County Council Highlights for August 6, 2025

Warden Highlights Roundabout Project, AED Loaner Program

Warden Hilda MacDonald announced that the midway point has been reached on the roundabout construction project at the intersection of County Road 42 and County Road 19/Manning Road.

The east side of the roundabout will be completed this week. It will open to northbound and southbound traffic on Monday and work will begin on the west side. The project is on schedule to be completed by the end of September.

“I want to thank motorists for their patience while we complete this vital infrastructure project,” said MacDonald. “Together with the roundabout we built last year at County Road 42 and Banwell Road, this investment will ensure traffic keeps moving as our population and economy expands.”

The Warden added the County was doing its part to prepare for historic growth, noting it was spending more than $98 million on its road construction program this year, including $67.6 million for capacity expansion.

MacDonald encouraged members of the public to subscribe to County of Essex news updates so they would receive in their email inboxes items related to road closures and new programs like the AED Loaner program launched last week by Essex-Windsor EMS.

The program to loan life-saving AEDs to organizers of community events has been well-received. All four of the AED loaner packs will be in use this weekend at community events, including the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Show, the PGA Tour Americas event at Ambassador Golf Club and the South Shore Yacht Club.

To learn more about EWEMS AED initiatives, please visit our AED page!

Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO updates Council

Ryan Donally, CEO of the Windsor Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce, provided County Council with an overview of the organization’s services, and summarized 2024-25 Chamber activities.

The Chamber hosted 29 events, including the Warden’s Luncheon in March, attracting more than 3,400 attendees. It was also featured in 92 media hits, from Fox News to the Financial Times, and the BBC to BNN Bloomberg. 

County projects net surplus of $752,650 for 2025

A mid-year projection of the County of Essex’s operating and capital results for 2025 has been completed.

Based on year-to-date activity and discussions with the senior leadership team, the County projects it will be in a net surplus position of $752,650 by December 31, 2025, the end of the current fiscal period.

Operationally, the County projects it will be in a surplus position of $400,670, coupled with an additional $351,980 surplus in capital-program expenditures, according to a report to Council by Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer.

Factors contributing to the surpluses include favourable funding variances, staffing savings and conservative budget assumptions.

Council Receives Update on Green Bin program

Michelle Bishop, General Manager of the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority, provided Council with a written update on the rollout across Windsor and Essex County of the long-awaited Green Bin Program.

Green bins are receptacles into which residents dispose of food waste and other organics on a weekly basis. Approximately 120,000 green bins will be delivered to Windsor-Essex residences by October, when the weekly food-waste collection program is scheduled to begin.

Learn more about the Green Bin program!

Council Receives Update on Roadway Expansion Program

Council received an update about the funding model for its 20-year roadway expansion program. Due to significant inflationary pressures on the price of land and construction costs, the expansion program is now expected to cost $704.8 million over 20 years, up from the original estimate of $641.2 million.

The updated funding model does not include any potential provincial or federal funding and relies on a mix of financial tools including:

• A phased increase to annual levy contributions;
• Strategic use of long-term debt to finance major projects;
• Early use of reserves, with a plan to replenish them later in the program.

“The updated funding model ensures the County remains fiscally responsible while continuing to invest in critical infrastructure that supports population growth, economic development, and regional mobility,” said a report to Council.

Funding Strategy Update for EWEMS Master Plan

Council received a “high-level overview of the proposed financing strategy for capital infrastructure projects identified in the Essex-Windsor EMS Master Plan, specifically related to the implementation of a Hub and Spoke station model.”

Recommendations in the Master Plan are meant to address projected service demands over the next five to six years, as necessitated by regional population growth and increasing call volumes.

Key infrastructure projects recommended in an updated Master Plan presented to Council in February include the construction of a central EMS hub in Windsor and the development or relocation of satellite (spoke) stations throughout the region. 

“These projects are intended to improve EMS response times, optimize system efficiency, and align service delivery with community growth,” said a report to Council. 

The report estimates the capital costs, including land acquisition, design and construction, at about $55.6 million. Funding tools that could support those investments include:

•  Capital Reserve Contributions
•  Debt Financing
•  Internal Borrowing from Other County Capital Reserves
•  Development Charges (Should Council Implement Them)
•  Intergovernmental Grants

Read the report!

Development Charges Initiative Update

Council received an update from Melissa Ryan, the County’s Financial Services Director/Treasurer, on the County of Essex Development Charges Initiative and will consider later in the fall a draft by-law reflective of the comments received by Council and other stakeholders. 

The report summarizes public feedback received by stakeholders and at public meetings held in all the local municipalities and outlines options Council could consider, including phasing in the implementation of development charges or providing exemptions or reduced charges for affordable housing projects or large industrial projects or employment lands.

“The County of Essex is exploring the adoption of Development Charges as a sustainable funding mechanism to support growth-related infrastructure and services,” says a report to Council. “The implementation of Development Charges will provide a dedicated and sustainable funding source to support the growth-related infrastructure needs of the County. Without the introduction of DCs, the financial responsibility for these costs would fall directly on existing taxpayers through increased property taxes.”

Council Receives Report on Tax Deferral Program

Council received a report on municipal property tax relief for businesses impacted by tariffs that recommended no further action be taken at this time.

The County’s treasurer met with treasurers of the local municipalities and a consensus emerged that a local deferral program “would not be the most effective or practical tool at this time” for reasons, cited in the report, including:

• Robust federal and provincial supports are in place
• Timing within the taxation year
• Limited local uptake in other jurisdictions
• Administrative and operational complexity
• Short-term cash flow impact
• Uncertainty of impact

Council Approves Agreements with ONA, CUPE

Council approved Collective Bargaining Agreements with employees at Sun Parlor Home represented by CUPE Local 860 and Local 8 of the Ontario Nurses Association.

“The negotiation process with both unions was productive and respectful, with both sides working toward practical solutions,” said a report to Council from Kyla Pritiko, Director of Human Resources. “The resulting agreements reflect Council’s approved compensation strategies and include wage increases along with a few updates to contract language that support both operational needs and employee engagement.”