Town & County News

Highlights from Essex County Council Meeting of June 15

Warden Urges Support of Frontline Workers with PTSD and Congratulates Clerk

Essex County residents are encouraged to wear teal on June 27 to fight stigma surrounding PTSD and to get active during Bike Month, says Warden Gary McNamara.

The Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment has designated June 27 as a day to support those with PTSD by wearing teal, the warden noted in his opening remarks to county council Wednesday.

“This pandemic has hit our frontline health workers particularly hard,” he said. “June is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Month, a time to remember that PTSD is real, particularly for paramedics and nurses who deal with situations most of us don’t even want to imagine.”

McNamara also urged everyone to explore the County Wide Active Transportation System (CWATS) network in June, which is Bike Month.

He concluded his remarks by congratulating Mary Birch, county Clerk and Director of Legislative Services, who was honoured this week by the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario for her commitment and contributions to members in the counties of Essex, Elgin, Lambton and Middlesex, and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. She was lauded by her peers for leading by example and giving freely of her time and expertise to assist others and enrich the municipal profession.

Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment Fundraising to Boost Foundation

County Council agreed to provide $100,000 over two years to support a fundraising campaign for the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment.

The money raised for the Scottish Borderers Foundation, the official foundation of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment, will be used to cover non-active military expenses which are not funded by governments. Those expenses have traditionally been paid for with community donations. They include:

  • Having regiment representatives attend commemorative events;
  • Supporting the regiment’s iconic Pipes & Drums band;
  • Building and maintaining monuments; and
  • Preserving records and historical artifacts.

The roots of the Essex and Kent Scottish go back over 200 years in Essex and Kent counties. Troops from the regiment were involved in major battles during both world wars and continue to serve in conflicts and peacekeeping missions around the world.

The goal of the current capital campaign is to raise $600,000 to allow the Scottish Borderers Foundation to fund the regiment’s non-active military services in perpetuity.

Houston Named to Library Board

Tecumseh Councillor Brian Houston has been appointed to the Essex County Library board to replace Andrew Dowie, who was elected MPP for Windsor-Tecumseh in the recent provincial election.

Houston’s name was put forward by Tecumseh town council and recommended by the Essex County council striking committee prior to council’s approval Wednesday.

Funding Sought to Enclose Drain South of Major Intersection

County administration will prepare an application for federal funding to enclose a drain south of the intersection of County Road 22 and County Road 19 (Manning Road).

The application to the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund will be for improvements to County Road 19, the East Townline Drain and associated stormwater management systems from the intersection to just south of Jamsyl Drive, says a report to council. The pond and pumping station would be built on a property on the southwest corner of the intersection.

The improvements would allow for the widening of County Road 19 south of the busy intersection, which is expected to see even more traffic due to a plan by Stellantis and LG Energy Solution to build the NextStar Energy electric vehicle battery plant on a nearby industrial property in Windsor.

The estimated cost to upgrade the East Townline Drain by constructing a stormwater management pond, a pumping station, a four-lane urban cross section, turning lanes, a multi-use path and traffic signals is $30 million to $40 million. Approximately $8 million to $10 million would be eligible for coverage by the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

Administration will prepare a report for a future meeting of county council that will provide more information and recommend whether to proceed with the application.

CAO Given Authority to Approve County’s Comprehensive Insurance Program

Council has given CAO Mike Galloway authority to approve the renewal of the County of Essex Comprehensive Insurance Program.

The policy renews on June 30 for one year and the insurer, AON Risk Services, was unable to provide a complete quote for review by county council on Wednesday due to lagging pandemic pressures and other factors.

It’s estimated there will be an increase in the cost over the past year but that the jump won’t be as large as in 2021, says a report to council. The final renewal quotes in 2020 and 2021 also came in just prior to the deadline.

Council Asks for Administrative Report on Waste Collection Options

Council has asked administration to prepare a report and consult with local municipalities on the potential for cost savings should the responsibility for waste and organics collection be assumed by the County of Essex.

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