Council this Week: Highlights from the March 26 County Council agenda - 20250326

03/21/2025

Public Works annual reports, homelessness response, Archives annual update and more

County Council meetings are broadcast live at www.oxfordcounty.ca/livestream. To download the full agenda or view past recordings of council meetings, visit www.oxfordcounty.ca/council.

Oxford County Stewardship Award

Oxford County Warden Marcus Ryan will present a local landowner with the 2024 Oxford Stewardship Award at the March 26 meeting of County Council. The award recognizes County landowners who have made exemplary contributions to preserve and enhance the natural features and areas on their properties, such as woodlands, wetlands, streams and meadows. Learn more

Public Works annual reports

Public Works brings forward five program annual reports next council meeting.

2024 Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS) Update. Oxford County’s DWQMS shows continued compliance with drinking water regulations and the County’s ongoing commitment to continual improvement in providing safe, reliable and sustainable municipal drinking water. In 2024, Oxford County completed the work of consolidating the County’s 17 drinking water system quality management programs into one County-wide operational plan.
2024 Annual Waste Management Reports. Oxford County’s waste management programs and facilities continue to operate in compliance with regulatory requirements. The County achieved an overall landfill waste diversion rate for residential and ICI (Industrial, Commercial and Institutional) waste of approximately 46% in 2024, and has an estimated remaining service life for the landfill of approximately 31 years. Work in 2024 included the South Fill Area and gas wellfield projects.

2024 Annual Wastewater System Performance. Based on approximately 4,528 effluent samples collected and analyzed in 2024, five of the nine County municipal WWTPs achieved 100% compliance ratings: Ingersoll, Mount Elgin, Tavistock, Thamesford and Woodstock. The remaining four received compliance ratings of 99% (Norwich), 98% (Tillsonburg), 97% (Drumbo) and 94% (Plattsville). As part of the County’s Renewable Energy Action Plan, a biogas utilization study for the Woodstock Wastewater Treatment Plan continued in 2024. When implemented, it is projected that the heat and electricity generated from the biogas will offset electricity usage by 40% and heat energy requirements by 39%, reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions from the treatment plant by 58%.
2024 Annual Transportation System Performance. Oxford County invested in $41 million in transportation system improvements last year, encompassing 62 km of road reconstruction asphalt resurfacing, 740 m of guide rails installed, 18 new speed feedback signs, and 11 studies, among other activities to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the regional road network.
2024 Annual Energy Report. Figures from 2024 show that Oxford County’s annual renewable energy generation across its facilities has increased by approximately 203% since its 2015 baseline levels. Efforts in energy conservation and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction continue to show progress, with intensity per asset continuing to decline. As well, approximately 32% of the County’s 179-unit vehicle fleet has been converted to alternative fuels to reduce fossil fuel consumption and GHG emissions.

PW 2025-17 – 2024 Drinking Water Quality Management System Update

PW 2025-18 – 2024 Annual Waste Management Reports

PW 2025-19 – 2024 Annual Wastewater System Performance

PW 2025-20 - 2024 Annual Transportation System Performance

PW 2025-21 - 2024 Annual Energy Report | Graphic

Homelessness response

Final recommendations for the Homelessness Response Strategy are before County Council on March 26. The report includes a number of new recommendations aimed at preventing homelessness, including:

establishing a Homelessness Support Centre in Woodstock that provides emergency shelter and support services in partnership with the new Homelessness and Additions Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub/Wellness Centre;
expanding the rent supplement program to help house more individuals from the community housing waitlist and others who are struggling to remain housed; and,
establishing a working group made up of community partners and Oxford County staff to oversee implementation of the strategy.

HS 2025-04 – Homelessness Response Strategy | Strategy document

Archives annual update

Council receives an update on activities by the Oxford County Archives next week, outlining the program’s community impact through projects, community outreach, partnerships and services that help preserve and celebrate Oxford’s past. In 2024, Archives acquired 29 record and collection donations/transfers; responded to 1,023 requests; received 322 visits; and carried out 21 outreach activities, public programs and events.

CS 2025-10: Oxford County Archives 2024 Community Impact Report | Report

Questions or comments?

Council this Week previews the Oxford County Council meeting agenda for residents, community partners and employees. Please send your questions and comments to communications@oxfordcounty.ca