>> good morning, everyone.
I would like to call the december third 2025 essex county
council meeting to order.
council is gathered this morning
to deliberate the 2026 budget.
we will invite everyone to join
council and administration as
we take this time for a moment of
reflection.
that will lead into the playing
of our national anthem.
[o canada playing, instrumental]
we acknowledge the land on which
the county of essex is located
is the traditional territory of
the three fires confederacy of
first nations, comprised of the
ojibway, odawa and potawatomie
peoples.
we specifically recognize
caldwell first nation and other
first nations which have
provided significant historical
and contemporary contributions
to this region.
we also value the contributions
of all original peoples of
turtle island
who have been living and working
on this land from time
immemorial.
>> is a look around the table,
I see all-county members are around the table this morning.
again, good morning.
welcome to what we hope is a --
I'm trying to think what p word
is good.
>> productive.
thank you.
a productive day this morning.
without too much pain, shall we
put it that way.
the county's strategic plan calls for the county of essex
to be a regional champion delivering services for the success of our local communities
and residents.
that plan also calls for us to
be a powerhouse in public and
private investment attraction
I investing in quality infrastructure and creating conditions conducive to economic
growth.
the county of essex staff built
the proposed 2026 budget in response to the strategic priorities that we as council
set and they did so in a challenging economic environment
while trying to maintain service
levels.
I thank them for their dedication and hard work.
now it's time for us to get to
work.
I know we are up for the task.
reviewing and setting the budget
is one of the most important jobs that council performs and
I am looking forward to the discussions around this table
as we chart our course for 2026 and
beyond.
before we get started, just a
little notes.
if we have moments in the discussion process where we asked the finance department for
certain numbers or certain adjustments instead of us just
sitting then, perhaps we will
take a little break at that time
 time.
I think that keeps us moving a
little bit, getting up and down
, and it also, it doesn't put the
pressure on our ladies at the
finance table.
if that's okay with you, I think
we will proceed in that manner
.
thank you.
any disclosures of pecuniary interest around the table this
morning?
seen none.
if at any point during the proceedings matter is raised
for which a member has an interest which is pecuniary, of
decoration can be made.
no minutes for council's consideration and no delegations
 delegations.
one piece of correspondence received in relation to the 2026
draft budget.
does anyone want to discuss that
item further?
I am seeing none.
the recommendation is that the
correspondence listed on the regular agenda for december december third, 2025, we received.
looking for a mover and a second
life.
moved by councilor verbeke, seconded by councilor meloche.
any discussion?
all in favour by show of hands
.
that is carried.
thank you.
no resolutions for consideration
 consideration.
under consent, there are two items listed for december third
.
anything there that council would like to discuss further?
seeing none.
there is a recommendation that
the recommendations included in
the reports listed as items 11.1
and 11.2 on the consent agenda
for december third, 2025 be approved.
looking for a mover and a second
her.
councilor mcnamara any discussion?
all in favour that is carried
as part of the deliberations there
is one report for council to consider and it is the county
of essex 2026 advocacy priorities
.
for that report we turn to our
cao sandra zwiers.
sandra.
>> thank you, gordon.
before I get into my report, I
do want to make a few opening
remarks about this year's budget
 budget.
first and foremost, I want to
thank this council.
your support and encouragement
to staff over this past year has
really meant a lot to the team
.
providing public service is not
easy.
but it is made easier when we
know as staff that we have the
support of our council.
this year, we really want to extend our things as we get into
what is likely going to be a tough day today.
but we want to certainly start
with thanks to council.
I also want to extend sincere
thanks to the entire leadership
team here at the county.
it does take a village to prepare a budget.
this process started many, many
months ago.
everyone in this room and many
who are not in this room contributed to the success of
the document you are going to
see today.
this was a challenging year, as
the warden noted.
with cost pressures affecting
every aspect of our operations
.
our staff across all departments
deserve recognition for crafting
a fiscally responsible budget
that stays through to joe's stays true.
staff carefully assess whether
every dollar could have the greatest impact and maintaining
vital services will making significant targeted investments in health care, and
for structure, housing supports
and public safety.
your admin team has tried to do
the heavy lifting for you today
.
hopefully you will see that this
budget has tried to weigh spending against the risk of deferral.
it presents a budget that is in
line with inflation while maintaining the levels of service our county residents demand.
each year, we do truck try to
improve upon the process and we
tried that once again this year
.
part of the role that I tried
to play in helping the team was meeting with each of county council throughout the year to
have discussions on what your
budget priorities were, and suggestions for improvement on
the process.
and so again, I want to thank
council for your engagement in
those meetings and the valuable
insights and suggestions that
you gave that helped form the
experience we hope you will enjoy today.
the goal of any budget is to action our strategic plan, as
the warden said.
this budget we feel does support
a number of key strategies in
our plan.
that takes me to the report that
is in your agenda package this
morning.
as promised at our last council
meeting we are looking to formalize our advocacy approach
in both a policy as well as formalizing advocacy priorities
for council as we enter in to
26 26.
the report this morning does seek council's input and direction for a focused of cacique campaign for next year
.
on the second page of my report
, you will see a number of proposed advocacy priorities for
your consideration today.
these priorities speak to specific needs within the county
but they are also aligned quite
nicely with the advocacy approaches and priorities of agencies above us.
so amo, the western ontario warden
warden's caucus, and most importantly the province.
it is important that what we do
here mina simply does aligned
with provincial priorities.
each of these priorities has been incorporated to some varying degree in the proposed
budget you are going to get a
walk-through today.
very quickly, these are outlined
in the report, improving mobility and roadway capacity.
our road network is vital to the
linkages and economy in our region.
you will see a focused there.
ensuring safe, affordable homes
as a foundation for sustainable
community growth.
as you know in 2025, we completed our regional affordable housing strategy and
we are looking to advance those
conversations with our locals,
and see what we can do is a region to help move the housing
goals forward.
the third is improving access
to health care and paramedic service modernization.
we have a number of our ems folks in the audience as well
today and we have a fantastic
group at our long-term care home
as well.
we are looking to really focus
our efforts and optimize the scarce resources we have to provide those services.
the fourth item we are looking
to focus on in 2026 is advancing
environmental stewardship.
as you know, our geography is
unique in the province when we
are surrounded by great lakes
and with that joy and environmental luxury does come
some specific challenges for our
region particularly in the form
of flooding and shoreline erosion and also wanting to be
prepared from an emergency management perspective.
the fifth item we've identified
for council's consideration is
economic development trade stability.
it is no surprise and we've said
this many times during 2025, the
impacts of tariffs and cross-border trade tensions impact the essex county region
more amplified then I either other areas of the province.
as a county government, we're
looking to make sure the province is aware of our issues
and we are representing the needs of our business community
.
in the report, you will see a
number of advocacy opportunities
for next year.
we are looking to delegate at
various conferences, at roma and
amo as usual.
also looking to participate in
the western ontario wardens caucus queen's park today, which
would be a new event for us in
the spring.
of course ongoing meetings and
intentional conversations with
our local mps and mpps.
in terms of next steps, council
with your direction today, we
would be action inc. These priorities in terms of print materials and information on our
public facing social media and county website.
in terms of financial considerations while there is
an element of cost, we have waived these against the proposed budget and we are confident the proposed budget
includes enough funding to action the strategies we've outlined for council consideration today.
the report this morning does give council a bit of meat on
the bone to chew on but certainly we are looking to council to get your input and
your official direction on the
advocacy priorities you would
like to see in 2026.
with that, I would be happy to
answer any of your questions.
>> thank you.
any questions for administration
 administration?
councilor prue.
>> thank you, madame borden.
I read with some interest the
delegation to go to queen's park
.
it seemed like it wasn't funded
by very much.
is that because we are going with the western ontario wardens
so -- I'm just trying to figure
it out.
it's only $4000.
>> yes, we considered this activity on our own as a county
government.
there was considerable cost associated with that and never
.
we did learn late this fall that
the western ontario wardens caucus does an annual queen's
park day, and in 2026, they are
inviting all members to display
a table, have a booth, and we
can essentially piggyback on their efforts to set up an advocacy day at queen's park.
it certainly has reduced the cost for the county and we are
leveraging our membership to make that happen.
>> thank you.
having attended hundreds of these things in my years at queen's park, they tend to be
rather large affairs.
the tables showcase products and
services from each of the regions.
I would imagine we would take
down wine and other things that
are from the region.
is that the intent?
that we have that kind of stuff
to showcase?
texas county?
>> planning is in the early stages.
we will work quite closely with
the staff to make sure what we
are delivering to represent essex county is comparable to
what other members are doing that conversation will take place administratively and certainly as appropriate, we can
bring back a proposal to county
council so county council is aware of the level of effort.
it certainly is an opportunity
that county is representing seven local municipalities and
so while they are looking to showcase the county of essex proper it is a really nice opportunity to showcase what is
happening in each of our seven
locals.
we will be in touch with administrative teams as well to
see how we can best leverage this opportunity.
>> are you confident that the
amount set aside, which I think
is fairly small, a sufficient?
>> we are confident.
>> thank you.
>> anyone else?
councilor akpata.
>> I appreciate this.
I'm wondering if we are looking
at doing outside of the box final engagements because our
minister polities have been impacted by international decisions with his -- which is
the exclusive purview of the federal government.
even in our own facilities, we've seen cost rise beyond the
scope of what the province can
do.
I'm wondering through you, madame borden, if the ceo has
any ideas that may help all of
us?
>> through you, worden, you will
notice one of the items in the
list is meetings with mps and
mpps.
is something we have historically focused on and councilor akpata, you are correct that the federal connection probably hasn't been
as strong at the county as we
can make it.
the goal in 2026 is to seek out
those opportunities for hopefully one on one conversations with mps.
we have found that the conversations are more candid
and often more productive when
you can meet with members of either the province of the federal government in a smaller
setting rather than in a conference 15 minute speed dating situation.
we will be looking administratively to seek out those opportunities to meet with
our mps.
>> a supplemental, if I may.
I saw that.
I'm looking for -- my friend spoke about queen's park day.
I know perhaps down the road,
may be the house might be something we could engage in various departments.
I look at what's going on, to
lay with the infrastructure bill
that's going on that's going to
connect windsor and detroit.
it's affecting this a polities
here.
I want to make sure as we go down this path, we don't eliminate anything that's going
to affect the dollars that we
spend.
that solemn looking for.
>> thank you.
anyone else?
>> thank you, madame warden.
I'm supportive of the five parties and read them -- ready
to move them and endorse all five under the recommendation
when you are.
>> if there are no further comments we will come back to
you.
I will read the recommendation
first.
that is that essex county council received report number
 number 2025 s1 203ca o-letter,
 o-letter, county of essex 2026
advocacy priorities as information and direct administration -- into the county
county's advocacy strategy and
2026 advocacy calendar.
that is moved by councilor rogers.
looking for a second or.
councilor meloche.
any discussion on the motion itself?
seeing on, I ask you to vote electronically.
>> that's carried unanimously.
thank you.
this is where the rubber hits
the road.
2026 budget overview treasuries
report.
for this report, melissa ryan.
over to you.
>> thank you, wardens.
good morning.
thank you for joining the county
administration team today to kick off our 2026 county budget
deliberations.
this morning, I will provide a
high-level overview of the 2026
budget our priorities, the pressures we are facing and what
this means for residents today
and for our long-term stability
.
to start off, I would like to
take a moment to acknowledge all
of the county staff who worked
on preparing this year's budget
.
sitting beside me is heidi mc mcleod our manager of accounting and deputy treasurer
, what's been key in keeping us
organize along with her team of
financial analysts, whose attention to detail made this
process run smoothly.
I would also like to thank our
cao and senior leadership team
for their insight and participation throughout the process as well as our communications and council services team for helping make
the budget clear and accessible
.
I would also like to thank all
others in the county who supported this budget process.
this really has been a countywide collaborative effort
built on trust, teamwork and commitment.
our goal, just as has been over
the past four years that this
council has been at the table
remain simple, maintain stability deliver value and plan responsibly for our future
.
we want to make sure our financial decisions continue to
align with council's priorities
and community needs.
today's agenda starts with a general overview followed by departmental presentations.
after each one, there will be
an opportunity for questions and
discussion.
council can decide whether to
receive the information for further review later today or
to receive and approve the department
department's 2026 budget if there's a consensus to move forward.
to keep everyone focused and energized we are planning breaks at 10:30, noon and 2:30
.
it will stay flexible depending
how the discussion close.
we will also have a quick break
before finalizing the levy recommendation to make sure any
adjustments from today's discussions are accurately reflected.
the 2026 budget process began
in may of 2025 with planning sessions and departmental reviews.
we aimed to make this project
more strategic, ensuring that
every dollar aligns with council
parties and community expectations.
after laster's budget, we held
a debrief to learn what worked well and what we could improve.
The feedback shaped the 2026
Process.
debrief to learn what worked well and what we could improve.
The feedback shaped the 2026
Process.
debrief to learn what worked well and what we could improve.
The feedback shaped the 2026
Process.
debrief to learn what worked well and what we could improve.
The feedback shaped the 2026
Process.
by november, the full 2026 budget was finalized and provided to council and the public.
throughout, we focused on fundamentals.
we started with our 2025 base
budget factoring in contractual
increases reviewing departmental work plans, studying assumptions around inflation and row and ensuring
every decision supports long-term sustainability.
while the document itself may
be 163 pages, it's really the result of months of collaboration planning and a
lot of caffeine, all aimed at
delivering a budget that balances today's needs with tomorrow's goals.
as we look at what is shaping
the 2026 budget, there are a few
big drivers we can't ignore.
first is inflation.
yes, it is finally starting to
stabilize which is great news
but we are still feeling its impacts in some key areas, especially in certain contracts
with materials, software, vehicles and wages.
next we are managing steady growth across the county which
adds pressure.
each new subdivision, road or
community initiative create ripple effects that require planning funding and people to
deliver.
it's a good problem to have.
growth is the sign of a healthy
county but it requires thoughtful balancing.
speaking of people, let's talk
about human resources.
2026 will be a busy year.
a key phase with five collective
agreements coming up for negotiation.
at the same time, we focus on
retention and succession planning making sure we continue to attract and keep talented skilled staff because
at the end of the day, our people are the ones who make the
services happen.
at the heart of this budget is
fiscal responsibility.
our approach remains consistent
hereafter year.
we focus on maintaining service
levels honouring commitments
to community and making decisions
today that don't compromise tomorrow's financial stability
.
