A review of Tecumseh's ward system has led to the creation of a new electoral district in the town.
The current four ward system will be split into five wards with the two councillors representing Ward 1 now each having their own ward.
It's been 16 years since the town reviewed it's ward boundaries and Strategy Corp consultant, John Matheson, says growth over that time has led to 56% of the town's population residing in just Ward 1.
Matheson says the plan accounts for future growth as well.
"The hardest design element about this was trying to accommodate what is a considerable amount of growth over 20 years and have it both fit today and in 20 years. It's a bit like buying your child a jean jacket when they're five years old and saying this has to fit until they're 15."
Left diagram shows current ward system while right shows new ward system (Photo courtesy of Strategy Corp)
He says the main goal was to achieve more balanced representation.
"This is a good change because with all the growth coming toward the middle of Tecumseh it puts a lot of stress on just the way the numbers work when it comes to having the wards be equal and that's the thing that the system needs to have in order to be fair for everybody so everybody has similar representation."
The changes go into effect for the 2018 municipal election.
Council also passed a motion to review its ward boundaries every ten years.