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By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Last week, the County of Essex hosted three Public Information Centres (PICs) to connect with residents – and gather feedback – as the Transportation Master Plan is updated.

One such event was held at the McGregor Community Centre last Wednesday evening.

Last week’s open house-style events were the second round of PICs hosted as part of this process.

It is a strategic document that will provide guidance for how people will move about the County over the next 30-years, Alvaro Almuina, Vice President of Municipal Transportation Planning for R.J. Burnside and Associates Ltd, said. He is the consultant Project Manager on the Transportation Master Plan.

That will take into account the growth that is anticipated to happen in the County.

Through the recently adopted County Official Plan, growth is expected to increase headed towards 2051.

The Growth Management Report projects the current 199,100 population of the County could rise to between 268,100 – 315,000 individuals. In addition, the current 71,000 households could increase to between 101,2000-124,200, and the current 72,300 jobs could increase to between 107,900-124,200.

He called the Transportation Master Plan a strategic and dynamic document that will be completed by the end of the year. It is also a “live” document, that will be updated over time as things change across the County.

The goal of updating the Transportation Master Plan is to ensure safety and efficiency of the movement of people and goods among communities and significant destinations within the County; facilitate strategic planning for transportation infrastructure improvements and enhancements, considering future growth and evolving needs; and to identify interventions required to accommodate expected growth, while managing the road network effectively, information from the County highlights.

The first round of public consultations took place a year ago, which had residents highlight concerns about transportation and growth.

Some of the feedback heard then included the need to address traffic congestion on County roads, implement traffic calming measures, reduce speed limits and the need of car dependency, increase inter-municipality connectivity, improve traffic management in school zones, and improve infrastructure, such as potholes, narrow lanes, and paved shoulders, information provided at the open house notes.

Almuina added Essex County is a farming community, and he heard how farming equipment is typically used on roads at a slower speed, and the need to accommodate both types of users safely.

That feedback was coupled with research with how the County will grow, the type of growth, and what is happening in communities.

In addition, residents have voiced the desire for the County to increase frequency and reliability of the transit service, expand its route, increase accessibility options, adding stops at key destinations, provide transit for students, offer improved costs, and have requested service to underserviced areas.

In putting all that together, Almuina said opportunities were seen for road improvements, such as widening of some roads.

“We have to recognize, in this community, we need to move goods,” he said. That includes products from the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. The community is also focused on active transportation, which also needs to be considered. The County needs to ensure the facilities and network is available to users. There also needs to be transit routing, so residents are provided options.

Three alternatives were presented at the open house, which Almuina said are feasible and viable for the 2051 scenario.

“At the end of the day [we are] trying to find some balance and some equity in the system, so that not everything is about cars and not everything is about cycling,” Almuina said, noting everyone has different mobility needs.

“We have come up with what we feel is our preferred scenario for 2051, but we are not locking it in yet. We want to hear from you,” Almuina said to those who attended the McGregor-based open house.

Almuina said they will use the feedback heard at the second round of public open houses, and return in the fall with a final plan. At that point, a third PIC will be held, where the preferred alternative, or vision, will be presented. After gathering additional feedback, the report will be finalized, then presented to County Council for consideration for adoption.

Once adopted, a phase-in strategy can be used, where the County can chip away at the recommendations over time.

Essex Free Press files note a Report to County Council presented in November of 2024 outlined that as part of the 2024 budget, $225,300 from the Rate Stabilization Reserve was approved to update the County’s most recent Transportation Master Plan. The previous document was adopted in 2005, which was completed in partnership with the City of Windsor. The idea was to develop a comprehensive Regional Transportation Master Plan for the region with recommended policies and an implementation strategy until 2021.

For more information about this project, log onto https://www.countyofessex.ca/resident-services/county-roads/transportationmasterplan/

By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice

It appears that communication isn’t flowing properly between the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission and C-K’s executive management team.

As part of a presentation to C-K council on the municipality’s future water needs, it was pointed out that better information sharing is needed between the two groups.