I am proud to say that that approach continues to serve us
well.
the county is recognized for its
strong fiscal management, a solid credit rating and a pay-as-you-go philosophy that
helps us limit that and keep control of our financial future
.
of course, that doesn't mean it's easy.
we are still navigating challenges things like rising
operational and timber structure
cost increasing land prices,
limited provincial funding and
ongoing deferral of property tax
reassessment.
to manage these challenges, we
come back to our guiding budget
principles which include maintaining essential service
levels honouring our commitments and prioritizing long-term stability.
these principles keep us grounded to help ensure we are
not just reacting to short-term
pressures but building a balanced looking budget that reflects both fiscal discipline
and community priorities.
this slide gives a high-level
look at the 2026 county budget
.
the total proposed budget comes
in at 145.7 million, with 96.8 million dedicated to operations and 48.9 million for
capital.
the result is a proposed 2.5%
-- it works out to be $51.84 a year
for an average home assessed at
350,000.
what I want to emphasize here
is that the budget isn't about across-the-board increases, it's
about strategic investments with
measurable impact.
every dollar has a purpose and
to be our advancing council's
priorities in a sustainable way
.
a quick fun fact that I am typically asked by council is
that everyone present changing
the tax rate equals about 1.42 million in levy dollars.
I will just add, our team did
some heavy lifting this year.
we started with a potential 13.3
million-dollar levy increase and
through internal reviews and incorporating growth, we brought
that down to 5.7 million.
that is a reduction of seven-point 6 million before the
budget even reached council.
this slide shows the infamous
loony graph indicating what portion of your tax dollar goes
to each department.
the largest year, as you can see
 see, was timber structure and
planning followed by external
commitments which are for things
like public health and social
services and regional initiatives.
this slide gives a snapshot of
where we have been and where we
are heading in terms of tax rate
changes and inflation from 2021
to 2026.
we talk about inflation, is important to remember we are not
just talking about regular cpi
that affects groceries and clothing.
for municipalities, our shopping
list looks a little different.
things like asphalt, concrete
and construction materials are
all tied to nonresidential construction inflation, which
tends to rise faster.
even if general inflation cools
, our project cost don't always
follow suit.
big picture, our tax rate increases have historically stayed at or below inflation which has helped keep things affordable for residents but it
also means we have years where
we are just catching up after
holding the line for so long.
for 2026, we are still in balance mode, managing inflation
 inflation, funding big capital
priorities like the roadway expansion program, the new windsor-essex hospital, the ms
master plan and social services
while keeping the increase moderate and sustainable.
overall, this trend shows what
I think is a responsible story,
study deliberate adjustment to
keep up with inflation and growth while continuing to invest where it matters most.
this next line shows how we arrived at our 2026 levy requirement.
we started with the 2025 base
levy and added increases from
each department bringing the total to approximately 145.7 million.
the main departmental increases
that affect the levy include the
addition of eight paramedic positions one human resources
assistant and one human resource
generalist.
residential and homelessness services we have increased per  per diem funding for residential
services and we have also expanded the county's overnight
homelessness program.
additional levy dollars were included to close the asset management planned gap and also
levy dollars were put into support the roadway expansion
program.
there were some levy dollars for
enhanced recreational programming.
we did increase our funding for
drainage management with council
direction.
for social services and housing
, you will see higher operational
cost which have been communicated to us by the service manager at the city of
windsor.
we also have our hospital reserve.
we are continuing with that funding model presented to council.
that's funding strategy was already provided and we do see
an increase in that.
other large increases that are
reserve funded include facility
updates such as accessibility
improvements to the elevator and
basement floor and there are going to be basement floor repairs at the county administration building.
for ems facilities characters
increase funding for the ems station maintenance.
there's also a service delivery
review for infrastructure and
planning services included as
well as investments in workforce
planning and I.t. Initiatives.
I would like to highlight a few
key items that have influenced
the county's overall budget.
you will see a common theme throughout all of the various
departments.
first we have about 3 million
in contractual salary increases that council is already approved
for various nonunion and union
groups as well as anticipated
outcomes of some collective agreements.
with those increases, there are
increases in the benefits cost
as well.
next we have some dollars that
have shifted between departments
due to reallocation of internal
recoveries.
this helps ensure costs are properly assigned to the departments that support them
and finally there are a few prebudget approvals that were
already approved throughout 2025
, including ems vehicle procurement and the over structure and planning services
area.
we have the state of good repair
 repair, two projects that were
approved and also the addition
of the legal articling student
in corporate management approved
in 2025 in order to hire in 2026 2026.
to reach our 2.65% target, we
did have to defer a few valuable
initiatives.
for those interested in appendix
32, treasurers report, there is
a list that has all of those items.
many of them align with our long-term priorities and remain
on the table.
council can still choose to include them in the budget if
they decide they are the priority.
they will also be discussed at
the department level as well if
further details than what are
shown in the appendix are sought
after.
this chart shows the counties
full-time and part-time staffing
levels.
as you can see, the 2026 draft
budget includes an increase of
11 full-time positions, eight
of which are paramedics.
in addition, there was a request
for the -- increased part-time
hours for sun parlor homes staff
 staff.
across all departments, 29 new
positions were proposed during
the budget process.
through the administrative review process, that this was
carefully evaluated based on organizational priorities and
fiscal capacity.
in the end, 11 full-time positions were prioritized and
concluded in the proposed budget
 budget.
these lima the recommendations
by our director of human resources at the october 15 council meeting.
looking ahead to 2026, our overall reserve position is generally on track, which is great news.
though there are still a few areas that will need careful attention.
our capital reserve remains underfunded which continues to
be a challenge since we rely on
it for large-scale -- pressures
on the reserve will come from
the ems master plan which includes several capital projects.
to address this, we have built
in a plan to add $1 million to
the levy each year for the next
nine years, gradually repaying
what we're using now.
these reserves will also be important for the sun parlor homes project whether that ends
up being a major redevelopment
or rebuild depending on the results of the feasibility study
 study.
the rate stabilization reserve
is slightly above target range
of 10% of the levy.
we will continue to monitor that
throughout the year.
reserves are critical because
they help us plan for the long  long term to -- keep tax rates
stable when costs arrive and balance affordability between
today's pacs -- today's taxpayers and those in the future.
it can be tempting to use reserve debt hold taxes down,
this isn't a sustainable approach.
the real focus needs to remain
on aligning service levels with
proper funding.
by the end of 2026, total reserves are projected to decrease by 56 million.
that is largely due to the planned investments and roadway
expansion projects.
as noted in the funding model
shared with councilor this year
, debt for the roadway expansion
program may be required as early
as 2028.
the good news is we have a plan
to gradually replenish the reserve over the 20 year program
.
using our reserves also affects
our investment income potential
.
interest income is estimated in
the 2026 budget.
we are in a good position on that front despite reserves reducing by 56 million.
the 2026 budget faces several
inherent risks, many of which
are outside the control of administration and council.
key challenges include potential
provincial funding reduction,
rising ems call volumes and off-load delays, escalating cost
for construction and essential
supply and global inflation pressures.
additionally, factors like winter maintenance expenses, collective bargaining outcomes
and increasing demand for social
services and affordable housing
could significantly impact budget outcomes.
council will be informed of any
unforeseen budget pressures throughout the year with strategies developed to address
them as needed.
for the average homeowner with
a property assessed at 350,000,
county taxes are projected to
increase by $51.84 for the year
.
just a reminder that the assessed values are still being
held at 2016 assessment rates
and there is no indicator of a
reassessment in the near future
.
it's a modest and manageable increase one that balances rising service demand due to growth in inflationary cost and
the need to keep long-term finances stable.
the number could shift slightly
based on final tax policy decisions which will be made in
february of 2026 when council
confirms rates.
at this point, we do not foresee
any provincial changes on the
horizon that we believe would
significantly affect the county
 county's tax rate but there is
a potential factor to keep an eye
on which is the affordable renting subclass.
depending when and how it's implemented it could have a minor impact on the tax rate percentage but likely not a major one.
this depends of council chooses
to apply it and how many properties would be eligible.
overall, we are in a strong position with the balance and
responsible tax increase.
in summary, the 2026 council budget is sustainable.
it supports residence, protects
infrastructure and positions the
county to meet needs.
we will now move on to the departmental presentation where
each leader will provide details
on their 2026 budget.
>> any questions on the overview
 overview?
seeing none.
there is a recommendation that
county council received the report budget overview, treasuries report as information
 information, and that the 2026
budget package be received for
public deliberation.
looking for a mover and a seconder.
deputy warden deck and did by
councilor meloche.
any discussion?
all in favour?
I will ask you to vote electronically.
is there a question?
I'm going back to the same people every time because no one
is raising their hands.
we will see the same names written on the minutes.
thank you for recognizing that
.
I am asking those that raise their hands.
that is carried.
thank you.
that's quite the team at the table now.
we will begin with the departmental presentations.
first one up is the community
services residential services.
we have the director of legislative and legal services
.
we have the director of health
and community services at sun
parlor homes.
and our manager of community services here to present.
over to you, team.
>> thank you.
as council is well aware, the
council
council's community services division has been for the past
number of years house within the
legislative and legal services
department.
however, effective january first
 january first, 2026, it will transition to the county health
and community services department.
this budget presentation as a
transition time with both myself
and the county director of health and community services
assisting with the presentation
of the community services budget
 budget.
the bulk of today's presentation
 presentation, as per usual, will
be handled by the county manager
of committee services.
county manager of community services.
>> good morning.
first and foremost, I want to
thank our fantastic finance team
for providing our small but mighty program throughout the
year.
so thank you, marcy, heidi and
terry who is now on maternity
leave.
the community services division
includes three main programs.
first, the residential services
homes program provides a financial subsidy for vulnerable
individuals placed in residential care homes, such as
retirement homes and lodging homes.
the county currently has a service agreement with nine homes throughout the county and
we support a total of 226 individuals within the program
.
secondly, the county has been
overseeing the operation of a
service delivery of various homelessness programs delivered
by the essex county homelessness
hub.
these programs include a drop
in day program where individuals
experiencing homelessness or at
risk of losing their housing can
access support and services to
either obtain housing or remain
housed.
in addition, the essex county
homelessness hub also began offering an overnight program
in july of 2025, to respond to an
increasing number of individuals
experiencing homelessness.
the county outreach services and
the county emergency shelter program also -- services also
provided to the essex county homelessness hub.
finally, the community services
department also includes the operational funding to support
12 affordable housing units for
youth and other vulnerable populations at the bridge in leamington.
the residential services homes
program has been experiencing
some challenges in the last several years.
with an increase of people experiencing homelessness, the
program has seen an evolving client base with complex needs
.
we are also seeing an increase
in demand for services which has
resulted in our program being
at capacity and having a wait-list
.
in addition, regional transportation continues to be
a barrier to ensure that the residents have access to health  health care appointments within
the city and that's remains one
of our largest challenges.
further, we are experiencing a
lack of capacity in our program
, which leaves us with very little
room for contingency planning
or few options when addressing emergency situations in our communities.
in addition, the residential services home providers have identified significant financial
pressures which are a result of
an increase cost of food, utilities mortgages and staffing.
this also presents a recruitment
and retention challenge for the
homes as they are not able to
compete with other health care
agencies when hiring staff that
are in high demand professions
.
there has been a 30% increase
in usage year-over-year in all homelessness programs with the
exception of the emergency shelter program, which has supported the same amount of individuals as last year.
the essex county homelessness
hub has averaged 428 visits per
month with a total of just over
4800 visits from january first
to october 31st.
I should also note that since
the beginning of the program in
september of 2022, there has been a total of just over 13,500
visits at the essex county homelessness hub.
in addition, the essex county
homelessness hub has supported
45 individuals with finding housing in the same time frame
of first to october 31st.
the warming centre was operational last winter from december ninth to march 31st.
they received a total of 935 visits in this time frame.
on the other hand, the overnight
program which began its operation in july of 2025, received a total of 1545 visits
between july 21st and october
 october 31st.
therefore, there has been a significant increase in the utilization of this program compared to last year.
the county outreach services program has supported 102 unique
individuals from january first
to october 31st, with a total
of 997 visits.
encampment tracking only started
on may first and the team has
intervened and supported a total
of 22 individuals in four different encampments.
at the time of gathering the information for this report, there were three active encampments in the county.
I should also note that encampments are defined as containing two or more content
or structures, therefore there
are many more areas where individuals are sleeping outside
but those are not considered official encampments.
the county emergency shelter motel program has also been busy
this year.
as I indicated before, this was
the program that did not see the
same overall 30% increase as the
other homelessness programs that was partially due to the
reduction in the bed's that we
have in that program.
if you remember, when we had the
program last year and the year
before we had four emergency
shelter beds situated at that
home.
since determination of the program we no longer have those
beds.
even though the number has remained the same, the number
of individuals served, the program
has been very busy up to october
20 -- october 31st, the program provided emergency
housing to 28 individuals, and
successfully found housing for
24 of those individuals.
the other people either left willingly or were referred to
another shelter that could best
meet their needs.
when needed, we have added an
additional motel room to accommodate emergencies.
in addition, the average length
of stay for this program was approximately 57 days.
and finally, we continually --
we continue to provide meals on  meals on wheels and food carts
that we -- to people we support
in this program.
>> as council knows, the county
continues to advocate for increased funding from provincial and federal governments to address housing
and homelessness needs throughout the county.
in the meantime, continue to address a significant increase
in those sick -- those experiencing homelessness in the
county.
there's been a 30% increase in
those accessing support offered
by the county homelessness hub
.
aside from increased visits, homelessness has been more visible in the county this year
with the county having to address and cameron's for the
first time since 2025.
council recently approved the
regional affordable housing strategy which will hopefully
assist in addressing affordability issues.
as that strategy was recently
improved there are no cost to
the strategy included in the draft budget.
the county will use 2026 to consult with local myths of polities on a strategy and will
report back to council in the
months to come.
the overall budget for community
services is 3.7 million.
the bulk of the funds require
the county community service budget funded from provincial
dollars and to a lesser extent
federal dollars.
the county's 2026 budget is seeking an increase of just over
438,000 to be funded from the
county levy and that amount is
comprised of three items.
the first is for an operational
increase.
just over 20,000 required for
contractual increases in wages
and benefits.
the second is to support a per  per diem increase to move the
per diem from $60 per day to $65
per day in residential services
homes program.
just over 300,000 is required
for that item.
contingent on the city
also approving the per diem budget increase in its budget.
finally, the third component of
that amount is being requested
in this budget for an overnight
program increase.
just over $110,000 required for
that item.
the county is receiving the bulk
of the funds required for the
overnight program for provincial
and federal dollars.
they will continue funding the
overnight program december 31 december 31st 2026, the county
contribution required is $110,000.
again, in 2026, the draft budget
before council seeks to support
maintaining county overnight program until december 21st 2026.
it seeks to support the county
residential services providers
in addressing inflationary pressures.
service levels can be maintained
and dig deeper into regional affordable housing strategy with
counties and local minutes of
polities.
they can eventually be made to
county council to advance the
strategy.
in 2026 the county will continue
to foster collaboration between
residential service providers,
other service providers and health care services for county
will continue to provide homelessness services to the  the county homelessness hub, will continue to advocate levels
of government for additional funding to address homelessness
and to increase the number of
affordable housing units.
with that, we will now conclude
the presentation of the community services budget with
one of the success stories that
have come from her program.
