Council recognizes food donation helpers, staff and medal recipients

Representatives of Erie James Produce and the Leamington Regional Food Hub were presented with certificates of appreciation by Warden Hilda MacDonald at the start of Wednesday’s Essex County Council meeting.

Both assisted Essex-Windsor EMS with distributing almost two tons of dried beans, lentils and rice to local food banks in early December. The packets of food were donated by Toronto-based charity GlobalMedic. Erie James Produce transported the donated food from Toronto to Leamington for free, while the Leamington Regional Food Hub provided temporary storage space and equipment for sorting the food.

Warden MacDonald also gave a shout-out to County of Essex staff involved in the County Road 42 roundabout construction project, which recently won the Good Roads’ 2024 Municipal Concrete Award.

The warden then praised three staff members who were selected as the 2024 Cheers for Peers winners by their County of Essex colleagues: computer technician Shari Tempesta, paramedic Dave Thibodeau and Sun Parlor Home laundry charge worker Bobbi-Jo Bazala.

“A member of this council also recently received some well-deserved recognition for his significant public service to this region,” MacDonald continued. “Congratulations to Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara and the other local recipients of the King Charles III Coronation Medal. We are so fortunate to have you among us!”

Demand growing at Erie Shores HealthCare

Representatives of Erie Shores HealthCare updated Essex County Council on its initiatives, challenges and achievements.

While emergency department admissions have increased by 34 per cent since 2023 and, on many days, the Leamington hospital has more patients than funded beds, it is among the best in the province for short ambulance offload times, they said in a presentation.

Assisted by funding from the County of Essex, the hospital has responded to growing demand by expanding its urology services. It has also increased the time its MRI is available, expanded chemotherapy services and launched a critical care program so fewer patients are transferred out of the region.

Council supports City of Windsor resolution on housing and homelessness

Council voted to support a City of Windsor resolution calling on the government of Ontario to establish a Ministry of Homelessness and address the “significant challenges” municipalities face in addressing housing, homelessness and mental health and addiction issues.

Council/Staff Relations Policy updated

Council received a compliance review report and approved an updated Council/Staff Relations Policy.

The policy addresses several directions set out in the county’s Strategic Plan, including focusing on Team Essex County for results, being an employer with impact, being a government working for the people, and promoting transparency and awareness in the municipal services it provides.

Council cancels procurement process for Intensive Supportive Housing program

Council has decided to cancel the procurement process for the Intensive Support Housing program Essex County has provided since 2022. The service is for individuals experiencing homelessness who have complex medical needs and/or mental health and/or addiction issues.

Council directed staff to work with the City of Windsor and use safe re-start funding to support the transition and also directed staff to work with the city and jointly lobby the province to increase Homelessness Prevention Program funding in our region.

Council also voted to write a letter to the province seeking money to address housing and homelessness in rural and smaller urban areas and again extended an invitation for area MPPs to appear before Essex County Council to discuss these issues.

CAO participating in Municipal Finance and Economic Development Task Force

Council approved Chief Administrative Officer Sandra Zwiers’ participation in a task force established by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).

The Municipal Finance and Economic Development Task Force will help AMO to develop policy and advocacy positions that increase consideration of municipal interests in the areas of municipal finance, funding sources for municipal services and infrastructure, and economic, labour market and skills development.

County municipalities to join Border Mayors Alliance

The County of Essex will pay the approximately $10,000 cost for all seven local municipalities to join the Border Mayors Alliance established to coordinate advocacy efforts in response to U.S. tariffs.

Since only mayors can join the alliance, and given that municipal budgets have been set for 2025, Essex County Council voted to cover the cost for local municipalities to join this year.

Councillors introduce notices of motion on multiple issues

Councillor Mike Akpata introduced a notice of motion calling on the province to ensure that current water agreements in place to ensure the protection of fresh water in our area are followed and that water outflow is included in any ongoing discussions with the U.S. government.

Councillor Michael Prue introduced notices of motion calling for Essex County Council to direct staff to work with local municipalities to explore options for traditional regional policing models or explore possible options for a flexible model that would enable individual municipalities to opt out.

Councillor Sherry Bondy introduced a notice of motion calling for council to direct staff to share with councillors and the staff of local municipalities the information obtained from a network screening of intersections on the county road network.

These notices of motion will be debated at a future meeting of Essex County Council.