According to Municipal VU Consulting president Jim Harnum, the organizational relationship between the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) was “inhibiting co-ordinated decision-making.”

“The existing master plan does not adequately address C-K’s current and future needs, as stated by the senior staff at C-K,” the report said. “It lacks a comprehensive framework for integrating financial constraints, growth demands, and infrastructure lifecycle management. Additionally, the plan does not sufficiently explore several alternative servicing options, missing opportunities to optimize costs, operational efficiency, and construction staging to minimize service disruptions.”

The presentation also included a report by C-K chief financial officer Gord Quinton. One of the recommendations from Quinton is to create a special group project in the engineering division called Facilitating Linear Opportunities Within Chatham-Kent (FLOW-CK) to fast-track and develop water and waste water projects.

“Chatham-Kent’s municipal administration and the Public Utilities Commission have often operated independently and lacked a unified strategy for planning and delivering services like land use, engineering, and infrastructure investment,” Quinton’s report stated. “This separation has resulted in inefficiencies, missed collaboration opportunities, and inconsistent communication. The future growth of Chatham-Kent and the financial realities require a unified plan moving forward.”

According to Quinton’s report, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent is in the process of updating its official plan to guide development and infrastructure investment over the next 25 years. The official plan update will help to ensure the municipality can accommodate both residential and employment growth.

An important focus of the study is ensuring Chatham-Kent remains competitive in the Highway 401 business corridor by strengthening its supply of strategically located employment areas.

By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice

A canoe relay to oppose Bill 5 and the Dresden landfill project is taking place July 13.

Led by First Nation water protectors and settlers, Paddle for Nibi (Ojibwe for sacred water) participants will traverse the Sydenham River between Molly’s Creek and Wallaceburg to support the river’s rich ecosystem.

According to a media release from the grassroots effort, the goal is to defend sacred waters and treaty rights while promoting environmental justice.

“This call to action arises in direct opposition to Ontario’s Bill 5 and the proposed York1 Dresden landfill, which threaten the ecological integrity of the Sydenham watershed and violate foundational treaties,” the release said. “Our waters are sacred. Our treaties are still alive. And our voices will be heard.”

The journey will begin with a sunrise ceremony and will continue relay-style between Dresden’s Molly’s Creek and Wallaceburg.

The release points out that the Detroit Treaty from 1790 and the 1794 Jay Treaty codified protections for First Nations sovereignty and land. Part of Bill 5, The Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act 2025, “tramples those agreements,” stripping environmental oversight without Indigenous consent or proper consultation, according to First Nations officials.

The group states that the landfill – mere metres from federally protected waters – endangers the Kettle Point aquifer and violates the 1982 Constitution Act.

Due process and environmental protections are being dismantled, blocking First Nations and public legal remedies, organizers said.

“This is more than policy. It’s an environmental and human rights crisis.”

The group is currently taking registrations for the paddle. Participants must be age 16 or older and safety guides and life jackets are required.

Each two-member canoe team will complete a three-kilometre segment.

The event is drug and alcohol free.

Paddle for Nibi is being sponsored by Walpole Island First Nation and Dresden Citizens Against Reckless Environmental Disposal (C.A.R.E.D.)

For more information, email chloewhitedeleary@gmail.com or jakubec@protonmail.com.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Administration for the County of Essex was directed to incorporate the findings of the 2025 Asset Management Plan (AMP) into the 2026 Budget preparation process to continue to address the shortfall in replacement costs, County Council unanimously voted during the June 18 meeting.

The AMP details the need to increase the capital program by just over $1M in 2026 to keep place with inflation and begin narrowing the existing spending gap. Funding will be dealt with at budget time.

The 2025 AMP does carry real budget implications for 2026 and beyond, Melissa Ryan, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer, explained to County Council, adding this document was more complex than those of previous years, due to provincial requirements. It needs to be adopted by July 1.

It was completed in house.

The scope of the 2025 AMP includes all County corporate assets, core and non-core, that were in service as of December 31, 2023, Heidi McLeod, Deputy Treasurer, explained. It also includes proposed levels of service and the impact projected growth will have on County-owned assets.