>> thank you.
today, I am going to share lucy's story with all of you.
as usual, we afford privacy purposes.
lucy is a fabricated name for
this situation.
lucy is a senior who was experiencing homelessness in one
of our smaller county communities.
a concerned municipal leader contacted our department to seek
support for this person, as business owners and other concerned citizens were worried
about her.
the county outreach worker immediately attended the situation and assess the client
, who appeared to be extremely vulnerable.
the outreach worker then reached
out to the community services
team and together, they worked
with one of our residential services home providers, who assessed this vulnerable individual the same day and opened up an additional bed in
his home for her.
it turns out that this person
had not received regular health  health care in years, and her
health card was 20 years expired
 expired.
to complicate things, she was
being financially taken advantage of, and although she
received a decent income, she
didn't have access to it.
fast forward three months, lucy
is thriving in a retirement home
 home.
she is receiving regular health  health care and she has been
assigned a public guardian to
manage her finances, to avoid
any further financial abuse.
she claims that she has never
been happier and she is living
her best life.
thank you.
>> thank you.
>> with that, we are happy to
answer any questions.
>> are there any questions regarding community services residential homes services homes
2026 widget estimates?
start with councilor deyong.
>> I think you mentioned something and I'm hoping you
can give more details, our homelessness funding program has
doubled since 2024.
most of that is this year.
I think is 300,000 increase, the
homelessness program line.
do you want the line number?
5112.
I think you said something in
your comments about the $300,000 $300,000.
I'm wondering if you can let us
-- what the increases.
in 2024, it was 429.
it went up to six.
this year it is almost nine.
>> with the provincial dollars
that we received from the city
, they give us a pot of money and
it goes in between, in and out
of line.
I believe, and I didn't look as
you were speaking, but if you
notice you will notice an offset at another line.
there is a residential services
home.
how they calculate that has changed.
but they shifted dollars elsewhere.
for this year, for example, we
have to regroup and thought an
outreach worker would be better
.
so it just goes to another line
.
but we have had the same pot of
money from 2024 and 2025.
they are saying it will be the
same for 2026.
>> I think you are talking about
the transitional relocation costs which is the line above
.
so we are still talking $100,000
difference.
>> no, it is the residential services homes per diem and the
homelessness program.
the transitional relocation costs are funded dollars for the
transition.
it is still $100,000 difference
.
down 200,000 on five 1:30.
but up 300,000 on five '01 two.
50 1:30 5102.
>> as we do the math I can confirm the provincial dollars
receive has not changed.
we will work on the mass of that
but I can confirm that the city
has not given us any additional
provincial dollars.
>> further?
>> I guess I music my old budget
to look at what was levy versus
reserve funding, which I wish
was on this year's budget because I think it's really helpful to know what's impacting
the tax rate at the end of the
day.
that's what we are here for, and
it's not on this budget.
I brought my old one to help with that.
in terms of the number I am asking for, and I do understand
you are putting the provincial
dollars in certain categories,
is it my understanding that this
has no impact on the tax rate
at all?
these dollars specifically that
I am talking about.
>> I can help.
in my presentation, I talked about -- let me find the notes
here.
the amount that would effect the
county levy for this year is just over $438,000.
that was broken down in those
three items.
one is 20,000 for contractual
increases wage and benefits, the
second is the per diem increase
that the city is bringing in their budget, they've asked to
bring in ours.
that's just over $300,000.
and the overnight program, if
it goes to december 31st, in addition to provincial and federal funding, we would need
just over $110,000 in county funding.
that's a total of 438,000.
that is more than what was asked
for last year.
if that helps.
>> the 300 I heard was for the
per diem which I'm glad to see
.
I think that is really necessary
 necessary.
to go back to the lines I am talking about, specifically the
homelessness programs and the
residential service -- now you
said service home for pdm is a
tax increase.
I am confused.
you said it's provincial dollars
 dollars.
>> the first $60 would be provincial dollars.
we are trying to top that up with the additional five dollars
to make it sustainable.
the five-dollar increase is where you see the levy contribution.
it is our county dollars.
$309,000 for the residential home increase is a levy and it
does affect the tax rate.
as well as the overnight program
 program.
we are doing what we can with
the provincial dollars to open
it as many days as we possibly
can.
however, there is a shortfall
of we want to run a 306 to five days a year.
that will be -- that will affect
the levy and that is just over
$110,000 that increase there.
>> I am finding this quite confusing.
the homelessness program is increased by 300,000 but our per per diem which we know is impacting the levy, shows in production.
so this is very confusing to me
.
I will just trust that what you
are saying makes sense because
it doesn't make sense on my piece of paper that shows the
per diem cost from 2025 going
down even though we are increasing it.
but the homelessness program which is provincially funded is
going up at the funding dollars
haven't changed.
so I'm a little confused.
but I will move on.
>> anyone else?
councilor bailey.
>> this is tough work not only
putting the budget together but
the work that you do.
I want to thank you for sharing
the story about lucy and all of
the work that gets done with our
vulnerable populations.
I also want to thank you for what appears to be a conservative lens on a very difficult subject, recognizing
that really this is a maintenance of level of service
and some continuation around --
the five-dollar per diem increase I am very pleased to
see.
I assume the city will also be
tabling that within their budget
for their discussions.
I am wondering whether or not
the five dollars that we will
love the as a result will be transferred to the service manager from the county to the
city, the additional five dollars.
I'm also wondering whether or
not this could be brought back
if the city fails to match my
-- my anticipation and hope is that
they will.
I'm sure they will.
but whether or not this could
be brought back for consideration
should the city not choose to
match.
also, I'm happy to table the motion contained here when you
are ready.
>> through wharton, thank you
for your question and thank you
for your positive feedback.
we certainly appreciated.
as for the potential per diem
increase how the funding works
, the city gives the county the
money to cover the entire per  per diem.
we would just be complementing
what they are already giving us
, and then they would be pulling
, hopefully from there municipal
dollars to complement the total
amount for the city homes.
I hope that answers your question.
>> I should also add, the 65-dollar per diem is not solely
funded by provincial dollars and
county dollars.
it is also income that the residents themselves may earn,
whether it's pension income or
disability income.
>> thank you.
councilor bondy.
>> thank you, warden.
I want to thank you for everything you do.
this is a question that I have
today.
you may not have the answer today.
if you have to follow up by email I understand.
the 226 beds, how long have we
had 226 bed?
does that grow at all with the
needs the demand for need?
and then I have a couple of other questions.
but I'm looking to see, do we
have did we have 226 beds 10 years ago?
are we looking to grow more beds
 beds?
the housing issues aren't going
to go away.
maybe we need to have a discussion going to 240 beds in
the future, 250 beds.
I don't know if you can answer
that.
and then I have a couple of other statements.
>> thank you for the question.
for at least 10 years, we have
had 226 beds.
that number is determined by the
service manager.
so they allocate funding to a
total number of beds for the region.
the county portion of those beds
are 226.
>> thank you.
226 beds for 10 years.
that is not keeping up with inflation of the need in the  the county of essex.
my next question is, I believe
a couple of council meetings ago
, maybe three innings ago, we sent
a letter to the city of windsor
asking them to meet on this.
unfortunately, we didn't get to
meet on anything.
unity service, social service,
before this budget.
do you know if that letter has
been received by the city, and
if the city is going to
come to the table and talk about our fair share of services?
>> we've got an email acknowledging they have received
the letter but there has been
no formal response to date.
>> thank you.
I will just go on public record
again saying that the city really needs to start having a
conversation with the county.
if it's not county council, it
needs to be county administration.
part of our strategic goal is
looking at how we can get our
fair share.
we are not getting our fair share.
226 beds for 10 years, having
no growth in those beds in the county when we have needs.
we have encampments as well.
my last comment is I don't --
this is really good information
.
I got a little bit emotional but
I don't want to wait until 2027
to get more data on this particular topic.
I actually think, we were just
at our police service board, we
added at our police service board homeless and can't mince
into the strategic plan.
homeless issues into the strategic plan at the opp board
north.
we need to be on this issue.
as elected officials, I would
like to be informed on this issue either quarterly or every
three months.
we need to not let this get worse and worse and worse.
we need to be very vocalwe need to be very vocal to the
upper levels of government and
the city of windsor that the status quo is not acceptable and we're only as good as our most vulnerable people.
we have many loose in our community and if they are doing poorly we are failing. I want to thank you for all your work you are doing.
thank you.
>> councillor rogers. >> thank you and through you, great work that everybody is doing.
I'm -- it makes a big ball you're moving worth it.
there's federal funding
there.
about 100,000 or so up there.
is this guaranteed funding moving into the future the first foresee a top up that's continually happening or is this top up now what's guaranteeing
the current service we have through the next year when we
see future budgets.
>> it doesn't directly align with the county budget process
.
it's through year end.
the dollars we are seeking through december 31st, 2026.
I believe that's correct.
each year the city tells us what her allocation from the provincial and federal dollars on behalf of the region is and
that dollar figure was the same last years it is this year.
there's no indication of any increase or decrease -- I can't really tell you about that.
>> think you further. If I could just expand on that hypothetically if the funding is
the same for next year, next budget we've already banked in
that increase so theoretically
there should be no increase in less funds or cut. Is that how I understand it?
>> through you I just want to
comment on the cost of doing the
service.
this is the cost of $2026 so that's just one comment the expenses of doing the program might continue to increase which we might have to cover unless the provincial funding also increases.
there's also 70,000 home funding
which is a federal funding that
covers this.
that's only confirmed until 2028 2028.
so that's also a potential where there's 70,000 right now helping us find that program, that potentially might not be there in the future.
>> thank you very much, I appreciated.
in terms of the 2026 beds -- 226 beds we've had that number the
last ten years and there is need growing out in the community.
I'm happy to see the 5-dollar increase for the per diem and those different service levels
but I want to drill home the point before we expand beds to ensure we are taking care of those 226 to ensure the service
providers -- have the funding
and resources they need to ensure were taking care of our most vulnerable before you look
at bringing that number up at
all.
I'm a firm believer we have to
take care of our own house before we look outside and I think in terms of expanding that that, I don't think a conversation with the city -- I think that's our conversation
with the province so to me that's the bigger conversation
. Supportive of this and I will be
your second or whenever you are ready.
thank you.
>> thank you.
councillor. >> through you just a quick question on encampments and the cost.
I understand encampments and there must be a number of different budget lines attached
you break them up -- that's all I need to know.
>> through you the county directly dealt with one this year I believe it was broken up in
a variety of different budget lines as we have different departments dealing with it.
a legal services on-site and for
cleanup cost afterwards and assisted the locals as well
an encampment in the county of
essex true cost is to taxpayers
.
thank you.
>> thank you. Councillor >> thank you through you I only have one question -- were seeing
226 in the county and it's been like that for ten years.
it's determined by the service manager which is the city.
do we ever review that?
obviously in the past ten years
the county has grown quite a bit
and we have the same issues now the county and in the city centre.
at what point do we review the allocations between the city and county or are we part of that discussion?
>> my understanding is when the program was instituted the city
itself and the 226 beds in the county and that number remains
-- it just remain static.
it certainly conversation we could have with administration
if council wants us to.
>> anyone else? I'm going to read the recommendations.
-- I'm giving everybody two looks around because get your hands up early or you're going
to get missed.
>> just for some clarification
as well when we make references
the overall proposed for the 26 budget and we look at net of recoveries.
the total of 1.2 million is an increased -- they make reference
stated from 2025 budget 760 --
...
so I can understand is these numbers are needed are we referring to the city there's an
increase here we're looking more
money for them? To help. >> through you ward and we definitely communicated team have communicated that on
Several
definitely communicated team have communicated that on
Several occasions that we obviously need this service on
where always looking for
Additional provincial
where always looking for
Additional provincial dollars.
we've fought in other years and
if there's ever any surpluses, they've been good at allowing
us to shift the surplus dollars somewhere else.
however they typically don't know if there's any service dollars until closer to the end of march.
but they do know we have a need and are using additional municipal dollars to continue
With
and are using additional municipal dollars to continue
With these programs.
if there's any additional or federal dollars...
>> so through you those dollars are actually at risk.
>> three u. I believe I highlighted that as a risk so the budget will not be approved until the end of january so there's a risk with that.
they've confirmed it's a best
estimate at this time and that's
what we gave in our budget.
>> okay and any reference to the
mention of federal dollars I think was -- those again our dollars that had the flow-through the service manage -- manager of the city?
>> that's correct. Further reaching home and it can
be added if she would like.
there's a committee that decides
what to do with those dollars
so it's a bit different than the other provincial dollars but they've allocated 70,000. >> I guess my question would be
to administration then if those dollars that are at risk and obviously you've heard around
the table in terms of the requirements we are seeing obviously homelessness is becoming a critical issue for
u us.
we've seen the encampments.
now even our own municipality
we are faced with an encampment rate as we speak.
so I'm glad to see administration will continue to
dedicate funding who us.
obviously I don't know if it will be contravening the
arrangement, the signed agreement that we have that the
city as a service provider and
so forth.
but will administration come back to us?
I'm sure you will in terms of making up the difference because
obviously there is a requirement
 requirement.
there's a huge requirement that's there and if those
dollars are direct risk -- the reserve fund that we have. >> through you those dollars are for the capital, the social housing capitals what the reserve was intended to support
.
if it does come to that we would definitely come back to council at that time depending on the dollar value of what we would
need to compensate for.
we would have to make the decision at that time but it would have to come to council
if there were additional dollars required for this >> and finally I think it's very important and I know we keep pushing back the meeting with
the city and so forth but I think it's critical we are at the crossroads here in terms of requirements in particular in
25 years working on the same agreement there needs to be improvements.
>> thank you.
anybody else?
I'm going to read the recommendation.
there's a recommendation before council that the presentation
for the proposed 2026 community services residential services budget be received and further the 2026 budget estimates community services residential
Services
the 2026 budget estimates community services residential
Services be received or received and approved.
I'm looking to you councillor
bailey.
>> a question if I could.
would you preferred to be a separate motion or integrated into this one?
I'd like to see the 5-dollar increase per diem forward subject to the city matching that I think it's really essential at a time when we're talking about partnership that we are lockstep.
that's our intention --
>> I will look to the madam clerk.
