Warden Encourages Participation in Hospice Dove Pin Campaign
Warden Hilda MacDonald is encouraging residents to contribute to The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County’s dove pin campaign.
The dove pins and donation boxes will be available at stores throughout Essex County and Windsor the weekend of April 28-30.
“This little dove is a symbol of the hope, comfort and care The Hospice provides at its residences in Leamington and Windsor, and through the services and programs it offers in the community,” MacDonald said at the start of Wednesday’s Essex County Council meeting. “Our donations help its compassionate staff and volunteers to support Hospice patients and their families.”
A list of stores where the pins will be available and more information about the campaign can be found on the Hospice website.
The warden also explained that the council meeting was being held virtually, with council members and delegations attending remotely, because of changes being made at the Essex County Civic Centre to better accommodate the public and address instances when the number of attendees exceeds the capacity limits of council chambers.
County Preparing By-law to Take Responsibility for Waste Collection
Council confirmed it is committed to a regional approach to waste management and has directed administration to prepare a by-law to upload the responsibility for waste collection from local municipalities to the County of Essex.
The draft by-law will be given to the local municipalities, so they can provide feedback before it is brought to county council for approval. If the by-law is approved, the county will take responsibility for waste collection and recover the cost from the local municipalities. The Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority would be contracted to manage the service.
A report to council says there are expected to be efficiencies as a result of Essex County municipalities seeking waste collection services as a larger group. Michelle Bishop, general manager of the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority, County Solicitor David Sundin and Sandra Zwiers, Director of Financial Services and Treasurer, provided council with more details in a slide presentation.
Discussions about the regionalizing of waste collection in Essex County began after the solid waste authority introduced a food and organic waste management plan to comply with new provincial regulations.
County council has committed that all local municipalities will participate in a regional solution for the collection and processing of organic waste material from urban settlement areas. At a minimum, they would do this by participating in a short-term contract with a processor that commences Jan. 1, 2025, or when the municipality’s current waste collection contract expires.
Council also voted to write a letter to the province urging it to put forward an initiative to mandate an organics program for the industrial, commercial and institutional sector.
Re-instatement of Municipal Option to Retain Surplus Tax Sale Proceeds Supported
County council supported a Town of Essex council resolution to send a letter to all relevant taxation bodies urging them to re-instate provincial legislation, repealed in 2017, that permitted municipalities to apply for and retain the surplus proceeds from tax sales in their jurisdictions.
Consultant Hired to Help Complete Regional Coastal Flood Hazard Mapping
Zuzek Incorporated was awarded the contract for consulting services required to complete coastal flood hazard mapping for shorelines in Essex County for a total cost of $440,000.
The County of Essex has earmarked $200,000 for the project and the Essex Region Conservation Authority has committed $40,000 in services. The remainder of the cost is being covered by a Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry grant.
Mapping of the region’s more than 200 kilometres of shoreline was last completed in 1976, notes a report to council. The information is used for regulating development through the provincial Conservation Authorities Act and the Planning Act.
The updated maps will help ensure new development in the seven Essex County municipalities takes place in areas where there is minimal risk of flooding. The mapping will also provide a better understanding of the threats to existing development before, during and after a potential flood.
The flood hazard mapping and data sharing project will include stakeholder and municipal government meetings planned for the fall of 2023. The overall study is expected to be complete by March 2024.
Service Accountability Agreement for Sun Parlor Home Renewed
Essex County council accepted the terms of Sun Parlor Home’s service accountability agreement with Ontario Health for the period starting April 1, 2023, and ending March 31, 2024.
The long-term care home in Leamington, which is owned and operated by the county, is required to renew the agreement with the province annually.
Increase in Compensation Expected for Residential Services Homes
Residential services homes, which have agreements with the county to provide supportive housing to eligible low-income residents, are expected to receive a $5 per diem increase from the province retroactive to April 1.
The homes currently receive $55 a day for each resident and have been advocating for an increase due to rising costs, says a report to council. The per diem rate is also used to determine if someone is eligible for support.
