At a recent Midland City Council meeting, Inspector Todd Pittman of the Ontario Provincial Police discussed the recent increase in police presence in Midland’s downtown core. The Inspector shared the OPP’s 2023 – 2025 Detachment Action Plan during his presentation. The three main themes of the plan were crime prevention, a focus on waterways, railways and trail systems, and a focus on community wellbeing.

While presenting to the council, Pittman and the Midland council both agreed that overlap between the police force and community partners was an issue that needed to be addressed. “We need engagement from community partners. We need to sit down and figure out who is doing what in a coordinated fashion for the betterment of the community,” said Pittman.

Inspector Pittman also discussed the use of speed enforcement cameras, noting they do help slow down drivers, but a downfall of their use is that they do not punish the driver of the vehicle, but the registered owner.

Other issues discussed during the council meeting were the issue of reinstating daily boat launch fees. Currently, a pass is available for citizens of Midland for $100 while non-residents can purchase a pass for $200. However, there is no way to enforce this as the machines at the boat launches are in the process of being removed. 

Along with boat launch fees, the by-law office discussed Midland’s current parking program, addressing issues of one-way parking on Seventh and Sixth street, where residents have complained about cars overcrowding residential streets.