08/15/2026
Another late post:
Although I was disappointed with yesterday’s Council outcome regarding the Rodney alleyway, I would like to ask everyone to please remain respectful toward all parties involved.
I ran for Council because I believe in the importance of unity, and we need to remember that, regardless of our differences, we are all part of West Elgin. We may not always agree, but we can still have respectful conversations and work together for the betterment of our community.
My decision yesterday was based on a few concerns:
** 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟓-𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐍𝐨-𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 **
I have a hard time seeing a truck realistically stopping there for only five minutes. When you consider unloading food goods, transporting them to the facility, returning to the truck, and potentially repeating that process, I can see the possibility of that taking much longer then 15... 30 or more minutes.
If that happens, I could foresee residents (or neighbouring businesses) becoming frustrated and contacting Council or staff with concerns about whether the five-minute restriction is being followed. I think we need to consider what could realistically happen once this is implemented. More staffing time, more council time, no accountability, and more issues.
I also have seen the video and the size of some of these trucks. This raises more concerns and challenges.
** 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 **
Similar to concerns Councillor Denning brought forward, I also don't see trucks stopping along Furnival Road for extended periods as a viable option. There are concerns regarding safety, road width, and traffic, and in good conscience, I can't say that I believe this is the best solution either.
** 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 **
I also agree with Councillor Statham's comments that we need to be mindful of the precedent we are setting.
These are the concerns that guided my decision. It wasn't about choosing sides. It was about looking at the practical and safety implications of the options that were presented to Council.
We can disagree without being disagreeable. Let's continue to have respectful conversations and work together for West Elgin. Unity matters, even when we don't always agree.