She added that the condition assessments were updated as of 2023, however, replacement costs reflect current pricing.

The County’s total replacement cost is $1.2B, up $84M over the 2024 plan. Around 50% of that being the County Road network, followed by 26% for bridges and culverts, 6% for Sun Parlour Home, 6% for Emergency Medical Services, 3% Infrastructure and Planning, 3%, General Government, 3% Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority, 2% stormwater network, and 1% for the Essex County Library.

Overall, the majority of the County’s assets are considered in good shape, at 34.2%, and 29.8% are considered in very good shape. 27.9% are rated fair, while 58% are poor and 2.3% are very poor.

Very good and good conditioned assets accounted for 64%, which decreased from 2024 of 70.5%. McLeod noted building condition assessments were completed in 2024, which provided much better and accurate information.

In terms of annual requirements, McLeod explained the County should be spending, or setting aside in reserves for future replacement of assets, $58.5M. Actual annual expenditure is $25.4M with an additional $2.3Minreservecontributions,leavinga$30Mdeficit.That means the current expenditure rate is 43.4%, which is higher than the 41% investment rate in 2024.

The County’s current capital asset backlog – costs denoting the replacement value of assets that have reached the end of their useful life as of the conclusion of 2023, but have yet to undergo rehabilitation or replacement – is just over $5M. It was just over $11M last year. Thanks to the boost of funding received in the last few years, administration has been able to chip away at that backlog.

In looking at core assets, there is a slight decline in the average condition. 27% were in very good, 3% were in good, 32% were in fair, 6% were in poor, and 2% were in very poor condition.

“We need to continue to ensure spending keeps pace with inflation,” McLeod said, adding administration plans to focus on lifecycle activities to ensure the most efficient and effective timing of rehabilitation strategies. Staff will also continue efforts to replace backlog assets, so they are maintained before reaching critical points.

Non-core assets have a slight increase in condition. 39% were in very good, 37% in good, 15% in fair, 6% in poor, and 3% were in very poor condition.

McLeod noted administration will continue to refine its long-term capital replacement plan, will pursue regular building assessments, and review timing of procurement strategies to mitigate risks associated with supply chain delays and ensure a fair and competitive process so the County gets its best value for its taxpayer dollars.

The target reinvestment rate is 4.85% – based on the annual requirement divided by the total replacement cost of the $1.2B in assets. The County’s actual reinvestment rate – based on actual expenditures divided the $1.2B in assets – is 2.11%.

As per provincial requirements, the County looked at three proposed levels of service: status quo (maintaining spending at current levels), inflationary (continue spending in line with inflation), and progressive (increase spending to increase levels of service to work towards closing the spending gap).

Based on County Council feedback in December, McLeod heard the desire to maintain a reasonable level of service.

“The plan is to pursue an inflationary approach, which will help us meet that objective,” McLeod said. The proposed approach includes a 5% increase in the road network, based on the Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council’s inflationary calculations; a 5% increase in spending on bridges and culverts, to prevent future backlog and mitigate higher inflation rates; a one-time increase of $75,000 for Sun Parlour Home, followed by inflationary increases to address aging assets; and increases to EMS.

A chart provided shows an increase of $1M in 2026. That will increase each year to over $1.5M in 2035.

In terms of supporting population growth over the next ten-years, McLeod outlined estimated capital expenditures. The biggest being for roads, with $430M, followed by $10M for EMS (not including a new head-quarters) needed over the next decade.

Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley asked if any consideration was given to the proposed County Development Charges (DC), and if it is approved if the AMP will be adjusted at that time? As the DC policy is still in progress, admin was unsure of quantifying the value that would be received through that. Should a DC program be adopted, that could be built into future updates, McLeod replied.

Shepley also asked if the mega hospital funding that is baked into the County tax levy would be carried on after the County fulfills its requirement and if it would be put over to the AMP at that time. CAO Sandra Zwiers noted at the culmination of the hospital funding contribution, the recommendation made by County admin previously was to take that tax levy and divert it over to either the AMP and/or the expansion program. Administratively, it still makes sense, she added. Those funds at that time can be shifted, without increasing the tax rate for that.

