as I step into this important role. … It’s an exciting time to step into this role in Perth County. This past year, we’ve achieved some significant milestones. The new official plan is complete and it has been submitted to the province for review. “This is a big step forward for the county. Once approved by the ministry, it will mean great things for the future growth and development of our region.” Kellum also spoke about the near-complete connecting-link addition at the country courthouse campus in Stratford, which will connect the recently renovated Perth County courthouse with the renovated former land-registry office at 5 Huron St. into one unified Perth County headquarters building. “This renovated space will provide a new and expanded home for county staff,” Kellum continued. CONTINUED TO PAGE 6
THE BIG MAN IN RED
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
Santa caps off the parade, speaking to the crowd before counting down to when the large, outdoor Christmas tree just in front of the Tom Patterson Theatre is lit up. See more photos on page 7.
Council gets philosophical before pausing budget talks at 6.5 per-cent tax increase
CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The 2025 draft budget, with the approved expansions and removals council has made, is currently sitting at a tax rate increase of 6.53 per cent – but there is still much more work to be done before any increase is finalized. Both Mayor Martin Ritsma and Coun. Mark Hunter, who serves as chair of the finance and labour committee that does preliminary work before council approves the budget, said they had hoped to bring the rate increase
“south of five per cent,” and reiterated that comment at the most recent budget meeting on Dec. 9. To get there now would take considerable cuts to services – a tall order according to Coun. Lesley Biehn. “We need six people to agree on which services to cut,” Biehn said. “And from everything that I've seen going through the budget and all the questions I've been asking over this last month, I don't think there is a single thing that we will cut or anybody would be willing to cut. CONTINUED TO PAGE 2