Members of Elgin county council last week re-elected Bayham Mayor Ed Ketchabaw as Warden for 2024.
He defeated Southwold Mayor Grant Jones for the position.
After 4-4 votes with a spoiled ballot on two rounds of voting, it was Ketchabaw’s name that was eventually drawn out of a hat.
In his pitch to council, Ketchabaw had stressed, “I hate the idea of a half-finished job.”
He pointed out his second term as warden affords him the opportunity to address some of the outstanding priorities.
Grant Jones will serve as deputy warden in the coming year.
This past year hasn’t gone as planned, stressed Ketchabaw.
A priority for 2024, he said, will be dealing with the impact of the St. Thomas EV battery gigaplant, as construction is slated to begin early in the new year.
Ketchabaw added over the past year as warden, he has worked on relationships with neighbouring municipalities.
With explosive growth projected as result of the gigaplant, he says all Elgin county municipalities need to be treated as partners in this growth.
At the county level, he said they have had to re-do their growth management plant to account for the new industry.
Of particular concern, added Ketchabaw, is the tax implications of the land transferred from Central Elgin to St. Thomas to allow for the 1,500-acre industrial park now known as Yarmouth Yards.
As for the achievements of council this year, Ketchabaw noted all of the municipalities in the county have worked collaboratively to put Elgin back on the road.
“I eagerly anticipate collaborating with council and staff to ensure that Elgin county remains a vibrant community where people aspire to live, work and thrive for many years to come.”