>> could amend that wording provided that the city of windsor increase by $5 as well
.
>> madame morden, may I speak to this motion because it's changed a little?
>> I wanted to wait to get it
up on the board if you don't mind just so we have a clearly in front of us.
the revised motion should be in
your screens.
>> first I will look to the mover.
you are good with the rewording
?
then we will get a second or.
you are good with that madame councillor?
seconded by councillor rogers.
I will open the floor to you councillor bailey.
bondy. Too many bees here. >> thank you.
I will be supporting the motion
. My worry is let's say the city
of windsor does not and we want
to because we realize maybe it's more expensive to provide services in the county because
we are rural and people have to
drive father -- further and all that stuff.
would it be a reconsideration
vote if it has to come back?
I'm worried if the city does not supported them our folks are just left hanging. That's my only worry.
>> a new motion would have to be brought to provide a standalone
5-dollar increase on behalf of the county.
anyone else? Councillor rogers query. >> thank you enter you again maybe a little more clarification.
if and when the city makes their decision and if and when they
are opposed either way they land on it, is that a discussion that
will come forward as an update from administration for us to
be able to make the motion?
knowing the process it's not going to have to be a notice of motion.
were going to have that within the agenda as an update on be able to have the discussion at
that time.
>> through you ward and, administration will return with results of the budgeting process
to confirm either way the decision.
>> any further questions then?
seeing none, councillor bondy did you have further comment?
you see my dilemma, right?
trying to make sure of got everybody covered and also be
quick devote.
asking to vote electronically,
please.
and that's carried. Thank you.
team.
next up is the sun par lindholm.
for the report we have natasha she learned -- here to present
.
this is a first for you.
don't be nervous, nobody bites
here.
At
here.
At least not -- they're just little.
>> thank you ward and to council council.
Good morning, everyone.
presenting the 2026 budget I'd like to start off with some thank youse to the finance team as well as leadership team across the board as the warden
mention this is my first year presenting.
bear with me as I make my way through the presentation.
the mission statement before you won't be unfamiliar.
many of you have seen this before and prior presentations
 presentations...
This continues to
 presentations...
This continues to serve as the fundamental service of the home.
it guides our actions and goals
. At sun pilar we envision a high-performing vibrant home that welcomes diversity across
Staff
high-performing vibrant home that welcomes diversity across
Staff and residents.
empowering to foster meaningful
relationships based on compassion innovation and dignity that creates an environment where people want
to live and work.
where residents experience excellent quality of life and care built on shared values.
the budget before you today addresses changing aging demographic which continues to
increase in complexity and acuity.
however this budget proposed to you today seeks to meet the needs across that continuum of
care while running a home that
everybody across the county of
essex can be proud of.
the remainder of the presentation is broken down by departments within the home.
as you can see the overall increase of approximately 620,000 relates to both nonunion
and contractual wage increases
and wage benefits as well.
there's an increased ongoing replacement of it equipment, laptops, smart phones, et cetera
 cetera.
there were rolls previously aligned to the sun parlour budget so now we are seeing --
that were previously aligned to
various departmental budgets.
for example, we are now seeing
hr resources to the sun par lindholm budget and expense within the sun parlour home budget before you here today.
next up we turn to nursing and
personal care.
the biggest difference here within sun parlour home the budget last year was around $8 million while the projection
notes and overspend we're expecting to maintain a balanced
budget due to an increase in ministry funding that we have
received.
Going into
received.
Going into 2026 you will notice
a decreased budget reflected down by approximately $1 million as we continue to see increased support from the province.
we had the four hours of care target set by the ministry which is also supported by levy funding.
the budget is designed to deliver exemplary care and services.
we are also welcoming our new director of care and an anticipated nurse practitioners
so we can better understand the opportunities we have and increase the quality of care and experience for residents at sun parlor home.
a few other key considerations
you want to note is increased
cost related to membership fees
specific to our rn group.
we are now paying for annual college memberships and contractual obligations for our staff.
next up we turn to life enrichment.
it's comprised of recreation aids and physiotherapy assistance It promotes the health and well-being of residents through engagement, wellness activity and ultimately contributes towards healthy happy residents.
with a high quality of life --
approximately 140,000 in this
increase is directly related to
support for recreation aids as well as union contractual wage
increases and purchase service increases for physiotherapy.
you will see an increase here based solely on contractual -- contractual wage increases and cost related to food.
the increase around 23,000 is
directly related to contractual
Wage
directly related to contractual
Wage increases in inflationary cost.
were seeing an increase attributing to our contractual
wage increases and inflationary
costs related to supplies for this department.
we are also seeing an increase
in related to external contracts
that are rising with inflation
as well.
and we continue with many items across the home to replace based
on life expectancy and lifecycle of those items.
when we look at our other capital line here the bulk of the budget is reserved bonded.
however we are spending less in
2026.
That
2026.
That being said we ultimately need to make some decisions around capital costs related to renovations or investments in
new building which will be further supported by a feasibility study we are concluding in 2026.
there will be recommendations coming to council once that study is concluded.
in summary the overall 2026 budget for sun parlor home net recoveries totals around 14 million.
this is a 0 percent increase over the 2025 budget which is reflective of ministry funding enhancements and leveraging provincially funded grants on investments to enhance or quality of care as and when they become available.
as we look forward to 2026 and
the initiatives outlined on the slide here before you we will
see there's a few key priorities
that ensure we maintain building
standards regulations and enhanced functionality across
very old home.
our focus is on the quality of
life for residents we are surveying while maintaining that
Aging
life for residents we are surveying while maintaining that
Aging infrastructure.
with that I will conclude and welcome any questions or comments from council.
thank you.
>> thank you, well done.
we will start with you councillor rogers. >> thank you and through you I can tell you we appreciate the leadership and I think were headed in the right direction
so thank you for that.
I know we have a feasibility study coming.
big elephant in the room with this building and a lifecycle
decision to make. Maybe a couple of questions.
one is do we have any idea how much it costs to renovate per room?
>> through you the last item we have on that I believe was grey county That was constructed a couple
of years ago I believe now. That was $500,000 per bed. >> big number.
and just in terms of lifecycle of the whole facility do we have
any idea what that date is?
approximately.
won't hold you in stone. >> through you, warden we have a
50 year replacement cycle on the
building However it's a little unique when we have these standards we have to meet as well.
it's not just the building, it's meeting up to these different
standards typically.
so just have to keep that in mind as well. >> thank you and final question
, how much do we have in the bank
allocated towards facility total
Facility
allocated towards facility total
Facility replacement?
>> through you, ward in.
that's incorporated into our capital.
and capitol we have it split out
in there and I know we've been saving as much as we can and I
do think we have -- I believe
it's about 30 million saved. However I will get back to you to confirm that but I do know
anytime we can, we're talking
a way money there and knowing in the future we are going to do something.
>> thank you and final one now that big number in the future,
what is it?
won't hold you to it but an estimate We have to save $100 million for a new hospital.
it's a billion-dollar hospital a couple of years ago.
>> I will speak and not provide
a number with the feasibility
study being done to give us the numbers, to give council a good indicator of what that will look like but on that, natasha will add >> thank you.
one other piece I would -- a slight peace of mind if I may is the ministry supplemental support for rebuilds and redevelopments it's at an all-time high.
so I guess what I might offer is the 85 percent support from the ministry may give us a bit of
a competitive advantage over what municipal partners would exceed.
while we do not have the specifics here today I think it's an opportune time to be having these conversations and
certainly appreciated we don't have specifics here but we will come back with those >> I appreciated and I'm definitely jumping the gun soy assume that study again will provide the number of beds as well as look at possible expansion as well.
>> I think a key component of the feasibility study looks at population growth and how we compared to the broader windsor essex community for sure. >> thank you.
>> anyone else?
there is a recommendation for
the proposed 2026 sun parlor budget be received and that the 2026 budget estimates be received or received and approved Looking to council for your wishes.
councillor prove. received and approved?
>> yes, please. >> thank you.
seconded by councillor deyong.
any discussion.
I will ask you to vote electronically please.
and that's carried.
thank you.
and that's carried. I did say that?
it's 10:27 so I would ask for a
motion to recess for 15 minute
break.
that motion is essex county councillor recess until -- let's just make it 10:45.
moved by councillor meloche, seconded by councillor akpata.
all in favour of recess?
that's carried.
thank you.
>> are 15 minutes have passed rather quickly so we're ready to
resume our budget deliberations. Next up we have our chief of essex windsor emergency medical services here to provide presentation regarding the ems
2026 budget.
just and, you are up. >> good morning and thank you.
I'm pleased to present the proposed 2026 ems departmental budget for consideration. The account -- is present... As well as speak to challenges and issued during development
of the 2026 budget.
presenting the budget and two components through the funding of each aspect. Versus medical services and the
second for volunteer care. For clarity emergency management
has been moved under -- over under the leadership of health and safety in human resources...
the chart on the screen is an overall total of expenditures
for -- I will address each section of the budget separately
 separately.
In developing
 separately.
In developing the 2026 budget we
reviewed the current upcoming priorities with a primary focus
on preparing for future growth, continuous quality improvement
, innovation and response times.
with that we will begin with the emergency medical services budget.
the proposed budget is 4.37  4.37 percent increase over the
2025 budget as it relates to expenditures on the county responsibility increases...
factors for the proposed budget
are eight paramedics including
12 hour shifts starting in june
 june 2026.
one manager of physical resources to support infrastructure growth. Anticipated asset management replacement of vehicles.
improving the quality work we're
doing in planning for the future
 future.
our funding is based on 50  50 percent of the prior year's
budget.
50 percent funded by the ministry of health and remaining
50 percent divided within the
Local
50 percent divided within the
Local municipal partners based
on weighted assessment.
it's estimated the weighted assessment will continue to increase the county's responsibility is development and growth continues to rise.
every year we conducted disciplinary budget to identify opportunities to reduce cost, reallocate resources more effectively and reinvest in areas that deliver the greatest
impact for operations We continue to advocate for system-level changes that reduce demand on 911 in the first place place.
we actively pursue innovative opportunities from new technologies to alternative care
pathways to deliver better patient outcomes while delivering cost and reducing pressure to front-line resources
 resources.
The
 resources.
The main system impact on our services call volumes.
you can see in the chart there's a couple projection lines based
on percentage increases.
for 2025 looking at 1.5 to 2  2 percent increase in responses we will no better when the years
concluded.
on the turkey only projection
line is 4 percent and 5 percent. I want to make a note that these slides in september where we were forecasting 4.3 percent increase We reviewed our numbers on with
q4 numbers being slightly lower
than previous at this moment will be under the master plan projection a 4.5 percent for 2025.
staffing levels we continue to focus on improving working conditions to ensure those were
working here want to stay here.
and engage in ongoing recruitment efforts locally and
across the province for individuals interested in coming
to work for essex windsor ems.
ambulance offload delays are occurring but magnitude has been reduced compared to previous years and I'm happy to tell you for the month of september and october and november of this year were down 32 percent compared to the same period of
time last year and were seeing
some movement.
that's 1267 staff ambulance hours back on her street.
two new 12 hour shifts in the
2026 budget through prebudget
approval the two new ambulances
have been ordered and within the
budget eight paramedics requested the operationalize let
him as you recall from director
of hr reporting to council on october 15th eight paramedics
were being requested and initially we asked for four primary care and four advanced
care paramedics.
since then we had discussions
with the 2974 executive and reversed a request for the four acp to convert them in to pcp. A total of 12 -- the reason for this is currently we have open spots on or scheduled without
working that spot it creates a
temporary full-time position which is unfavourable for part-time staff looking to go
permanent full-time. Understanding the paramedic positions are likely required
in the foreseeable future will continue to work with the union
executive to better strategize
on how to fill these spots and
if there's a time when individuals within the service
are qualified as advanced care paramedics we looked -- work to
-- through processes allocating percentage of her...
a manager fiscal resource position included beginning of the second quarter of 2026 which will support oversight investment facilities and equipment operations during timely efficient and accountable
project execution by focusing on
process management compliance
and preventative maintenance to
reduce bottlenecks strengthen infrastructure readiness and address findings from the 2024 ministry review.
In line
address findings from the 2024 ministry review.
In line with the 2024 master plan refresh the role will help
the service manager growing operational complexity and support future initiatives.
second human capital investment as additional services provided
by human resources generalist
within human resources to be shared with a long-term care home.
the position will provide essential hr support to essex
windsor ems by managing recruitment onboarding and compliance processes ensuring timely hiring and reducing risk through certifications on regulatory breaches. Delivering front-line guidance to supervisors and managers on
investigations and employee accommodations while strengthening return to work programs to improve both risk management and staff experience
by taking on these additional
Responsibilities
by taking on these additional
Responsibilities the role will free up the hr management focus
on strategic initiatives labour relations and long-term
Workforce
on strategic initiatives labour relations and long-term
Workforce planning.
some smaller budgetary impact
you will notice maintenance on
technical support is being requested for the installation
of ambulances The transition to ipads will save money and replacement cost is the previous technology laptops we're -- expensive.
the transition allows us to leverage more robust and accurate mapping software.
we've included slight budget line increases the support wellness initiatives public relations and stayton -- station management and repairs.
in 2026 we will plates seven ambulances one logistics vehicle and one administrative vehicle additionally as part of the capital plan ems will continue to move forward with the facilities project while our team manages the work funding
for the capital projects is reflected in the finance budget
as the county owns the assets.
I will switch over to community paramedics and for long-term care.
it's funded 100 percent by the ministry of long-term care and
as a component of integrated healthcare program. New this year the ministry of long-term care and outs funding would be made permanent and essex awaiting on the details
of the allocation before we proceed proceed.
the program is fully funded by the ministry of long-term care and there's no requirement for county funding.
this slide includes the positions that were tabled when we were working collaboratively with the county of essex due to the mandate for the levy increase.
These did
the mandate for the levy increase.
These did not make it but I will speak to each one of these as we
go through.
additional training hours expanding training hours for windsor essex for education that
insures adopting new protocols
such as training release and emergency department diversion
. Support special projects and teams and stay current with mandatory updates on best practices.
Investment support strengthening
mandatory updates on best practices.
Investment support strengthening
staff to leadership relationships fostering resilient teams and trauma informed care in the service for provincial reforms without additional hours remains capped
it's important to note eight of the hours we have are from training.
We
the hours we have are from training.
We have no control over the contents essentially the service
gets eight hours with the stop once per year.
with those eight hours it's going to force legislative and operational changes, wellness
on leadership and updates to compete for limited time.
we have the pds coming down in
2027.
We
2027.
We have new software rolling out
in 2026 that we need to train
on it It becomes difficult to make that happen.
it results in fragmented transfer and consistent practice and missed opportunities to safeguard staff well-being built leadership capacity and sustain long-term workforce stability.
