County Council Highlights for July 20, 2022

Former Warden Remembered and Deputy Warden Thanked for His Service

Essex County council held a minute of silence to honour Jack Morris at the beginning of Wednesday’s meeting. The well-known Lakeshore auctioneer, who died recently, served on county council from 1975 to 1998 and was warden in 1983.

Warden Gary McNamara also thanked outgoing Deputy Warden Nelson Santos for his service. Santos, who was not at Wednesday’s meeting, was a member of county council for 21 years, including a term as warden from 2007 to 2010. He was mayor of Kingsville for over 18 years. He has stepped down to begin a new job as chief administrative officer for the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio, near Barrie.

“We wish him well and thank him for his tremendous service,” McNamara said.

As well, the warden noted Essex County Infrastructure and Planning Services is in the middle of its busy season and urged motorists to be patient around roadwork.

“Let’s keep road construction and maintenance workers safe and show them the gratitude and respect they deserve,” McNamara said.

He also encouraged residents to get out to cheer on the Essex-Windsor EMS paramedics who are participating in the Can-Am 2022 Police-Fire Games in Windsor from July 26 to July 31.

Accessibility Advisory Committee Purchasing a Third Bench for the Greenway

County council approved the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee’s plan to purchase a third commemorative bench to be placed along the greenway trails maintained by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA).

The committee purchased two benches last year to provide places for greenway users to rest. As part of its WE Check the Trails project launched in 2021, the committee identified the lack of rest areas as an issue that needs to be addressed to make the popular greenway more accessible.

The project initially focused on gathering public feedback about the accessibility of 80 kilometres of ERCA trails. Earlier this year, the committee launched Phase 2 of We Check the Trails, which incorporates the County Wide Active Transportation System (CWATS) multi-use pathway along County Road 20 between Kingsville and Leamington.

The cost of the third commemorative bench for the ERCA greenway will come out of the committee’s budget.

County’s Insurance Costs Going Up

The cost of comprehensive insurance for the Corporation of the County of Essex for the coming year will increase by as much as 4.76 per cent.

County Administration has negotiated a comprehensive insurance program with AON Risk Services for $1.11 million, an increase of $50,000 over the previous year. The coverage started June 30 and is for one year. It is expected that a final review will bring the increase down to three per cent, says a report to council.

Council at its June 15 meeting authorized CAO Mike Galloway to approve the new insurance program and requested the formal report presented Wednesday.

All-Way Stop Approved for Cottam Intersection

Stop signs will be added on County Road 34 at County Road 27 in Cottam, requiring vehicles on both roads to come to a stop at the intersection.

After Kingsville Police Services Board passed a resolution in May asking county council to make the change, Infrastructure and Planning Services staff conducted a review and concluded stop signs on County Road 34 at the intersection are warranted.

The intersection is in the centre of Cottam, where the speed limit on both roads is 50 km/h.

Contract to Replace County Road 12 Culvert Awarded

Southshore Contracting of Essex County Inc. has been awarded the contract to replace the Essex Outlet Drain Culvert on County Road 12 for $589,680 plus applicable taxes.

The project includes the removal of the existing concrete culvert, the installation of a new precast concrete box culvert, installation of precast block wingwalls and replacement of the asphalt wearing surface.

Construction is expected to start in October. During the approximately four weeks of construction County Road 12 will be closed at the location of the culvert, which is between County Road 15 and County Road 23.

Construction Starting on a New EMS Station in Kingsville

Gulf Developments Inc. has been awarded the contract to build a new Essex-Windsor EMS station in Kingsville for $4.35 million.

The new station will be built on a property at 75 Road 2 East, which the county purchased last year. It will be similar in design to the EMS station on Dougall Avenue in Windsor and cover 6,414 square feet. Currently, EMS has 1,290 square feet of leased space in a station on Division Road North it shares with Kingsville Fire and Rescue.

Construction of the new Kingsville EMS station is starting in September and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

All four bids for the project were over the $3 million allocated from the county’s capital reserve in the 2022 Budget. There are sufficient funds in the reserve to cover the added cost of the contract awarded to Gulf Developments Inc., says a report to council.

Expansion of Amber Alert to Protect Vulnerable Children Supported

Council passed a motion by LaSalle Deputy Mayor Crystal Meloche supporting calls to expand Ontario’s Amber Alert system to cover vulnerable children who haven’t been abducted but are at high risk of danger, injury or death.

The calls for the change come after the death of 11-year-old Draven Graham, an autistic boy who went missing in June in the Lindsay area. His body was later found in the Scugog River.

Hiring of Physician Recruitment Specialist Put on Hold Pending Report

Council voted to pause the hiring process for a new physician recruitment specialist for the region and asked that a report from Administration about the position be presented at a future meeting.

The last physician recruitment specialist, an employee of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, was seconded to the position in 2004 and recently retired. In addition to county funding, the position has been financially supported by hospital partners.

New Contract for Sun Parlor Home Workers Approved

A new three-year agreement for Sun Parlor Home workers was approved by council.

The agreement is with CUPE Local 860, which represents unionized Sun Parlor Home staff, except for registered nurses. It is for a term that ends March 31, 2025, and has been ratified by union members.