County Council Highlights for Oct. 19, 2022
Solution to Ambulance Offload Delays Urgently Needed, says Warden
A solution to the mounting impact of ambulance offload delays is urgently needed, Warden Gary McNamara said at the beginning of Wednesday’s regular Essex County council meeting.
On Monday, the County of Essex declared a local emergency in response to the rising frequency and increasing length of time there are no Essex-Windsor EMS ambulances available to respond to 911 calls.
“This is not a new problem, but we are concerned that it is escalating as we enter the flu season, which is now also COVID season,” McNamara said. “Essex-Windsor EMS staff, our health-care partners and other local first responders have pulled together to implement multiple measures over the last few years to address the wait times at local emergency rooms. Unfortunately, despite all of our best efforts, the problem is getting worse. We are using the declaration of a local emergency to urgently bring all the stakeholders together to work on short-term and long-term solutions.”
The warden urged the public not to direct their frustration at frontline health-care workers. Paramedics, nurses, ER doctors and other staff are the heroes who need moral support, he said.
“Through a declaration of a local emergency, the leadership at Essex-Windsor EMS and the County of Essex are working with our partners to provide that moral support and back it up with actions that will keep ambulances and paramedics on the road and available when they’re needed,” McNamara said.
The warden also urged residents to vote in the municipal election on Monday.
Accessibility Advisory Committee Members Thanked for Their Service
Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee members were presented with awards of recognition for their service over the past four years.
Warden Gary McNamara thanked Brad Frenette, Christine Easterbrook, Debbie Alexander, Diana Kirkbride, Gord Queen, Rachel Jewell and Stephanie Olewski for their dedication, energy and enthusiasm.
“You delivered a campaign to improve our local trails so everyone has equal access to accessible, safe and healthy outdoor recreation, an important initiative during the pandemic,” McNamara told them. “You worked collaboratively with our local municipalities to design and raise the first Accessibility Flag for our region. You brought in two compelling guests with lived experiences with disabilities for the No Barriers, No Problem speakers forum this past summer. You have ensured that the county is putting its best foot forward by providing your expertise to review design drawings, policies and the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan.”
Strong Mayors, Building Homes Bill Supported
County council supported a resolution from the Town of Kingsville opposing provincial legislation aimed at strengthening the powers of large city mayors with the goal of getting more homes built faster. The Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act passed third reading in September and goes into effect on Nov. 15.
New 6 p.m. Start Time for Meetings Goes into Effect Dec. 21
Essex County council’s meeting schedule for 2023 will be similar to previous years with one exception: as of Dec. 21 of this year, the start time will move back one hour to 6 p.m. As well as approving the schedule, council approved procedural by-law amendments that incorporate the new start time and other changes.
Agreement with Sun Parlor Home Medical Director Renewed
An agreement allowing Dr. Ross Moncur to continue as medical director for Sun Parlor Home has been approved by county council, which is also the home’s committee of management. Moncur has been the medical director at Sun Parlor Home since July 2013.
Participation in Hedging Program Keeps County Electricity and Gas Costs Stable
Essex County participates in the Association of Municipalities of Ontario/Local Authority Services Ltd. procurement programs, which buy electricity and natural gas in bulk in the open market on behalf of partnering municipalities. This saved the county $25,520 in electricity costs compared to what it would have paid at time-of-use rates in 2021. The county probably spent slightly more for natural gas in 2021 than it would have if it had purchased on the spot market. The main reason for participating in the procurement programs is for price stability, says a report to council.
EMS Maintains Response Time Targets
Essex-Windsor EMS is setting the same response time targets for 2023 as it had for 2022. Council approved the 2023 Land Ambulance Response Time Plan, which sets the following targets:
- Respond within six minutes 55 per cent of the time to cases of sudden cardiac arrest.
- Respond within eight minutes 75 per cent of the time in cases where there is a threat to life or limb requiring an immediate, aggressive intervention.
- Respond within 10 minutes 90 per cent of the time to cases where there is a potential threat to life, limb or function that requires rapid intervention.
- Respond within 12 minutes 90 per cent of the time to cases that could potentially progress to a serious problem requiring emergency intervention.
- Respond within 14 minutes 90 per cent of the time to less urgent and non-urgent cases.
Consent Given for Relocation of Health Unit Head Office
County council has given its consent to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit’s plan to move into leased space at the University of Windsor by mid-2024.
The health unit board approved the move in May 2022, but also requires consent from a majority of funding municipalities to go ahead. The health unit plans to move its head office, currently on Ouellette Avenue in Windsor, to a former residence at the university, located at 460 Huron Church Road. Details of the plan were presented in a report to county council.