The commander
capacity and sustain long-term workforce stability.
The commander of operations introducing capacity with an operations department to strengthen operational performance by creating oversight deployment efficiency
and realtime issue resolution.
it'll also enhance staff engagement through increased
Leadership
it'll also enhance staff engagement through increased
Leadership presence on mentor ship which builds greater resiliency for date -- daily operational issues, large-scale
incidents and ensures consistent application of policies across the service.
without the position the deputy chief and front-line management
team will continue to remain somewhat a reactive posture with difficulties in proactive planning result will be ongoing performance gaps and consistent oversight and limited readiness to meet the strategic priorities
 priorities.
communications officers, I'm going to speak to this inside of legislative and legal services
under david's department coming
from essex windsor ems in establishing a dedicated communications resource will significantly strengthen public
education safety and engagement
while providing a reliable framework for launching community programs such as our community education.
this role will continue to build ems specific brand awareness,
promote recruitment and retention and enhance county and
ems reputation through consistent messaging and evidence-based outreach. Boosting our social media presence particularly video content and collaboration with stakeholders the position is anticipated to improve recognition community trust and
without approval ems will remain
dependent on the current communications department support which is doing a good job but ems does eat up a lot
of their time.
There's a lot
of their time.
There's a lot happening in ems
and we send stuff very frequently pick the considerable
workload on the department.
community programs coordinator
establishing a full-time community programs coordinator
will build on the concert -- the considerable gains achieved... Across our community educating
our youth promoting the profession and strengthening public trust.
the role will ensure consistent
outreach training, ongoing program expansion and engaging
in joint initiatives with other emergency services and healthcare partners while providing meaningful opportunities for modified duty
personnel and those returning from operational stress leave
to reengage with the uniform before
resuming full front-line duties
.
by sustaining visibility and proactive engagement the position will enhance ems's reputation as innovative and community focused.
seeking to improve bystander intervention rates for all emergencies reduce preventable
911 calls.
Without
911 calls.
Without approval will be forced
to scale back its current presence limiting public education 880 awareness and decreasing the momentum that's already been built.
ems systems analyst director of it will speak to this but I can
tell you from an ems perspective
because it's a very technical
position we have extensive software and data resources but
they are not fully optimized pick the systems analyst roll would focus on improving these
tools on driving efficiency and enabling systemwide innovation
.
finally vehicle services technician.
with previous on the upcoming vehicle additions to the fleet the workload on our vehicle support technician is starting to outpace capacity posing risk to preventative maintenance reliability and compliance introducing a second will strengthen
operational performance by ensuring timely
repairs inspections and documentation reducing reliance
on outsourcing and providing critical redundancy during absences or peak demand.
we don't have a backup so when the individuals taking vacation
we are outsourcing the work.
the added capacity will improve
a fit -- available to, safeguard
staff with reliable vehicles and
position the service sustainably and cost-effectively.
without the role the model will continue to generate backlogs
And
without the role the model will continue to generate backlogs
And compliance gaps down time leaving the organization reactive or unable to meet the demands of the expanding fleet and service delivery model.
in conclusion I thank you for the opportunity to present the proposed 2026 emergency to service -- department budget to
council.
I'd like to thank councillors...
miss heidi macleod, kelly schmidt and the essex windsor
senior leadership team for the preparation of the budget and
I'd like to thank the entire team at essex windsor for the
continued dedication I'm open to any questions at council may have.
>> thanks. Are there any questions regarding the>> are 2026 budget estimates there any questions?
?
starting with you. >> thank you for the presentation, I
know it is not an easy thing for anyone to do but the one item you cut was the additional training hours and I feel like you did use the word mandatory training that we would not be getting if we didn't have those additional hours.
is that correct?
>> we would have to define mandatory but anything that comes down from the province,
we do have to train and we would try to find ways to do it. Essentially we get one day with all of our staff and we pack everything in and then we try to get innovative with putting champions on the street developing field training officer roles and getting them out
there. Anything mandatory from the minister of health we would absolutely be taking care of the
training and we would leave that undone.
however, there is more than just that happening and once a year
out of 12 months we get six weeks in the fall and things have happened in february and
march trying to get that communication and get the training done so it becomes very difficult.
>> you have asked for an additional 199,935 if we could included in the budget. How many ours is that her person
in order to get the training that is needed?
training is extremely important
whether you are new or whether
you are seasoned training is something we should never shove to the side and I would be hoping that council may see that
this is an item we should add
to the budget.
what would that give to each of
our ems workers?
>> another eight hours of training to each paramedic the service.
>> thank you
training to each paramedic the service.
>> thank you.
councillor gibb. >> thank you, madam morden.
through you to the chief, could you expand on this community programs coordinator and if you could talk more about the success of our public access defibrillator program and what
you feel will happen to that program if this coordinated position is not funded?
>> through you warden, the coordinator is a position you
are likely all familiar with with the enbridge grant, an individual that works with us
that is out on the street promoting the uptake and use of public access defibrillators but
also a big part of public education For about a year and a half we have been making this work in previous it was a piecemeal operation who was not able to be at work someone on modified duties we had no running cadence of a strategy of a plan to make sure we
could continue doing it.
when this individual started we had roughly 300 public access
defibrillators mapped out on the
street, we are over 1400, about
85 have been -- are brand-new
that have been installed in organizations as a result of the work this individual is doing.
we are starting down the road,
every municipality has supported
that and in rotate cabinets, that is the next division to make sure it's not locked up behind closed doors. Over 50 schools, educating over
2000 people and over 1200 of those being students and 134 public session so what would happen is we would do the best
we could with what we have but
it will be fragmented.
we would definitely lose the gains that we've had, it would
not be a hard stop but it would not be what you see right now.
>> as a follow-up, if I may, you talk about building community resilience, this position builds community resilience.
how does that affect in the situations where we have code  code red, code block, how does it assist you and your team to
provide that, you know, life-saving care when the system is stretched?
>> I will break that into 2  2 pillars, one being the defibrillator.
we know that if a defibrillators
applied within the first minute
there is a 90% chance of survival and it goes down temper
sense every minute after that.
the more knowing how to do cpr
and have access to a defibrillator and know how to
use it is putting our hands further into the community and
leverage lay responders and that
has it's own trajectory is how far we can go with that. The other piece is the public
relations, getting to the schools and talking to the people and went to call 911 and how to stop a bleed, all of these things that are happening
that are educating our youth and our community members to make the right call.
that maybe 911 is not the option
or we are improving mortality
rates because they are being able to apply basic first aid and skills while the paramedic
's are on their way so every person in the community that understands our mission and how
they can contribute as a good steward of our community is a bonus for us.
>> thank you very much.
I look to the warden, I would like to make a motion to add this position to the budget and I don't know if now is the appropriate time to have the discussion or if it should wait.
>> what if we take all the comments around the table first and then when I read the recommendation you can add to it
 it, whatever you would like to do.
Is that
it, whatever you would like to do.
Is that okay?
there may still be some more suggestions.
okay, thank you.
councillor bondy. >> thank you warden mcdonald, I want to thank the councilmember across the table
.
I will easily support that and I'm hoping the balance to support that.
I have a couple questions. When it says excluded from budget ranked in order, does that mean that is the order of preference from administration
as a whole and how they would like to see if we were to bring any positions back?
because the community programs
coordinator is ranked number 1 so is that from an administrative point of view and I'm talking about appendix three three, does that mean that position is the most important to bring back?
it's appendix three. >> I will speak to appendix three and I will let chief lammers speak. What we did as senior leadership
is we had all of these items on the table and we decided as a leadership team we ranked what we thought was most important
and we tallied up the results to
present to council in that fashion to everything there was a collective effort based on all
of the senior leadership team decisions but I will let justin speak to the importance of the
position in respective of all of his items >> thank you.
just looking at the slides here,
if you are asking what the order
of preference is obviously the community programs coordinator,
that is going to have a big impact across the board if we
don't have that.
additional training ours for me is a big one. We definitely are not training
our staff as often as we should and when I compare ourselves to
others services in the province,
we are low on the side of training.
it's been a budgetary ask for quite some time but has not been able to make it to the table.
outside of that, any capacity,
any support we can get as a whole to continue on the development and the growth of this organization would be appreciated.
>> thank you for that.
I see several positions from ems
so it is under 12.2 budget overview in case some other members of council can't see it because you have to go back.
I am wondering what else we can
do.
I know we don't like to raise the levee but the levy is a very reasonable levy and when it comes to ems, we need to support ems more than we need to support
the mega-hospital right now in my opinion because the mega mega-hospital, we are doing really well, I believe in saving
money for that but ems, supporting ems is urgent.
the mega-hospital, we can't get
them to come to the table and answer our questions.
what is the status of our letter
on our request to meet with the mega-hospital committee because we need to really know when are we going to see shovels in the ground.
the other part or question I have is, do we talk to our mpps
and what is our plan of communication with the city of windsor and the mpps?
with the rise in call volumes
I don't want anyone to be blindsided on future requests for funding at the provincial
level and also the city of windsor has made it clear that
they want to come in at a 0% increase and I don't know how that is going to impact us.
I know that we just send them
a bill but we really need to have
all of these parties at the table when we are talking about ems because health care is so important.
my question is, what is the plan
to talk to the local mpps about
the rising calls?
>> for you, warden, we meet regularly with our mpps particularly around innovative
opportunities relatively cost
neutral to improve response
Times
neutral to improve response
times.
again in my budget presentation
, talking about getting innovative
and not throwing resources that
something that is not working
the best so they are well informed on what the rising call is, we have a delegation requesting and we are connected with them.
>> I would like to support more
training and I would like to support the community programs
Coordinator
training and I would like to support the community programs
Coordinator at the very least and if there was something else
that was high-priority in the
ems I would like our chief to bring it forward.
we have the bare-bones option in
front of us and then we can look
at the coordinator, extra training and if there is anything else that is urgent or if something isn't passed tonight, if something has to come to us they'd year to look at again I totally support that
.
since I have been on county counsel I feel we have truly made notable gains in the reduction of code red and black and I want to keep going in that
direction I do not want to let
our foot off the pedal.
if we went to the greater community and said we're going to have a 1% levy increase just for ems alone and they knew that that was directly going to help
code red and cold black and help
with staff retention for ems,
I  I think the community would support that so I think we need to figure out how we can further support our ems our chief and
not just at the bare-bones level
 level.
Thank you
 level.
thank you.
>> 3u, warden, if I can, we are coming up to collective bargaining in 2026 and we need to be mindful of that and I want
to put that out there.
thank you. >> anyone else?
councillor rogers. >> thank you, madam warden.
to echo a few things going. I have seen this progression the last year or two and I think this council has made significant investments in ems
.
I look at this budget alone and we have seven replacement vehicles two brand-new vehicles
 vehicles.
increase in the staff experience
 experience, code red code black go down, wait times go down, we
are making tremendous strides, and I can support the additional training
hours, happy to add that and happy to support that, I think
beyond that, I want to be mindful of the budget that we
have and the restrictions that we have because again at the end
of the day, we have made significant investments in our ems and we are making significant strides but the end
of the day a budget that was
proposed for us to be able to hit our strategic priorities and
be able to continue to hit our service levels and continue to move forward with our momentum,
I don't think any budget would be put forward for us to take
steps back and again I appreciate your comment over the collective bargaining because
again it's not so much about this year but about the stuff
in the future so I encourage this
council we have to be mindful,
it's not an open pit. We can't continue to fund what
we would love to, I would love to be able to pick at the local
level, one artist things is saying no to the fire department but there are times where you have to trust in your team and
the leadership.
what do you need for this year for us to carry the momentum and
I'm happy to support the additional training hours but
my vote will stop at that point. thank you.
>> thank you.
anyone else?
>> two questions for the chief
, the average age of our fleet is
now what?
>> we are on a 60 replacement cycles so it moves along every year We don't keep them longer than six years.
we bought some six years ago and are buying some this year so it's a blend.
>> and of course we anticipate
just looking at inflation and industrial costs the prices that we did pay before.
when you brought them forth earlier will most likely be increased as well. Is that something you are anticipating?
>> yes. Everything is seeing inflation
- inflation-related changes.
>> with the discussions we've had about dispatching. Do you see that moving forward?
and do you see any substantive changes that can be saved to your budget if the dispatching proposals that we've disgust and
some of the ideas you put forth in this chamber forward?
>> we are seeing some movement
on the provincial lens for dispatch.
Again we
on the provincial lens for dispatch.
Again we are getting into pds talking to the counterparts across the province it makes a big difference in terms of ambience availability we are not over prioritizing as much in
getting more of an even cadence
of dispatching I do see that helping, I am hearing signals that alternate
models of care within the medication centre are being looked at and in terms of those
operating and providing oversight to the communication
centre we continue to talk about that.
I am not 100% convinced that that will be anything palpable but I do see the ministry is listening and we are starting
to see some changes so if we can
get smarter and how we dispatch, we definitely can send a tahoe
instead of an ambulance with two paramedics.
alternate model care opportunities in all of the stuff the team behind me is looking at.
the master plan gave a high level of ceiling on what was needed.
I don't think we need all of that. I'll be honest.
I appreciate the comments about the bigger picture here.
we will continue pushing ahead
as a service and doing everything we can and being as responsible as we can. It does not mean that we needed
all.
I would rather have a little bit
 bit, put it in and see how it goes and adjust again.
no significantly big changes. The issue we do have is I am losing space to put these vehicles.
two more are coming in and they
are supposed to go and I do not have the room to put those in there so we have to figure all
of that out and where these trucks will go, that is part of the bigger picture.
>> thank you, madam warden. >> thank you.
councillor prue. >> a question, it seems like there's a sufficient appetite
here to add a couple of things in here that are going to be expensive I did hear one comment about the hospital and how much we are funding which I think is excessive.
could it be possible that if any motions are made that they be
contingent on finding the dollars from other sources whether it be the hospital or something else?
I am reluctant to vote simply for it and to raise the levy.
I want to put that up front. If you can find some money somewhere else in the hospital
seems like a logical one to many many, a couple hundred 300, off
of that to fund the ems, I would certainly support it.
if you can't, I have to say that I would be reluctant to raise the rate above 2.65.
>> duly noted.
did you want to speak to that suggestion?
>> if I could, please. I agree with councillor prue.
if my colleagues would be willing to approve each of these items as we go through it and
save -- or receive and approve
at the end so we can go through.
there are 26 items on this list
and I think it would be very unfair to other departments if we started approving these items
now without going and hearing
the full presentation from everyone.