It is difficult to say when the County would make that pivot, Zwiers said in answering LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche’s question on an estimated timeline. She noted the original intention for the $100M hospital contribution was to have a full accumulation of the funds, with using a reserve balance, then paying off the remainder with debt, with the levy to fund the servicing of the debt.

In answering Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey’s question on how much the County is putting into the hospital reserve annually, Ryan noted it was just over $7M in 2025 annually. That is supposed to increase, based on the original funding plan.

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy pointed out the Essex County Library is looking to do the inflationary approach, but noticed the vehicle fleet is in red. She was unsure of the level of risk of that. She wondered if that is something the Essex County Library Board has to deal with, or if it is dealt with administratively at the County.

If needed, she hoped County staff could meet with the Library Board, which Zwiers noted was possible.

McLeod noted the last library vehicle in the red is to be replaced within the next few years. The inflationary numbers for libraries in the document are for inflationary costs of books.

In responding to Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers’s question on if this was looking at a blanketed inflationary approach for everything, or if County Council could be more strategic in priorities, McLeod noted inflationary increases are only recommended for roads, bridges, and culverts, EMS, and Sun Parlour Home. Funding on the Civic Centre or other assets, where the County is already at a good level of service, the plan is to stay at the current level of funding.

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara said the County should look at a full strategic life cycling plan for all its assets. He believes they need to look at how to balance debt with taxation over the course of a period of time to ensure those assets can be replaced in the future. He believes this document is a great start.

Lakeshore Deputy Mayor Kirk Walstedt ensured the $1M the AMP details is needed to increase the capital program in 2026 will be dealt with at budget time.

County administration will provide an update on the AMP annually, and will present a fully updated AMP every five-years.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Essex’s Administration will return with a report on the impact and opportunities to the Town of Essex resulting from the proposed County of Essex imposed Development Charges (DCs), once a formal implementation plan for such proposed Development Charges has been presented by the County.

Council moved that direction at the June 16 meeting.

At the June 2 meeting, Councillor Kim Verbeek brought this forward as a Notice of Motion.

All seven local municipalities have their own Development Charges By-Law, which is imposed on developers to pay for growth-related capital costs. The County does not have one, nor has it ever. In the County’s case, that would include highway, EMS, long-term care, waste diversion, public libraries, and studies related to the five services.

Last month, County Council was provided the information on the matter, but will have to decide whether or not to approve DCs at the County-level in the future.

The calculated residential Development Charges for the County of Essex was presented as $12,956 per single-detached residential unit, $7845 for rows and multiple-unit dwellings, and $6895 for other residential units. For non-residential, proposed Development Charges are $46.34 per square meter for commercial/institutional.

This is the max amount allowable. County Council can choose a lower amount.

Previously, it was noted if the County chose to implement the maximum DC on residential, the total charge for a single-detached unit, for instance, including the municipal DC, would be $48,113 in the McGregor service area and $38,176 for the Harrow Service Area in the Town of Essex.

The County of Essex recently hosted an open house with Essex Council on its proposed Development Charges.

Verbeek said she can see the money this would generate would be beneficial, specifically for the infrastructure costs.

She wanted this report so Essex Council can choose how it wants to direct Essex’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor on how to represent Essex at the County table on this matter.

Essex County Council is composed of the Mayors and Deputy Mayors of the seven local municipalities.

The uncertainty of the trade war with the US has contributed to the stall of development across the region, Verbeek believes.

“And we know development is not immune to these skyrocketing costs and to all the uncertainty around job losses and inflation,” Verbeek said, adding focus should be put on moving things along, not potentially putting a giant financial spoke in the wheels of those trying to build.

She understands it will be a County Council decision, but Essex Council needs to be as informed as possible. It is hoped a report could be created to provide clarity on the matter.

In answering Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais’s question on timelines, Mayor Sherry Bondy noted the County plans to provide an update to County Council after all open houses with the local municipalities wrap-up. The goal of County staff is to provide County Council with a report sometime this summer on the feedback received at those open houses.

