County Council Highlights for Sept. 18, 2024

Warden Celebrates Good News for Local Hospitals

Recent donations and developments at local hospitals illustrate the Windsor-Essex region’s commitment to building a strong, comprehensive and integrated health-care system, Warden Hilda MacDonald said in her opening remarks at Wednesday’s meeting of Essex County Council.

The warden earlier in the week attended an announcement that the Solcz Family Foundation is donating $15 million to the new Windsor/Essex Acute Care Hospital.

The hospital “is part of a generational project to develop a comprehensive, fully integrated health system in Windsor-Essex,” MacDonald said. “I was heartened to hear the Premier of Ontario say that construction could begin next year.”

Essex County residents are doing their part to make it happen. To date, the County of Essex has set aside $50 million toward its $100-million commitment to the new hospital.

The county has also made a 10-year commitment to contribute $200,000 annually for improvements at Erie Shores HealthCare in Leamington, which is asking the Ministry of Health for approval to build an expanded hospital on the current site. The Leamington hospital recently received a million-dollar donation to pay for measures that will improve patient experiences.

“This donation and the one by the Solcz Family Foundation are votes of confidence in our local health-care system,” MacDonald said. “Let’s keep the momentum going by each doing our part when we are asked to contribute – whether it's our money, our time or both.”

The warden also invited residents take time on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept.30 to honour residential school survivors and those who never made it home.

Modifications being Made to County Road 22 Design

Essex County Council has approved modifications to the design for enhancements to the County Road 22 corridor between I.C. Roy Drive and West Belle River Road in Lakeshore.

The changes eliminate cycle tracks on both sides of the road while maintaining a sidewalk on the north side, a multi-use path on the south side and a centre turning lane for traffic. The design that incorporated the cycle tracks did not leave adequate space for storm water management measures, says a report to council. The modifications also include the removal of proposed benches and trees.

Regardless of how the final design is altered, “it is likely that significant property will be required to accommodate work at intersections and to close the recommended side streets,” says the report.

The report says the project team recommends Faith Drive, a Municipality of Lakeshore road, be extended from St. Mary’s Road to Renaud Line before the reconstruction of County Road 22 begins. It also recommends traffic signals at County Road 22 and Emery Drive be installed at the same time or after Faith Drive is extended.

Council approved spending $121,130 in additional engineering fees to make the County Road 22 design changes, which are to be presented at a public consultation centre expected to be held in the winter. Changes are being made in response to feedback following a public consultation centre about the original design held in Lakeshore on June 18.

Several residents who live along County Road 22 presented Essex County Council with a petition that recommends removing the cycle tracks, reducing the width of the sidewalk, and eliminating boulevards, benches and trees from the design.

Meeting schedule for 2025 Set

Essex County Council approved a meeting schedule for 2025 that maintains its practice of meeting on the first and third Wednesday of the month, except in July and August when it typically meets only once each month.

EMS Purchasing New Stretchers for 2025

Essex-Windsor EMS received advance approval from council to purchase 42 new powered stretchers that will be put into service in 2025. The Stryker PowerPro XT stretchers will replace similar stretchers currently used by the service that are near the end of their recommended use.

The new stretchers will cost $1.3 million. By ordering them before the end of October, Essex-Windsor EMS can save $310,658, says a report to council.

Land Ambulance Response Time Performance Consistent with 2023

Essex-Windsor EMS is on track to match its 2023 performance in meeting response time targets while efforts are continuing with health-care partners to reduce delays, says a report to council.

According to data collected up to Sept. 10, Essex-Windsor EMS ambulances are getting to cases of sudden cardiac arrest within six minutes 59 per cent of the time. They are responding to cases of imminent risk to life or limb within eight minutes 70 per cent of the time and cases of potential threats to life, limb or function within 10 minutes 82 per cent of the time.

With flu season typically starting in October and adding to pressure on the health-care system, “Essex-Windsor EMS continues to meet with hospital leadership to strategize on opportunities to increase flow and reduce offload delays, but it should be anticipated that difficult days are on the horizon,” says the report.

Council to Receive Report Outlining AMO Delegation Requests

Council voted to have County of Essex staff prepare reports ahead of the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference outlining the subjects on which the County has applied to delegate. Council also voted to have staff send them completed delegation packages in advance of the meeting.

Speed Limit at County Road 46 Intersection to be Reassessed

Council has directed administration to reassess the speed limit at the intersection of County Road 46 and County Road 19. Currently, the speed limit on County Road 46 at that location is 80 km/h, while the speed limit on County Road 19 is 60 km/h.