I think we can ask the questions now and if we can make a list
of the items that we want to discuss at the end that maybe we could find ways to adjust it,
whether it's coming from another
Thing
whether it's coming from another
Thing like the hospital but some of these items are one time funded capital items in some of these items are operating continuation and I would love
if we could have a discussion at the end that would see us discuss those 26 items instead
of trying to piecemeal it together through the budget session if my fellow councillors
would agree to that.
>> I just checked with the clerk
 clerk, that can be a resolution
that is made and council will vote on that so let me go to councillor verbeke and then we
will open the floor.
I was looking because of the comments made, I was looking at bringing up individual ones that were mentioned such as the additional training hours as separate.
motions as well as the coordinator as a separate
motion and then the motion to
receive but if you want to add,
we will come to you but it has to be a decision of council.
if they want to receive and approve or just receive at this point in time.
are you good with that?
okay, thank you.
councillor verbeke. >> thank you.
great report.
I will go to melissa now. The business case, is that all
included in this 2.65 of the budget?
>> no. These are items that administratively we put on that
list and did not include them in the proposed budget but allowing council to bring it back in.
>> I see this as more of a needs
list than a want list so I think we should get them all if you've
had any dealings with ems, if the mechanic is gone, we can't fix it and I believe that all of these positions should be filled filled.
I don't care where you get the
money from but it has to be filled.
>> councillor gibb. >> one more clarifying question
, when we look at these numbers,
the estimated cost for the community program coordinate her at 121467 and the additional training hours, 19935, are those
numbers half of the cost or is that the full cost but the levy
will be charged back if I can use that term, by the city?
>> yes, the list does include the total cost of that asked,
however, in ems we always they
know their funding formula is a little difference over the first year it would be 50% of that cost for the coordinate her position it will be about 65,504 the training dollars it would about $100,000, levy dollars.
>> further to that, doesn't the provincial funding then come in
afterwards.
>> through you, warden, it would come in but not until 2027 so how we budget is to incorporate that in the first year so that we cover ourselves.
>> just a question, in terms of the positions, I know you gave a lot of thought to coordinating and explaining the key responsibilities but I'm wondering if there was any opportunity to look at sharing
, additional training hours, are you able to talk to chatham-kent and coordinate training and facilitate that that is mandatory or whatnot or through st. Clair college and partnering with them and having an individual and I don't know if that
is even possible but they
are a great partner with ems in terms of that education component but I too agree that
we should look at these positions, obviously they are
here for a reason and the need is there.
but looking at the budget overview in terms of ranked positions, I kind of agree with
councilllor meloche in terms of waiting until the end and coming
back and seeing what impact it has on the overall budget versus doing them now one by one so I
do like to keep an open mind on these positions but just a question if there is any ability if we only choose 2 and there
are five not chosen, are you able to somehow still be able
to offer -- the purpose is relevant
and I don't want us to not see it happen that is there any way that through partnerships you
could probably arrange some of those responsibilities in a different format?
>> through you, warden, the training hours, to be clear is
the wage is required to get to pay the employee to take the training.
the majority of our staff are front line paramedics and they
are on the road and it's difficult to pull them off the
road to do training obviously
based on their environment so they are doing it on their days off so to coordinate with systems partners, chatham-kent
, st. Clair, we have great relationships with all of them and sometimes we can save on the cost of getting someone to deliver content but having someone sit through that content is where the expense comes in.
the rest of the positions, it
would be difficult for the commander of operations, communications officer, all it is doing is continuing to stress the system that is already there
and not able to help support the
capacity of those positions. >> thank you.
>> anyone else?
okay.
we are going to figure out how to do this individually since there seems to be -- councillor deyong, comment?
>> I will throw my two cents in, I would like to make a motion that we receive and then discuss all of these things at the end
when we've had a chance to digest the rest of the budget.
>> comment first then?
a comment or no?
>> that is my comment. That I'm supportive of us receiving this for now. >> you are making the motion to receive?
>> you are making the motion to receive?
>> sure.
>> okay.
councillor deyong is making the
motion that the presentation for the proposed 2026 essex-windsor emergency service budget be received and further that the
2026 budget estimates for essex-windsor emergency medical services be received.
that is moved by councillor deyong.
Looking
that is moved by councillor deyong.
Looking for a seconder.
councilllor meloche.
we will wait for that to get on the board and then we will be voting electronically, please.
councillor gibb.
sorry, I did not open the floor
to questions. >> that is all right.
I will push my way onto the floor.
just so that I can understand
this correctly, we will receive and then when we get to the end
of the day at 9:30 tonight or hopefully earlier.
come on. A little levity.
then we will discuss the individual items, correct?
>> that is how I am understanding it so that is what I believe an imc knots from the mover and the seconder.
I had someone else's hand up. >> I will get there.
I thought there was still someone here who I had seen first.
councillor bailey, you are up.
>> thank you, warden, I think
that you had it right in the first place because we have the opportunity right now to receive
and approve what is before us
in the budget that has been requested and there is nothing stopping us later for making a
motion and adding in I would like to make a motion to add in
item number blah, blah, blah for
position whatever and for us to
prove that so I think to continue with the momentum of our budget I would prefer to do it the way that you stated in
that we have already moved through, we have approved our sections, we will come back to
the wish list at the end but recognizing that there are 26 positions on there, they represent 4% on the budget, certainly anybody could move those items forward should they
want to but in the meantime we
have a budget presented and vetted by administration that I
would really like to see get received, approved and we can
come back and make new motions for other wish list items as the day unfolds.
>> councillor deyong. >> thank you Looking for clarity.
I have no problems with what councillor bailey just said but
if we are approving the ems budget then we don't need a motion to reconsider to open up
the ems budget to add something
to the ems budget. I'm looking for clarity from administration, thank you.
>> madam clerk, I am looking to you.
>> that
>> madam clerk, I am looking to you.
>> that is correct. He would not need a motion to
add a supplementary item to the
already approved budget for a
particular department so if
Council
particular department so if
Council wishes to approve the
budget for ems as it's written
right now at this interval and
then revisit additional supplementary items for this department and/or other departments before the final budget approval is done later
today that is also fine.
>> a councillor deyong. >> I have no problem with that
.
I am fine to improve this and discuss this. >> you are changing your motion to receive and approve?
I am looking to the secondary.
okay, that changes the motion to be received and approved.
and we are looking to vote electronically.
and that is carried, thank you
. thank you, chief.
next up, we have budget for infrastructure and planning.
pause for one moment. We are debating lunch.
>> what a lovely debate.
lunch lost so we are going to
go on to infrastructure and planning services and for that
we have our director of infrastructure and planning services as well as rebecca, our manager planning services to present the 2026 budget.
over to you.
for their department.
>> thank you, warden and council
 council.
too many laptops appear at the moment.
thank you.
the infrastructure and planning services department plays a vital role in shaping and supporting our communities as committed to maintaining and enhancing the county infrastructure and the built environment.
we do this by building reliable infrastructure developing and applying responsible planning
policy and effective asset management.
my team knows and understands
the goals and directions of the
county They understand the contributions they make as individuals and they know and understand how their efforts contribute to the overall success of our department, the  the county, our residence and
our businesses and I am very proud of each and every one of them.
it is not easy, my management
team faces challenges almost every day.
rising service-level expectations, development pressures escalating construction costs, funding gaps
 gaps, complexities for the competition of our road allowances for things like safety access, active transportation utilities and the ever moving targets of falling from new or modified provincial legislation.
while we look forward to the future these systems have to
work today and these hard assets
are deteriorating around us every day.
but I have to say that we love it, we love what we do and we look forward to next year and
I am here to present the proposed ips budget for 2026.
while the total departmental budget presented is just over
$138 million, the following
Recoveries and
$138 million, the following
Recoveries and contributions from our reserves, than that departmental asked for 2026 is just over $54 million, approximately $1.8 million over
2025.
1.25 million of that is our recommendation to increment the
expansion program.
the base contribution this year
.
several other items remain off
this version of the budget, and
melissa spoke to these in appendix three of her treasurers
report nine happy to talk about
these further after my presentation.
things like traffic signals at the intersection of county road
20 and 23, road supervisor position, traffic signals on  on county road 20 and martin lane in la salle, generator study for the administration building.
the amenity study, some additional sidewalk around our building and a maintenance one position.
this slide breaks down the net department of proposed budget
by my major service groups. Construction and engineering maintenance operations facility operations cleaning services and fleet and facilities.
the net construction and engineering budget has an increase of just over $1.4 million and again the majority of that increment is the $1.25 million we are recommending toward the increase to the expansion program faced
budget or base contribution.
are construction engineering group looks after much of our core assets and active transportation facilities.
the state of good repair program and by the way thank you to council and the council
Preapproval
and by the way thank you to council and the council
Preapproval to the big creek bridge project they are currently out for tender and we
are expecting an early start in the new year.
in this group, we have our program and we are planning for the future, construction, traffic management and safety
of our road corridors.
and several projects are done
in this budget in cooperation with
our local municipal partners,
things like working on or connecting links, a shared ea's
and studies and leveraging our paving contracts.
all of this being mindful of accessibility.
of note, in 2026, we continue with our road rationalization
project designing construction
of the stormwater management solution for county road 19 and
the 22 intersection.
county road 42, 43, phase 4.
I already mentioned the culvert and the big creek bridge and we have a number of other bridging
projects that are either in the design or construction phase.
we have our paved shoulder program and that will continue
on county road three, eight, nine and 31.
and on this side we have put together some figures to answer 2 frequently answered questions
. What is the approximate cost to maintain a highway?
we are averaging just over $5700 per lane kilometre over ten years but this year in 2025, we
hit just over $7500 per lane kilometre.
and what's the approximate cost to rehabilitate or pave word do an operation on a highway? The average cost over ten years
is about $94,000 per lane kilometre but in 2025 and this speaks to the ever escalating cost of construction.
in 2025, we saw $170,000 per lane kilometre.
our maintenance operation group
was presenting a not budget for
2026 of just over $10 million. Approximately 550 is covering things like wage increases, increases to our management budget some additional dollars for asset management particularly in the drainage asset department.
our maintenance operations group
also known as roads provides maintenance to our existing road
network for summer maintenance,
winter control and traffic signal maintenance our facility operations group, a budget request in 2026 for just over
$860,000.
facility's operation as a team that manages the county of essex administration building and also provide some services to other facilities as needed.
this department manages several
of our annual contracts for us in addition to keeping this building and our grounds in good condition.
our planning services group has a budget and our planning team is led by our manager rebecca belanger and she is here to speak to the planning budget.
>> thank you, good morning, gordon As council is aware, my position with the support of 2 additional
planners conducts the work, acting as the delegated provincial planning authority for ensuring that all matters
are addressed and improving local plans and amendments as well as other planning applications such as plans of tradition as an example.
we presently have over 150 active planning applications throughout the local municipality's.
a large number of these applications are in the pre preconsultation stage of review
and county planning has than not taken the associated fee.
this will look as if it's a reduced revenue of planning applications this is not however reflective of the actual work in the department.
now that the county official plan has received final approval
by the province, planning administration will be advancing
several strategic planning studies in 2026.
the first of these and the purchased services section
Includes
the first of these and the purchased services section
Includes a specialty study, the intent of this work is to formally identify and map these high-priority agriculture areas
to ensure they are properly considered win planning applications come forward as well as new official plans.
they county strategic plan directs the advancement of a regional climate land strategy.
the rfp is currently out on bids and tenders and the expectation
that the consultant will be selected in december.
this project is planned to run
through and conclude in june of
next year with regular reporting to county counsel.
the planning budget also includes a carryover amount for the regional energy plan implementation project.
this budgeted amount is intended
to be used for this year to conduct a climate adaptation plan and in partnership with local municipalities that are interested.
the adaptation plan will create
an updated greenhouse gas emission inventory for the county as well as local municipalities enabling us to
begin monitoring our actions
That
begin monitoring our actions
That impact and reduce emissions as well as other components of the action plan that will include an assessment of climate related vulnerabilities resilient strategies and an updated clean energy target.
purchased services also include the annual contribution to the resilience project, in the amount of $50,000. This contribution from the county and other project partners enable the project to receive grant funding in the amount of $1 million.
this project is in its second year of the three-year work program.
regarding the natural heritage
system strategy listed on this
side, although this initiative
Was
side, although this initiative
Was originally planned to advance in 2026, through the review and prioritization of other required strategic planning studies we are looking forward to advancing this initiative instead in 2027 there for you will know that there is
no budget allocated for this initiative.
this concludes my comments, thank you.
>> thank you, rebecca.
moving on to our fleet and facilities budget this is where we track capital needs for nonlinear assets, things such
as equipment for our roads group,
trucks ploughs, loaders, equipment and building needs for
our facilities group and any major renovation projects.
in 2026, we presented a budget
to effectively replace aging equipment support the county's desired level of service, renew our facilities for example, there is a report on the consent
agenda that we have included $2.000000 towards the renovation
for council's consideration.
and lastly, to enhance we have
items in this budget to provide enhancements to security at our roads depots.
and this is just a slide that
shows some of the work that we
do, it gets messy sometimes but it also shows some of our successes and some of our responses to some of council
responses to some of council's
requests and with that, I will conclude and I am available to
answer any questions. >> thank you I was expecting a lot longer.
opening the floor to comments and questions from council, starting with you councillor bailey.
>>
starting with you councillor bailey.
>> thank you. Through you, to start up I wanted to our own horn here, we
have done amazing amazing work
when it comes to the paved shoulder program and cwats and everything we've been doing through this department and I know that many of those trails
, I ride and I noticed numbers of council have viewed them and I  I think sherry took a ride with
some of the groups earlier on
in the year too and we are so close close, we are 1.8 kilometres away from bridging the gap for
161 kilometres of the seaway,
100 which is pretty incredible
that we have done that as a region so talk about the regional powerhouse for all of us to have this system that is
moving through all of our communities so beautifully.
the 1.8% that is not done is in
lakeshore and I know that it's a little late here and there are probably resources and they understand that some of the things have been funded and somewhere funded and some are
not funded so I don't want this
to happen today but I do want to
preface that a notice of motion
will come forward at some point to try to identify the 1.8%. A couple of things in addition to that to note, we have an awesome opportunity to build in resources for signage along the seaway so that folks know where
to go in our communities where it is comfortable to ride.
I would like to see a signage program come forward as well as the removal of signs and areas
that don't make sense within our plant so they don't have paved
shoulders.
one of those examples is in my
community 12-foot ditches on
both sides of the road, gravel road, and to end and it's marked
as a cwats trail which tells a cyclist it's a good spot to go and it's absolutely not a good spot to go.
we will blow the tires on our bike unless we have a fat bike
and we will land in the ditch
so I know that I am late to the game for this budget both in lakeshore and here at the county but don't be surprised by a notice of motion that will work to try to bridge the last 1.8 kilometre stretch so that we as a region will have accomplished
161 kilometres of roadway and
if you want to see it, I am happy
to get us a bus and anyone who
wants to come along we can ride
it and if you are not feeling like riding a bike this spring you also have all winter to get
ready and get fit and I will take the ride with you for the
full 160 for anyone who wants to go.
that is my two cents.