Bondy believes there is time for Essex to create a report to help in its stance on the matter.

If the County decides to rush the matter, “that is going to be all the more reason for us to vote ‘no,’” Bondy said. “If I don’t have information on how it is going to impact Essex, and get consultation from Council colleagues here, then I am going to be a ‘no’ at the County already.”

Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley doesn’t think it’ll come back to County Council until its August meeting. As of right now, he will be voting “no” on the matter at the County Council table, unless a report comes back to him and tells him something totally different. He does not believe it is the right time and there are too many other things going on at the County.

Once the County releases its transition plan, CAO Kate Giurissevich said Essex staff can then prepare a report for Essex Council’s consideration. She believes there will be time for Essex to put together a report.

For more information on the matter, log onto www.countyofessex.ca/doing-business/planning-and-development/development-charges-initiative/

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Administration for the County of Essex was directed to develop a revised Community Safety & Well-Being Plan (CSWB) in cooperation with the City of Windsor and the Regional Systems Leadership Table, which, once completed, will be brought back before County Council for approval.

County of Essex Council moved that resolution at the June 18 regular meeting, in addition to approving the Progress Report for the current Windsor Essex Regional Community Safety & Well-Being Plan and its submission to the Ministry of the Attorney General.

As of January 1, 2019, the Safer Ontario Act, 2018has required municipalities to prepare and adopt community safety and well-being plans in partnership with a multi-sectoral advisory committee.

The plan from Windsor-Essex had to be submitted and endorsed by City and County Councils by December 31, 2021.

The updated version is required to be completed for presentation and approval from City and County Council by the fall of this year. Then, it will be submitted to the Ministry for approval.

Framework guiding municipalities in their planning efforts for the original document consisted of four areas of intervention, including social development, prevention, risk intervention, and incident response.

The local, current plan was developed focusing on the prevention and social development areas, which look at proactively implementing strategies to reduce priority risks before resulting in crime, victimization, or harm, City of Windsor Project Lead for Human and Health Services, Michelle Oake, explained to County Council.

The current Windsor Essex Regional Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan was developed to intervene before an incident occurs and prevent risks. The document includes four priorities, developed through community and stakeholder engagement: Good Governance, Engaged and Safe Communities, Mental Health and Substance-Use Supports, and Financial Security and Economic Equity.

It also includes eight goals and 17 initiatives that were outlined to achieve and action those four main goals.

Accomplishments made through the current plan include: strengthening relationships and committee membership through the establishment of the Regional System’s Leadership Table (RSLT) that resulted in government grants; promoting safe, healthy, and connected neighbourhoods and communities, including hosting community safety and crime prevention walks; and receiving around $2.9M from Public Safety Canada, where many regional community-led programs and partnerships were developed, promoted, expanded, and enhanced, while focusing on prevention and risk intervention in response to youth gun and gang violence.

In addition, the destigmatization of mental health and addiction issues was promoted, as well as awareness was raised for existing supports to promote early intervention and prevention of substance use. That included the provincially-funded Project SSNAPP, a Windsor Police, Windsor Essex County Health Unit, and City of Windsor project. It is hoped to complete similar initiatives in the County with the OPP this year, and that the joint-funding application of $500,000 will be supported.

LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche hoped LaSalle Police would be included, as well. She was told there are opportunities to collaborate.

In addition, local employment and increasing participation in local education and training was promoted as an approach to prevention, Oake said. The Windsor Regional Employment Network (WREN) was not established or funded when the CSWB plan was created, and it has since seen working with clients to find them appropriate employment training and apprenticeship opportunities.

Oakes spoke to County Council about the annual Progress Report of the Windsor Essex Regional Community Safety & Wellbeing Plan and the next steps in the project.

“Given the current economic climate, it is actually very cost-effective to allocate resources to community-based prevention initiatives targeted at the root causes of crime,” Oake said. “Research shows that implementing strategies and programs that are proactive and focused on prevention and social development…not only reduce the financial burden of crime, but they also have significant return on investments.”

