County Council Highlights for Dec. 17, 2025

Warden praises County employees for their generosity

Warden Hilda MacDonald in her opening remarks Wednesday night praised County employees for their generosity in donating hundreds of pounds of canned goods and non-perishable food items to AM 800 CKLW’s “Cans for a Cause” campaign.

“What a thrill it was,” the Warden said, “to hear our CAO, Sandra Zwiers, sing the praises of our big-hearted staff during a live interview last Friday morning on CKLW. Great job, Sandra!”

County employees joined businesses and residents from across Essex-Windsor in donating 156,704 non-perishable food items – and more than $60,000 in cash – to Cans for a Cause. Those are big increases over last year’s totals. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is the charitable beneficiary. Last year they served 187,512 people through their food programs across Windsor and Essex County.

The Warden also thanked Essex-Windsor EMS staffers for bundling up and volunteering a few weeks ago to hawk papers for the Windsor Goodfellows, raising nearly $21,000 for the organization’s campaign against hunger. As well, the Warden praised EWEMS paramedics and Road crews for appearing in Santa Claus parades across the County, putting smiles on the faces of countless children and their parents.

“County Council is fortunate to have such generous, caring, dedicated staff working for us, and – even more importantly – ably serving County residents,” said MacDonald. “So, a big thank-you to County employees! And here’s wishing them, and all County residents, a joyous Holiday season and all the best in 2026.”

Council approves EWSWA budget

Council approved the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority’s 2026 budget, which is jointly paid for by the County of Essex and City of Windsor. The 2.6 per cent increase equates to $326,390 ($149,040 to County municipalities, $177,350 to the City of Windsor).

As a result of the launch of the Green Bin program, municipal solid-waste tonnages are projected to decrease from 109,900 tonnes in 2025 to 99,260 tonnes in 2026 – a 9.7% drop. This is due to the two-phase launch of the Green Bin program. The tonnage estimates include 12 months of participation for the Phase 1 municipalities (Essex, Lakeshore, LaSalle and Tecumseh) and two months of participation for Phase 2 municipalities (Amherstburg, Kingsville and Leamington).

Read the Budget!

In a separate report to Council on Green Bin program billing updates, estimated Green Bin user-fee costs per household in 2026 alone will be as follows, by municipality:

• Essex, $156.80
• Lakeshore, $159.03
• LaSalle, $158.28
• Tecumseh, $154.13
• Leamington, $33.80 (service begins in October 2026)
• Kingsville, $33.66 (service begins in October 2026)
• Amherstburg, $33.99 (service begins in October 2026)

Read the Green Bin Program Billing Updates report!

Speed reductions approved for County Roads 2, 10, 14, 33, 46, 50

Council approved six speed reductions on County roads.

An analysis of various roads considered posted speed limits, traffic volumes, collision history, road geometry, pedestrian and cyclists’ exposure, roadside hazards, intersection proximity and community facilities. The estimated total cost of changing speed-limit road signs is $12,000.

The six locations for coming speed reductions are:

• County Road 2, in Stoney Point, over a 250-metre stretch bordering Our Lady of Annunciation Catholic Elementary School – from 50 km/h down to 40 km/h (in a newly designated Community Safety Zone).
• County Road 10, in Amherstburg, west of 3rd Concession Road North – from 80 km/h down to 60 km/h.
• County Road 14, in Kingsville, over a 600-metre stretch east of County Road 27 – from 80 km/h down to 60 km/h.
• County Road 33, in Leamington, from 435 metres south of Eagle Street to Monarch Lane – from 80 km/h down to 60 km/h.
• County Road 46, in Tecumseh, over a stretch of 680 metres eastward from the spot 185 metres east of 8th Concession Road – from 80 km/h down to 60 km/h.
• County Road 50, in Amherstburg, over a stretch from 580 metres south of County Road 20 to Meadows Lane – from 80 km/h down to 60 km/h.

Read the report!