>> thank you.
councillor bondy. >> thank you, warden mcdonald.
further to what councillor bailey is saying I am in full
agreement with what she is looking to do and I think it is long overdue.
this is something that is going
to be a cycling corridor from
one end of our county to another
and with the new gordie howe bridge opening up allowing cyclist this is really big and it's an opportunity for all of us so I hope you do bring it forward because I would like to support it.
I am wondering if do we even have a price for that little segment?
That is my
have a price for that little segment?
That is my first question and then I have several more questions.
>> I do not have a price for you you.
I can try to get one worked out for you, a little later in the day but at the moment I don't
have that.
>> thank you. Maybe we can add that to appendix four that we just created.
one of the other questions that I have is can you elaborate a little bit more on the drainage
works that we are talking about
in the budget.
earlier miss ryan talked about
how we are doing training works
and if you can't elaborate on that tonight I will take it by email and in the future I just know that with the recent flooding in notches my minister polity but other municipalities
the people have a higher expectation of us when it comes
to drainage.
They want
to drainage.
They want regular maintenance
and I just want to make sure there is enough budget dollars
.
the other question that I also believe we need a full review
of cwats and the signage. I could not agree more.
I know there is a cwats committee but they actually should talk to the easy wrote folks who ride and cycle because
there is another section and I am sorry, I have to raise this
again.
one can we look at this little
section, just like this section in councillor bailey's area, a
section in the cwats plan that can next and another section that is not done, I know it is
a complicated section and has a hydro poll and it's not cheap
but we have this great waterfront trail that we mark
as a cycling corridor and it goes from one end to the other but
in a spot with no paved trail, the road is narrow and the speed limit is 80 so I don't know why we have that marked as?
the great waterfront trail when it's a raceway.
do we have a cost on that and when we can get that one done,
please.
>>
please.
>> thank you, through you, warden, to repeat back to you,
we are looking at getting some costs for that segment of -- I
forget the name of it. The essex county way and I am
just looking up some costs to speak to the additional stormwater maintenance projects
that we would like to fund this year and comment on county road
50 in amherstburg. This year, we have added additional dollars into the stormwater maintenance along our county road so that we can improve catch basins, we can tackle some of the aging smaller
culverts and road crossings that we have.
we are anticipating continued impacts of climate change. We have fallen behind in years past on some of that maintenance
and we would like to see extra dollars in that item so we can get ahead of that.
to really catch up and then start to get ahead of it.
with respect to county road 50,
we do have dollars in this year
 year's budget to continue work
on design for a segment of our cwats trail along county road
50 50.
It is really the
50 50.
It is really the extreme west
end.
that segment is not one of the low hanging fruits that we've tackled in the last ten years
or so.
This
or so.
This one will require a little
extra work.
there is money in this year's
budget to look at what we would need to do for utility relocation perhaps getting into some municipal drain relocation
so that we can prepare the way to then go ahead and pave that
shoulder but the actual construction of the shoulder is
not in this year's budget but
again there is some imaginary utility money there.
I think I have covered all of the items there. >> thank you. I support everything that you are presenting.
I think you do a great job with
our roads.
I am so happy in the town of essex, we partner with you for many roads because your quality is top-notch. I'm thrilled with that.
your service on snowplowing and when it's raining and the roads
need to be closed your cruise are really receptive so thank you I look forward to supporting this and then talking about all of the other things.
thank you. >> thank you.
councillor gibb. >> thank you. Thank you to councillor bondy
for sew eloquently phrasing the issue of county road 50.
I know I have been conversing
with you, allen, for a long time
 time.
it is a long stretch where we invite people to bike to our wineries, to bike through amherstburg and go to essex and all the way to leamington.
there is one specific spot that
if they don't know it's coming
, they are caught unaware that they have to merge into 80 kilometre per hour traffic.
I'm glad to hear that there is
money for the project.
I do realize that it is exceedingly difficult, that small section but that is amherstburg for you.
>> there is a positive note.
[laughter]
councilllor meloche. >> thank you.
on the cwats program, I am looking at the capital expenses as well as reserves.
we have increased the program
this year, have we not already
significantly?
I am looking at page 101.
and I am trying to understand
is that increase is to continue on to these pieces that have been mentioned or if this extra fund
is to start addressing really
what will happen to these pieces
of infrastructure as they come for repair.
I know we don't have a real policy in place as far as replacing that asset so I'm wondering what these funds are for?
>> three you, warden, I am on
page 101 and I believe if you're talking about the cwats program
, that is appendix three.
I would divert you to page 161 if you are looking at cwats specifically because that program itself is not increased
.
page 101 is the entire construction and engineering where cwats specifically is
Appendix
construction and engineering where cwats specifically is
Appendix d.
m a total levy requirement has
not increased in there.
, could you help me understand
on page 101 at what I am looking at.
it says the capital expense for cwats and then the reserves for the cwats program. It went to showing I believe 496,200.
is that an increase to the reserves Without going to 161 because I
definitely --
>> we are looking at that but it
could be carryover projects and
that might be why there is the difference.
we will confirm that with the numbers.
>> no problem.
I can get that after.
further, obviously 2 items on
the extra list that are significant to me items ten and
14 and I am hoping members of council will support those as they've been highlighted for 2  2 intersections that are in need of improvements and so my question would be to you, I know and here they say levy funded
but since they are one time, could they not be tax stabilization funded for those
2 projects?
>> sorry, I missed the first part, appendix three?
>> when we speak with alan about the plan for these types of safety designs and things like
that but we have really discovered is it's not one time items it might be a one-time item this year but the program
itself, when I spoke to ellinas
seems to be about ten years worth of projects that could really happen, they are really digging into not so as of right
now, we do not have a reserve
specifically for these types of projects because it something
new we've undertaken.
that is why in that listing we
have put it as levy funded so that in the future, if there is
more of those which I think there is in the horizon with the
plan we have levy dollars to do those same things and I wanted to know with that as well that
is just for traffic lights and
things like that were as sometimes when they go to the design phase it's actually a roundabout they are suggesting
which is 2 million to 5 million depending on how big it is so really we are trying to say let's use levy dollars to build up that program because we see it as a long-term program. >> I understand and further that
we are going to crank this program we have started talking about this program but we don't have the dollars funded for and are planning on it this year so those two items could however, be tax stabilization for this
year to get them off the books
and as we develop this program
we will look at the next intersections on the list, is not a possibility?
>> yes.
using reserves is always a possibility but for long-term planning it's better to use levy
dollars but it is a possibility
. >> thank you.
the final question was item number 18 on the appendix three which is the county admin building generator study.
and I realize this is just a study so there is obviously still the cost of the generator replacement but if I am reading this correctly it is saying that if we don't move forward with this, we may not have a reliable energy backup power for
our emergency centre.
that is a concerning thing to
think about that our emergency
centre may not have the power
needed so this study I'm assuming will identify where we would move with that and still be years away before we would even get to replace his, am I correct on that?
>> three you, warden, what I was
going to say to the generator
study is that we would like to
determine our best course of action regarding our administration buildings
Emergency
action regarding our administration buildings
Emergency backup.
but we have to be mindful of our commitment to the ieso, this generator feeds back into our grid so we are being mindful of that.
we have experience with issues
with the existing generator so planning for the future, it is a
diesel generator.
it is much bigger than we actually need for the building
so we want to consider things like that.
we want to consider that it's located now on the east side of the building and very close to
our air intake so we do experience some complaints when they get fired up and the diesel
exhaust gets in the building so it is a combination of planning
for the future, picking the right fuel
source, putting it in the right location and making
sure we do have proper backup for our emergency operations centre
, a combination of things but we do need to plan and get
ahead of this, early estimates for a generator like this are in
the million-dollar range so we want to get that information in
hand so that we can start planning for the future.
>> thank you.
hopefully we are all writing down these numbers in appendix
three because there are several
things we've heard that are items needed now and not looking at another year from now before we start moving forward with them thank you.
>> thank you.
councillor akpata. >> we had a brief discussion about this looking at how this
department takes care of our cwats trails and things of that nature and I had the privilege
and I realize we don't know what
will be happening in the future because of the changes that are coming.
each of our minutes of polities
here have contributed to the infrastructure the assets or
whatever term you want to use in
the trail network.
from your perspective, looking to the future as alan just said,
if the ontario government continues with what they are doing and we are eventually folded into the lake erie regional conservation authority
, I am looking to understand better what might be coming in the future for the municipalities and contributing to the assets to keep hold of what we have so that we can still control these jams that are in essex county.
just a comment because I would like to think to what might happen to this budget next year
, thank you >> three you -- through you, the devil is in the details of this amalgamation move, I was contacted by the west ontario wardens caucus to weigh in from
the county's perspective on assets owned by conservation authorities.
there may be a lack of full awareness at the provincial level of the amount of assets
that varies conservation
Authorities
that varies conservation
Authorities own and in essex  essex county the owner of three greenway systems tied directly into our complement of the cwats trail that the county and it has
been a gem of our region so we certainly have a concern around
the ownership of those assets
going forward under a new governance model that may wrap us up into a larger geography.
beyond the greenway assets, there is also heritage and cultural assets at the conservation authority owns and manages as an example, john.
these are things that I have highlighted to advocate on our behalf to ask some specific questions of the province of what is their vision for these
assets.
the concern that we have is that the province may bucket some of these assets into nonmandatory
conservation authority jurisdiction and that then will need to be a conversation around the appetite for a municipality municipality's to either take
these assets on and continue to
manage and own them or what their future life might look like.
as those conversations progress,
please know that the county is
forwarding information in collaboration I have been in contacti with
tim, the ceo, tohave been in contact
with tim explain burning that request for information from the the ceo
to explain that county.
request for information from the county
countyand. More information to
and more information come but
to we come do but we
wealso have a concern around the ownership question of those
also have concern around the ownership question of those assets assets.
.as we have more information,
we
as we have more information will make we sure we have will make sure we have
will make sure we havean updated updated reports to council as report to county counsel as it relates it to relates the
operation of infrastructure, planning services and to the operation of
Infrastructure
services and to the operation of
Infrastructure planning services and perhaps perhaps that amalgamation or roll-up of those
assets that amalgamation a.
rollup of assets in
the county operations are by extension I
think there's conversation and
Opportunity
think there's conversation and
Opportunity for locals to see
whether they want a role to play in those assets as well.
greenway evolution they been funded by a number of sources whether through donations to the
foundation local, municipal and revenue from irca what you find -- taxpayers of the region invested significantly in these assets and we want to make sure we preserve them. >> thank you madame morden.
I wanted to have the discussion
because this team touched on a lot of our recreational assets
and key components.
I think now is the time for us to start to think as to what may happen.
a plan that's positive for essex county but I'm not going to hold my breath.
thank you madam morden. >> councillor deyong >> thank you.
I have a couple of things.
I want to start with page 107 and I think it will be an easy
answer but there's a list of capital expenditures and several
of the items were budgeted in
2025.
They
2025.
They weren't projected to be spent in 2025 and there budgeted
again in 2026.
so you just -- didn't do in 2025 what we thought we were doing the capital expenditures.
I'm looking at specifically I think there's pickup trucks, three of those.
there's mower and a sweeper truck it's a little bit different but there's several items we budgeted for in 2025 and didn't spend it.
it's in 2026 and because I don't
see the reserve or levy or whatever are these items carrying over or are they reflecting her levy this year?
>> through you a lot of these
we are trying to order them when we can but they're not coming in the years of the dollars are not being spent.
it doesn't mean we don't need them just you will see the dollars being spent in the following year.
and I don't know there's any particular item you are looking at, but some are reserves funded on summer levy funded.
it's a mix for the whole program
 program.
>> I'm looking
 program.
>> I'm looking at the four specifically I mentioned because
he put them on the 2025 budget
. I'm hoping those at least are all reserve funded then.
if you want, I can give you the
specific lines 3805.
they are all 3805, that doesn't
help [laughter]
although 3805 that have zero in projected are numbers 25 and 26 there's at least -- some would be levy funded.
if we don't spend it we put it to reserves and 2025.
>> I expect it was in the levy
and 22 any five.
the fact that it was in the line
 line, I'm wondering are those
being full -- pulled from the reserve?
>> they are. >> the one I think is -- I'm curious we budgeted 825 and spent 720 of that and were looking at 400 more.
I'm trying to understand those
numbers.
I think 800 was two and it looks like we bought two and now we're looking for another one.
I'm seeing some nodding in the
audience.
my assumption would be we put
in two in the budget last year I believe.
we put three in the budget last year so two were purchased and
we're purchasing the third next
year and I'm assuming the costs were higher than we anticipated
.
we will just confirm with some numbers to make sure.
>> three u. Warden just looking
at the budget we did budget 800,000 for two loaders last year.
we got them at a better price
than we thought so we spent only
720,000 of that and we are looking for purchase of another loader in 2026.
>> if I may, I just have one more thing.
on page 159 under the -- I guess
it's the construction project listing the second last item is
roadway expansion pickets as heritage road extension mccain
county road 22 road two west and I talked with my colleague here to figure out how heritage extends from maine and road two.
is this the new road not in there yet?
>> through you, we listed that
under our construction budget.
it is particularly for the intersection of heritage road and county road 20.
speaking with your administration of the town -- they said they were going to move forward with improvement
at the intersection so there would be a county sheriff for that.
it's part of a bigger project there working towards in heritage road north to kingsville road two. >> I appreciate that because it doesn't really involve road two at all.
that's what threw me. I'm not connecting these roads
. Is the intersection specifically
heritage on main street not even a four-way and it will be upgraded.
just one more thing I had messaged sometime throughout the
year asking about county road 20 from heritage to think mccain specifically about pay shoulders
 shoulders.
I don't
 shoulders.
I don't see it here and I think the response I got when I asked about where it was on our plan was for 26.
I don't see it here.
I don't see it on any of the lists unless I'm missing it.
road 20 from heritage to mccain
.
>> through you warden just some clarification.
county road 23 to mccain or heritage to mccain. >> my question was because I had
gotten questions about the safety of biking.
more of our not done yet with
no paved shoulders.
we have that doughnut with a dense residential out of town so people bike on that. I would have loved to have seen that done which I argue nobody's
biking on.
when I asked about specifically
when this might come up in our plan for that I was sure that it was 26.
do we add those shoulders at the same time that come after --
>> through you a doesn't look
like we included that in our 26 budget.
typically we would put paved shoulders on at the same time
as we do the resurfacing. And the odd situation we have
paid shoulders as standalone projects.