Due to increases in Old Age Security, Canadian Pension Plan and Guaranteed Annual Income System payments, approximately 70 seniors currently receiving supportive housing in Essex County would no longer be eligible at the $55 per day rate.
The increase to a $60-per-diem rate retroactive to April 1 would address both issues, allowing the homes to cover costs and the seniors to continue to qualify for support.
The City of Windsor, which is the service provider for the region, received notice of the boost in provincial funding following the release of the 2023 Ontario Budget. Before the increase can go into effect, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing must approve the city’s spending plan, which is due May 1.
While the bulk of the funding for residential services homes in Essex County comes from the province’s Homelessness Prevention Program, the county also contributes a portion.
County Maintains a Healthy Debt Repayment Limit
The County of Essex can take on debt with a total repayment limit of just over $31 million in 2023 before it needs to seek approval from the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, says a report to council by Director, Financial Services and Treasurer Sandra Zwiers.
The report notes that the county’s “fiscally responsible, long-term planning approach to capital initiatives has resulted in little to no reliance on debt financing.” This has allowed it to maximize the spending impact of tax dollars and consistently maintain a strong credit rating. Municipalities are required to regularly update their debt repayment limits based on their most recent financial information returns.
Review Concludes County’s Charity Tax Rebate Program Shouldn’t Change
The County of Essex should not amend its charity tax rebate program to include residential properties nor should it change its Grant Policy to allow for tax grants to charities with residential properties, says a report to council.
The issue was reviewed by Essex County municipal treasurers after a charity purchased land in Amherstburg from the Canadian Girl Guide Association, which is exempt from property taxes under the Assessment Act.
The sale triggered a re-assessment of the land and the charity that now owns the land must pay property taxes. The Town of Amherstburg provided the group with a grant equal to its portion of the tax levy.
The Essex County municipal treasurers group determined widening the charity tax rebate program, which currently applies to commercial and industrial land, to residential properties could result in a 400-per-cent increase in applications.
The report to county council also notes that changing or making an exception to its current Grant Policy, which restricts grants and donations, could result in a flood of requests from charities in the region.
Council also agreed to support the charity should it petition the province for legislative changes.
Engineering Firm Hired for County Road 22 Project
Council approved hiring BT Engineering Inc. to provide the detailed design and contract administration for improvements to the County Road 22 corridor from I.C. Roy Drive to West Belle River Road.
BT Engineering submitted a bid to do the work for $1.4 million plus applicable taxes based on its estimate that it will spend 480 days on the multi-year project, says a report to council.
The improvements to 5.8 kilometres of County Road 22 will include building a multi-use path on the south side of the road and a separated cycle track, as well as wide boulevards for improved streetscaping. The Municipality of Lakeshore is contributing funds to improve sanitary sewers and watermains, as well as do a traffic analysis along the corridor.
Preparatory work will include reconstruction of the intersection of Emery Drive at County Road 22. The plan is for the work along the County Road 22 corridor to be done in three phases, moving from west to east, and to be completed by the end of 2027.
Road Grader to Replace 33-Year-Old Model
The county is purchasing a Komatsu GD655 road grader from Equipment Sales and Services Ltd. for $459,900 plus applicable taxes, after council approved the contract Wednesday. It will replace a 1990 Champion model, one of three graders used by county roads maintenance crews.
Official Plan Review Meeting to be held Virtually
The County of Essex will hold a virtual public meeting to gather input as part of its Official Plan Review process. The date and time for the meeting have yet to be determined. Details will be shared on the County of Essex website and social media channels.
A meeting on April 5 to gather public input on the Official Plan had to be adjourned shortly after it began because of the large number of attendees, which exceeded the capacity of council chambers.
The meeting, which will be continued online, is one opportunity for the public to provide input. There will be additional opportunities throughout the Official Plan review process for the public to review draft documents and provide comments to Essex County Council and staff.
Written comments can be provided at anytime via email to OfficialPlanReview@
More information, including a timeline of the review process and two background reports prepared as part of the review’s initial phase, is available at countyofessex.ca/