County Council Highlights for Dec. 20, 2023

Warden Extends Best Wishes for the Festive Season

Warden Hilda MacDonald praised County of Essex employees for supporting a food drive for the Essex Area Food Bank and for their generous support of the holiday giving program run by the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Foundation.

Dozens of boxes of donated toys and gifts for children of all ages were donated to the holiday giving program earlier this month and grocery gift cards and boxes of food were delivered Thursday morning to the food bank, which serves all of Essex County. Donations poured in from across the county, including library branches, EMS bases, Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority facilities, road depots and the Civic Centre. Sun Parlor Home in Leamington is gearing up for its annual food drive in January.

MacDonald thanked county councillors for their dedication and hard work throughout the year and extended season’s greetings to them, staff and all the residents of Essex County.

Accessibility Advisory Committee Active in 2023

Members of the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee updated council on activities and initiatives undertaken in 2023.

These included an accessibility flag raising in conjunction with local municipalities, hosting the Invisible No More accessibility forum and continuing the WE Check the Trails initiative. The County of Essex also submitted an Accessibility Compliance Report to the province and continues to work toward achieving the goals of its Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, says a report to council.

Over 2,700 on a Waiting List for Social Housing in Essex County

There are more than five times as many people on the waiting list for social housing in Essex County as the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation can accommodate.

The Community Housing Corporation has 479 units – ranging from bachelor to three-bedroom apartments – that currently house 551 individuals in the county. There are another 2,728 waiting for accommodation in Essex County, representatives said in a presentation to council.

The Community Housing Corporation provides homes to 12,000 individuals of all ages in over 4,800 homes in Windsor and Essex County. There are currently over 7,300 households on the waiting list for social housing.

Solid Waste Authority 2024 Budget Requires 4.1% Increase from Municipalities

The Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority will require a 4.1-per-cent increase in funding from the seven local municipalities in Essex County and the City of Windsor in 2024.

Essex County Council approved the increase following a presentation by authority general manager Michelle Bishop and manager of accounting and administration Stephan Brisebois.

The 4.1-per-cent increase is to the 2023 total municipal assessment of $14.4 million and based on a fixed cost allocation calculated on population. Council also approved a one-dollar increase in the waste management fee for refuse delivered for disposal to $42 per tonne. In total, the Solid Waste Authority’s 2024 budget includes $6.9 million from the county municipalities and $8 million from Windsor.

Erie Shores HealthCare Seeking County Support to Purchase New Equipment

Erie Shores HealthCare is seeking $200,000 a year for the next 10 years from the County of Essex to invest in upgrading its equipment and infrastructure.

Representatives of the hospital in Leamington, which along with Windsor Regional Hospital serves Essex County, told council the institution has experienced significant growth in the last five years and is planning for more.

In the spring, Erie Shores HealthCare launched a campaign to raise $15 million for capital improvements, which has brought in $3 million to date. The hospital is asking the county to begin contributing in 2024 and consider adding two per cent a year over the next nine years to cover inflation. The county has been contributing $200,000 a year to the Hospice – Erie Shores in Leamington, a commitment that ends in 2023.

Council Approves Essex County’s First Strategic Plan

The County of Essex has its first Strategic Plan, a guide for council and staff over the next four years and beyond.

Council approved the plan, which sets out how the Corporation of the County of Essex will create value for its partners, local communities and residents over the coming years.

The plan connects the day-to-day work of county staff to the county’s overall strategic direction, and it informs organizational strategies, initiatives and budgets. It aims to create a strong foundation for collaborative relationships within Essex County Council, between council and staff, and between the county and its partners and local communities.

Preparing for Failed Regional Waste Initiative Cost About $200,000

Research, consultations and preparation of a proposed by-law that would shift jurisdiction for garbage collection from local municipalities to the County of Essex cost roughly $200,000, says a report to council.

Council asked for the cost report after ultimately rejecting the plan, which was requested by the previous council in June 2022. The report notes the bulk of the cost was for the time staff at the county and the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority spent working on the proposal. It also includes $19,800 paid to a consultant.

Report Provides Details of the County’s External Financial Commitments

Council received a report that lists and provides details about all of its current external financial commitments and agreements. Almost 90 per cent of the funds the County of Essex gave to external agencies in 2023 were for legislated obligations.

County Taking Ownership of Detour Road During Tunnel Construction

The County of Essex is taking ownership of a detour constructed for County Road 9 (Howard Avenue) at the location where Walker Aggregates Inc. is building a tunnel.

Council previously approved the construction of the tunnel under County Road 9 to allow Walker Aggregate vehicles to travel between its properties on either side of the road. The detour is needed while the tunnel is being built. The Municipal Act requires the county to take title for the detour road and pass a by-law making it a public highway, says a report. Council also passed the by-law.

Walker Aggregates is paying for all construction, maintenance and insurance costs, as well as a fee to use the road allowance.

Emergency Management Program Updates Approved

Council received an update on Essex County’s Emergency Response Plan and passed a by-law adopting its revised emergency management program.

It also authorized emergency measures coordinator Dan Metcalfe to submit the annual emergency management program statement of completion for 2023 to the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management for Ontario.

Consultant to be Hired to Review Council Remuneration

Council has directed administration to hire a consultant to review what Essex County Council members are paid and provide comparisons from other jurisdictions.

Currently, council remuneration is based on a formula established by a committee of citizens in 2008. The warden receives double the average pay of local mayors. The deputy warden receives half the average pay for local deputy mayors, and other council members receive half the average pay for local municipal councillors.

Council Adopts New Procedure By-law

Council has adopted a revised Procedure By-law following a review that included hiring a consultant to provide recommendations.