Not implementing a preventative Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan can place a large financial burden on society, she added. “Overtime, the cost of doing nothing would be significant. And, the long-term benefits of preventative CSWB are substantial.”

The City of Windsor and County of Essex evenly split the local CSWB plan of $1M.

The province, Oake added, has not provided direct funding opportunities to municipalities to implement CSWB plans. Strong cross-sector collaboration and community partnerships, however, have served as the foundation for millions of dollars of funding secured through CWSB-related grants.

“This funding is required to maintain momentum, ensure sustainability, and provide that return on investment,” Oake explained to County Council.

Oake explained the legislative requirements for the CSWB plan were revised last year, now requiring communities to revise their plans within four-years. Throughout the revision process, she noted they are willing and committed to work with the community to understand and prioritize new trends, as well as City and County Councils requests to address change in community needs, including intimate partner violence.

Utilizing partnerships, Oake explained the CSWB plan leveraged a total of $4.3M in grants, and its organizers are further seeking those types of opportunities that align with the plan.

“The revised plan will build on these strengths, applying lessons learned and adapting to our community’s evolving needs,” Oake commented.

In answering Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy’s question on opportunities for County Council members and members of the public to provide more feedback on the updated document, Oake said feedback opportunities have been provided through community focus groups, leadership focus groups, and a survey. Another RSLT meeting will take place, or County Council members can connect with her or County of Essex Director of Legal and Legislative Services, David Sundin, to forward ideas.

Bondy spoke of how there is a degradation of the local housing stock in Windsor and Essex County. She believes the problem is likely worse in the County as it has less resources. She explained that through Windsor Housing, and social housing, residents are getting placed in rural areas without housing supports and, in a building traditionally for geared-to-income residents.

She spoke of the need to have those geared-to-income housing stocks in the County a safe place for people to live.

“People that have diverse and complex needs sometimes don’t pair well in housing that doesn’t have supports in it,” Bondy noted. “That is something we really need to work on with the City and get it right, so people in our rural areas feel safe.”

Deputy Warden, and Deputy Mayor for Tecumseh, Joe Bachetti, was glad to see intimate partner violence attached to the revised document. The County has declared it as an epidemic, but the province has not yet done so. He said there was criticism that it was not in the CSWB plan previously.

For more information, log onto www.citywindsor.ca/residents/socialservices-/Social-Policy-and-Pathway-to-Potential/community-safety-and-well-being/Pages/default.aspx

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Gordon Orr, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI), told County Council at its June 4 meeting he recently completed the county-wide tour where he visited each of the seven local municipalities regarding the possible implementation of a Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT).

Essex Free Press files note Orr presented the idea to Town of Essex Council at its May 5 meeting. Essex Council directed Administration to bring a report to Council considering adopting the proposed Municipal Accommodation Tax. Orr asked all municipalities to respond to the request prior to August 31, 2025.

The purpose of implementing a MAT is to directly benefit the municipality and to support local tourism growth and development, while providing municipalities with another revenue source to do so, Orr noted.

“Overall, we received supportive comments and answered some really good questions,” Orr said. When looking at all of Essex County, Orr estimated the MAT could bring in around $42M in revenue, which would work out to $1.7M-$2.5M per municipality.

“It’s a new revenue stream that does not come at a cost to your residents,” he said. The MAT would be applied by hotels and possibly short-term rentals. 50% of the funds would go to TWEPI, with the remainder sticking with the municipality. This revenue stream, Orr noted, would not impact the annual funds it receives from the County of Essex.

Essex Free Press files noted that during 2025 Budget deliberations, TWEPI received $782,000 from the County of Essex as its annual contribution. It also receives funds from the City of Windsor.

Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue asked if TWEPI anticipates American visitors to the region would increase or decrease this summer, in the wake of US tariffs.

“We are cautiously optimistic,” Orr said, adding tourism hinges on the economy. If individuals are cautious of spending, they will hang onto their dollars or perhaps take smaller trips.

He is thinking it will be an all-right year, as hotel accommodations have remained steady year-over-year.