County Council Highlights for June 18, 2025

Warden encourages public feedback about transportation plans

Warden Hilda MacDonald in her opening remarks to council thanked Essex County residents for their patience during road construction season and encouraged them to help plan future improvements.

“Our 2025 construction program includes $67 million for roadway expansion and $20 million to rehabilitate 33 kilometres of road,” MacDonald said. “Thank you to everyone who is being patient and attentive around construction sites and maintenance crews. Thank you for slowing down and showing care and respect for the folks who do these important jobs. We appreciate it and they do, too.”

The warden also invited residents to attend public consultations being held about the future of transportation in Essex County.

On Thursday, June 19, there is a public consultation centre about the feasibility of improvements to County Road 50 between 690 Heritage Road and Lake Drive in Kingsville. The public consultation is from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Kingsville Arena Complex.

The public is also invited to information centres on June 23 in Kingsville, June 24 in Lakeshore and June 25 in Essex (McGregor), where they can provide input for a new Essex County Transportation Master Plan that will be a guide for the next 30 years. Details about the evening information centres are on our Transportation Master Plan web page.

If you see an issue anywhere, at any time on the County of Essex road network, you can report it using our online portal or by calling 519-326-8691.

Regional Community Safety and Well-Being Plan is being updated

The Windsor Essex Regional Community Safety and Well-Being Plan adopted by the city and county is being updated.

Essex County Council received a progress report and a presentation about what has been accomplished since the plan was approved in late 2021. It approved sending the update to the Ministry of the Attorney General and directed staff, in cooperation with the city and other partners, to update the plan and bring it back for approval.

Community consultation and engagement started in the spring and will continue over the summer. It is expected a draft revised plan will be ready for review and approval in the fall.

Education plan for councillors approved

Councillors directed administration to schedule education sessions they selected for the coming year. The training is one of the initiatives set out in the County of Essex Strategic Plan aimed at meeting the goal of growing as leaders in public service excellence.

Council members were surveyed after a training session in March and selected courses they would like to complete on two topics: communication essentials for leaders and council’s responsibility to road users.

Council adopts updated Asset Management Plan

The 2025 Asset Management Plan for the County of Essex approved by council recommends a gradual increase in capital expenditures to sustain current service levels.

The plan projects capital expenditures would increase by roughly $1 million to $1.5 million a year for the next 10 years to accomplish this. It recommends spending $58.6 annually to maintain the county’s $1.2-billion in assets, which include roads, libraries, Sun Parlor Home, Essex-Windsor EMS buildings and vehicles, administration facilities and the county’s share of Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority assets. The county is currently investing about $28 million annually.

The county’s assets are generally in good overall condition, with 92.3 per cent of core assets and 90.4 per cent of non-core assets in fair or better condition, says a report to council.

County’s sound financial planning reflected in 2024 statements

Consolidated financial statements for 2024 show the County of Essex continues to be in solid financial shape thanks to prudent planning and minimal debt, says a summary report.

It scored well on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s Financial Indicator Threshold of Results Report, which measures the sustainability, flexibility and vulnerability of municipal finances.

The County of Essex had equity, or retained earnings, of $571 million as of December 31, 2024. It also had more than $316 million in reserves, which include funds being set aside for major road projects and the new regional hospital.

Official Plan amended to change designation of Leamington property

Essex County Council passed a by-law amending the Official Plan to designate 720 Mersea Road 8 and the frontage of 730 Mersea Road 8 in Leamington as agricultural. The land was previously designated as a secondary settlement area.

There were no public comments received at a statutory public meeting held by council on June 4, notice of which was publicized and circulated to neighbours of the affected property.

County to promote water safety during Drowning Prevention Week

CAO Sandra Zwiers confirmed in response to a question by Councillor Sherry Bondy that the County of Essex will promote water safety and raise awareness about the risk of drowning during National Drowning Prevention Week, which runs this year from July 20 to July 26.

The CAO noted the County of Essex was a member of the Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium and the lead in the Windsor and Essex County Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Coalition, which partnered with Windsor Police to host a water safety clinic last summer.

She added that an Essex-Windsor EMS paramedic hosted a drowning awareness session for paramedics that also drew participants from the City of Windsor and the Towns of Essex, LaSalle and Tecumseh.