County Council Highlights for June 21, 2023

Warden Commends Community Living Essex County and Multicultural Council

Warden Hilda MacDonald in her opening remarks to Essex County Council on Wednesday praised the work of Community Living Essex County and encouraged residents to get behind it by donating or getting involved.

The non-profit organization has been supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families in Essex County for 62 years.

“Community Living Essex County staff, volunteers and board members have done a tremendous job of ensuring more than 700 children, youth and adults with intellectual disabilities are able to fulfill their dreams of being engaged members of our communities,” the warden said.

MacDonald also gave a shout-out to Essex-Windsor EMS paramedics for wearing rainbow-coloured epaulettes in June to support Pride Month.

“Our paramedics work incredibly hard in challenging circumstances, yet they consistently make time in their busy schedules to show support to others through gestures like these and by attending public events,” she said. “Thank you, Essex-Windsor EMS paramedics, for setting a great example and making us proud!”

The warden closed her remarks by applauding the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County for “a wonderful first weekend of Carrousel of the Nations.” She encouraged residents to take part in the second weekend by visiting some of the villages to experience the food and festivities that “remind us, in a fun way, of how lucky we are to live in such a diverse region.”

Health Unit Officials Provide Overview of Services

Chief executive officer Ken Blanchette and other senior staff members provided council with an overview of the services being provided by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit in 2023.

The areas covered by the health unit’s programs include: chronic disease prevention and well-being; healthy growth and development; food safety; water safety; healthy environments; substance use and injury prevention; immunization; infectious and communicable diseases prevention and control; school health; and oral health.

Council Calls for More Support to Deal with Mental Health Crisis

Council has directed administration to send a letter calling for more support for Essex County to deal with mental health issues.

The letter will be sent to the Western Ontario Wardens Caucus, the Association of Municipalities Ontario and the Windsor-Essex Ontario Health Team, as well as the Ontario Premier’s Office, Minister of Health, Solicitor General and Ministry of the Attorney General.

Comprehensive Insurance Cost is Expected to Increase

Council gave Interim CAO Mary Birch authority to approve the County of Essex comprehensive insurance program for the next year.

The current policy expires on June 30 and the provider, AON Risk Services, was unable to complete a quote in time for Wednesday’s meeting. The same thing happened in 2022, requiring the CAO to get council’s authority to make sure the insurance was renewed on time.

A formal report about the cost and other details of the comprehensive insurance program for the next year is expected to be presented to council at its July 19 meeting. It is anticipated that the county’s cost for comprehensive insurance will increase more than projected in the 2023 Budget, says a report to council by Director, Financial Services, and Treasurer Sandra Zwiers.

Financial Statements Report for 2022 Confirms County is in Good Shape

The County of Essex consolidated financial statements for 2022 confirm it is in a financially sustainable position, and that it has the flexibility to maintain services and meet its financial obligations.

Less than one per cent of revenues go to repaying borrowed money, leaving the county unconstrained by debt, says a report to council by Director, Financial Services, and Treasurer Sandra Zwiers.

As of the end of 2022, the County of Essex had an accumulated surplus – equity and retained earnings – of $473,781,750. Its overall budget surplus for 2022 was $73,195, not including Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority operations. One moderate risk the county must address is an infrastructure funding gap identified earlier this year in its Asset Management Plan (2022).

Federal Funding Sought to Improve Drainage at Busy Tecumseh Intersection

Council has authorized administration to apply to the federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund to make drainage improvements that will allow for future upgrading of the intersection of County Road 22 and County Road 19 (Manning Road) in Tecumseh.

The proposed project along County Road 19 south of the intersection would entail enclosing the East Townline Drain, constructing a storm water management pond and adding a pumping station. The associated roadwork would include four traffic lanes, turning lanes, a multi-use path and the addition of traffic signals at Jamsyl Drive.

The Disaster Mitigation and Adaption Fund contributes up to 40 per cent of eligible costs. It is estimated the East Townline Drain project could receive $8 million to $10 million in federal funding if approved, according to a report to council. The fund is “aimed at reducing the socio-economic, environmental and cultural impacts triggered by natural hazards and extreme weather events taking into consideration current and potential future impacts of climate change in communities and infrastructure at high risk.”

The East Townline Drain is a storm water outlet for much of the land bounded by County Road 22, County Road 19, County Road 42 and Lesperance Road. It is located within the County Road 19 road allowance.

Tender Awarded for Bridge Rehabilitation on County Road 9

A contract to rehabilitate a bridge over River Canard on County Road 9 has been awarded to Facca Incorporated for $4.2 million plus applicable taxes.

The bridge at the intersection of County Road 9 and County Road 10 is one of the largest owned by the County of Essex. It is expected that the rehabilitation work – which will close the intersection – will begin in the fall of this year and continue into the first half of 2024.

The project includes replacing the bridge deck, barrier walls and guiderails. The waterproofing layer and asphalt wearing surface will also be replaced, as will parts of the abutment walls and wingwalls that are deteriorating. The new deck will include steel girders and a semi-integral abutment.

Purchase of Trucks for Road Maintenance Approved

Council approved the purchase of seven trucks to be used by road maintenance staff from dealers who submitted the lowest bids.

The county will purchase three half-ton pickup trucks for $193,041 plus taxes and two 1½-ton cab and chassis units for $169,874 plus taxes from East-Court Ford Lincoln Limited of Toronto, and two three-quarter ton pickup trucks from Windsor Chrysler for $129,338 plus taxes. Once the new trucks are received, four existing trucks will be disposed of for an estimated resale price of $25,000.

Contract for New Defibrillators Awarded After Testing and Evaluation

Essex-Windsor EMS will purchase 60 new cardiac monitor defibrillators, replacing models that are now five years old.

County council authorized the purchase of the X Series monitor defibrillators from ZOLL Medical Inc. for $2 million plus HST following a thorough evaluation and testing of two models by Essex-Windsor EMS with assistance of county procurement staff.

The devices are one of the most important tools used by paramedics, allowing them to:

• record and trend a patient’s vital signs;
• input data into the ambulance patient care record;
• complete diagnostic testing, such as 12-lead electrocardiograms;
• transmit valuable patient information from the scene to hospital clinicians;
• pace a patient’s heart to the correct rate; and
• defibrillate a heart in sudden cardiac arrest.

Two Surplus Ambulances to be Donated to St. Clair College Paramedic Program

Essex-Windsor EMS will donate two used ambulances to the St. Clair College Paramedic Program, benefitting students and assisting the service in its recruitment efforts.

One ambulance will be donated this year and the other next year. Most of the service’s used ambulances are sold to assist in funding future purchases, but some are donated. Essex-Windsor EMS donated ambulances in 2018 and 2019 to the college, which has typically taken in 30 new paramedic students every year. That is increasing to 60 this year, says a report to council.

The donated ambulances will benefit paramedic students as well as automotive powertrain program students, who will learn how to maintain them, says the report.

Essex-Windsor EMS Extending Lease of Storage Building in Windsor

Essex-Windsor EMS is extending its lease agreement with the owner of a storage building near its Mercer Street station in Windsor.

The service started leasing the space to store supplies in August 2020. The new five-year lease is for 8,282 square feet and will expire on Feb. 28, 2028. The total cost for the five years will be $452,580.

Tentative Agreement Reached with Essex-Windsor EMS Paramedics

Council voted to approve a tentative agreement that has been reached with CUPE Local 2974.2, which represents Essex-Windsor EMS paramedics. Details of the new contract, which is for the term of April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2026, are not being released because it has yet to be ratified by union members.