>> when we are talking about the various places counter road 18 was upgraded as the road and we
put the trail and don't have a
plan or how to fund this going
forward and I think we will have
to start prioritizing were people are actually biking verses were doing the road let's pave the shoulders picker member
arguing last budgeted take it
off and I voted down against and
would've loved to see the dollars go to this road which is actually connecting residential
to downtown and would've been way more beneficial.
it didn't make the 26 budget. As it may be going to be on next
year I want the residents asking me
when it doesn't get done because I shared with them it was going
to be on the 26 budget.
is it on the 27?
do we know? Is it on the horizon?
>> through you as I understand
it it's on the 27 horizon.
it also has a local component
so the town of kings well we'll have to included on the budget
as well.
>> anyone else?
>> through you just a question if you could look at the budget narrative of page 9 talking about the transit feasibility
study Is there a typo that were talks
about the regional transit working group will continue discussions in 2026.
council approved to begin a trans visibility study.
is that 2025 or am I reading that incorrect?
>> through you could you repeat
. >> it's page 9 of 13 on the narrative report.
it talks about council approved
100,000 in 2026 to begin and I transit feasibility study.
is that 2025, is that a typo or
. Is that correct.
>> through
. Is that correct.
>> through you we did have the discussion in 2025 about the transit and regional transit in
essex county and through that discussion in the report I was
directed to include an amount of money of the 26 budget to begin a transit feasibility study.
>> so that clarifies that.
there's still the transit working group.
I was disappointed to learn the leamington line got denied this
year and even in the municipality of leamington I think we need to be serious in terms of having data and look at
the cost so we can have regional transit in the county of essex.
we need to start somewhere so this hundred thousand will go
towards continuing those discussions and come back with a
plan and all local municipalities need to have skin in the game when we use the term
 term.
I know a lot do their own transit but we need to be able to connect it We applaud on how it's ec way and we got 161 kilometres yet we cannot even figure out how to
do regional transit and we've been talking about it for decades. More than a decade. I'd like to talk about -- I'd like to see that.
thank you for clarifying.
>> thank you. Councillor rogers. >> thank you and through you, a couple of points.
county road 50 feasibility study we had to know this was coming.
I know we are going through it
and it's coming to fruition soon
 soon.
maybe the first question is an update of where we're at on it
.
>> thank you, through you we are continuing to finalize the feasibility study.
that is looking at feasibility of adding transportation to a
segment of county road 50 in kingsville just east of conservation boulevard.
we've had a public meeting with
the community.
honestly we're struggling a little bit with the consultant
and working to get a product we
can share with the public and
would like to thank the town of kingsville and your
Administration
would like to thank the town of kingsville and your
Administration for working with
us through this project.
one thing I could share with council at the moment is it looks like prior to doing any
surface work or trail construction there's likely going to have to be some stormwater
stormwater's -- solution to that
and it would likely be through the municipal drainage process
.
that's likely coming in the near
future for council at the town
of kingsville to consider.
>> is there any items in this
budget for that project?
>> through you, there is not.
we need to get through this feasibility study and bring that
recommendation to county counsel and because it was so late in the year we were not able to get
it into the 27 -- 26 budget. >> maybe a couple of comments on that.
hearing my colleagues talk about
road 50 -- it's to my knowledge
that the section hasn't been brought before council but this is actually a section approved
by council, a feasibility study has been approved for it.
there's understanding there's drainage and utility dollars for that project.
I think it's only where the county has been out and identified -- we know it's going to be a big project but us waiting and kicking the can down
another year for me is we'd like to see some sort of dollar.
with dollars coming out for the
project my hope is from the feasibility study within the same pocket maybe there's some dollars there for us to continue to move this project forward.
I'd hate for it to be a stalemate over another year because we know there will be
a lot of work and not doubting -- have to take some land there.
there's a lot of things that will be done if we move forward. We delayed another year then it's another year and continuing
to kick it down the road.
maybe a couple of comments, please.
>> thank you, through you warden
 warden.
I believe there are differences
between county road 50 and in kingsville.
one that comes to mind is I'm certain the project and abbess
berg is part of the current network.
it was one of the projects further into the future and it
wasn't one of the low hanging
fruits that we could tackle easily so it's been on the books
and planning for that.
the project in kingsville I believe was set aside because of the difficulties and because of the work they done on their own
to find another solution to complete that active
Transportation
to find another solution to complete that active
Transportation facility.
-- there was a solution currently in play and I wouldn't
want to leave council of the idea they will be doing anything in 2026 with that project.
it'll be brought back for council's consideration because
I am of the opinion that the first that will be a drainage
solution that likely get started
if things fall in line in the
right reports get written to the
different councils I could start
this year.
>> I like the word could.
thank you. >> anyone else?
there is a recommendation for council that the presentation
infrastructure and planning
Services
infrastructure and planning
Services budget -- the estimates
for infrastructure planning services be received or received and approved.
looking for your direction. Councillor gibb. >> received and approved. >> councillor gibb.
looking for a second or. Councillor rogers pick any discussion of the motion?
we will ask you to vote electronically please.
and that's carried.
it's now time for lunch so I'm going to need a motion to recess for a 30 minute lunch break.
it's 12:18. I'm looking at 12:48.
a mover and a second or moved
by councillor meloche.
seconded by council prue. All in favour. I will ask you to sit for minute because we have some instructions.
all in favour and nobody wants to go.
that's approved.
the note from the clerk is please enter the kitchen by the
main hallway, not the eerie room for the lunch key when she's asking council vote first.
don't you like to be the ones that go first?
were good? understood?
great.
>> speaker-01: I'm going to call the meeting to order.
is after 1:00.
we are going to start the next
session of budget with the essex
 essex county library.
for that we have adam cracknell
chief librarian to present the
2026 budget estimates.
over to you, adam.
>> thank you, madame morden.
the 2025 was the first full year
of work toward the goal set up
in the recent essex strategic
plan and that includes the mission statement before you.
the idea of the library being
a space for discovery for all of
the heart of our committees has
been rocked -- brought to life
by the work our staff have been
doing across 14 branches.
we see substantial measurable
increases in engagement, particularly with programming
and do user sign-ups.
for example, between february
and november of this year, we
welcomed over 1000 new memberships to the library.
I think this reinforces the notion that the library is an
important part of more and more
community members lives.
taking it a step further, the
essex county libraries vision
statement that you have here emphasizes connecting its patrons to information and entertainment.
our responsive service and community embedded staff contribute to positioning the
library as a cornerstone of  of county services.
we are not emergency medicine
nor housing but I think it could
be argued that the library provides critical service in support of increasing quality
of life for every resident of essex
 essex county.
we foster lifelong learning and
community engagement in ways that few other organizations do
.
post-pandemic, we have continued
building woman meant -- momentum
toward achieving the vision.
our staff delivered 2242 programs between january and november of this year.
this was over 84,000 patrons across the county.
by comparison in all of 2024,
we had a 77,000 program attendees
.
we've already surpassed our 2024
totals and had record-breaking
months in july and october of
this year.
I'm here today to ask for what
we believe is a modest increase
tied largely to negotiated changes in salary and benefits
.
our net departmental requirement
has gone from 7,006,460 in 2025
to 7,165,280 in 2026.
this is not discretionary cost
growth.
this is tied to salary and benefits.
as you can see, staffing costs
account for the line share of
this budget at 71.8 percent, followed by material costs.
that is cost associated with books and dvds and other loanable materials, at about 12% 12%.
what this meant during the preparation process for today,
we took a deep look at historically under spent the budget lines and reallocated accordingly to ensure that our
core functions are being met and
that there is very little fat
on this budget.
as mentioned, the 2026 budget
includes request for increases
of 128,000 dollars for wages and
another 30,700 for benefit cost
.
overall, the proposed request
accounts and amounts to 2.3% increase over the 2025 budget,
this level of increase would allow us to maintain our current
staffing levels, which in turn
allows the library to continue
providing quality, community service at all 14 branches.
with that, I would be happy to
answer any questions.
>> thank you.
questions for our chief librarian?
councilor deyong.
>> I think I know the answer but
on the salaries, students from
2025 of this budget a 200,000,
we didn't spend any of that towards not propose we will.
and we are looking for 328 for
26.
so it is up $130,000.
even though we didn't have any
projected for 2025.
but I see part-time is down by
almost three something.
is that the difference?
>> there are a couple of items
here where we moved things around.
the costing stayed the same, if
I'm not mistaken.
we actually sort of changed the
naming on the budget lines.
there is another place where you
will see electronic data and hosting services.
it has us asking for zero dollars there but that funding
is actually moved to another client.
is a more descriptive and were
appropriate.
it is actually not a change in
the dollars we are asking.
please correct me if I am speaking.
it's not a change in the dollars
we are asking, just moving into
other places where they are more
appropriate.
>> that's what I figured.
students are part-timers and that's why the two lines are interchangeable.
thank you.
>> anyone else?
deputy warden.
>> thank you.
adam for preventing
the ball it -- the budget.
the library board, we have many
councillors to sit on the library board, a councilor from
la salle and leamington and kingsville.
I'm very proud working with this
budget in terms of offering the
programs and just to mention,
I know throughout a him, there is
a lot of increase in terms of
the surplus books due to the flood and so a lot of these discarded books have been put
to good use.
there are several board members
that took advantage of having
community events.
I encourage anyone, if there are
any groups or people that you
know please share the word, contact adam and he will connect
you with that and you can have
a community free book giveaway.
thank you for fostering that,
into your staff as well.
thank you.
>> councilor bondy.
>> thank you, warden macdonald
.
it is a solid budget.
not asking for any real increases.
my question is more, we know the
herald library had a division
c in -- a deficiency in stop for
a while.
are there any branches that are
lacking staff right now and if
so is this something you are
looking to be addressed in 2027?
>> if the question is do we need
-- I can always do more with more.
I think maintaining our current
level of service, we are seeing
it pay off in 2027 we could look
at it over the course of 26.
if there were a need to adjust
staffing levels, we would certainly come back to the table
and ask in 27.
>> it is something that of  of course I will bring up at the
board but I wanted to ask that
question here as well because
we know that numbers are going up
, circulation is trending up.
I want to make sure the current
level of stuff like any other
service we provide is adequate
in that when we get new branches
as well, it could potentially
need more hours in the future.
that is something that I want
to make sure we are looking at.
every time we get a new branch
, there is a renewed energy in that community.
so thank you.
whenever the discussion is right
 right, I will make a motion to
support the budget.
>> thank you.
anyone else?
seeing there is no one else, there is a recommendation before
council that the presentation
for the proposed 2026 essex  essex county library board budget be received, and further
that the 2026 budget estimates
for essex county library board
be received or received and approved.
councilor bondy, what is your
wish?
>> may I please receive and approve.
>> moved by councilor bondy to
receive and approve.
second -- seconder?
deputy warden.
any discussion on the motion?
seeing none, I will ask you to
vote electronically.
that is carried.
thank you.
thanks, adam.
thank you, finance team.
next up, we have general government services.
for that report, we have melissa
ryan, our director of financial
services and treasury.
we have david something, our director of legal legislative.
darrell la ronde oh, our director of I.t. Information and
we have -- are we going to have
danielle or are you going to do
that?
danielle is going to do it.
okay.
interim director human resources
 resources.
but there is no chair for you.
we are going to switch.
perfect.
over to you.
>> thank you.
the next department for discussion is the general government services area.
for this presentation of the warden alluded to, the four directors will present each representing their respective
areas.
the general government department is made up of several
key divisions that provide the
backbone of county operations.
as a whole, this department plays a strategic role offering
leadership legal and financial
guidance and setting policies
that support all county services
 services.
the council services budget couples -- covers council remuneration and all related expenses corporate management
includes the ceos office and legislative services which handles legal matters, records
management medication and organizational development.
financial services also oversees
procurement while information
technology and tune resources
round out the team providing essential systems, tools and support across the organization
.
as you can see on this slide,
the overall general government
area shows an increase of just
over 1 million, bringing the total net department total requirement to just over 9.5 million.
this change reflects adjustments
across all four divisions within
the department.
at this point, I will turn things over to mr. David something our director of legislative and community services county solicitors walk
through his area in more detail
.
>> corporate management reflects
the combined operations of both
the office of the cao and the
legislative and legal services
department.
the draft budget before council
is very much a status quo budget
from my department's perspective
 perspective.
we are not seeking any additional amounts.
in fact, there's a 15.5% decrease in the court manage --
or budget which is a $430,000
decrease.
that reduction is due to staffing realignment and a new
admission ration cost recovery
.
that's being said, there are two
business cases at appendix three
that I would be happy to take
any questions on.
in 2026, now that's a number of
departmental changes have been
implemented in the past two years corporate management will
continue to focus on being a dependable resource other county
departments and across the region.
we provide support to other departments in county but we are
also hereto and I think we do
supports council.
for the -- pass number of years
, the corporate management group
has become a resource that local
municipalities rely on for sharing ideas, best practices
and promoting everyone working
together as a region.
this is the case of the county
cao taking lead in regular meetings.
the county clerk taking a regular meeting with local clerks.
and the county's lister and deputy solicitor recently taken
the lead in ensuring the legal
departments and the county meet
regularly.
this work was already underway
prior to this plan being adopted
 adopted.
with that plan in place, we recognize the importance of focusing on this work to ensure
that we are advancing the strategic goals of working as
team essex county, and growing
as leaders in public service excellence.
one of the other strategic direction set by council is the
county should focus on being an
employer with impacts.
the communication division will
take the lead on employing excellence awards and ensuring
long service is acknowledged,
refining existing engagement opportunities and reviewing the
recently completed employee engagement survey.
further, the strategic plan also
calls for advancing truth and
reconciliation at the county.
relations with indigenous communities built in our area.
it will advance key strategic
goal the county taking steps
to engage a consultant to assist
in developing a plan to ensure we
are meeting our obligations to
our indigenous peoples.
it's anticipated the plan will
be ready for council's review
in 2026.
in 2021, the county had a consultant review the county's
records and information management program.
as that plan, a review is outdated and budgetary pressures
prevented the county from implementing some of those key
recommendations.
the environment for how records
are stored electronically has
changed significantly since then
 then.
a review of the plan will be completed in 2026.
the goal is to ensure our records management plan is appropriate and builds on the
county
county's commitment to effective
records management and insurers
organize and secure management
of critical information.
with sets, I will throw it over
to melissa.
>> thank you.
financial services has another
busy year ahead, as we continue
modernizing how we do business
.
a lot of the big foundational
work started in 2025 and in 2026
we will be putting it into motion especially with the rollout of the new budget software to utilize for the 2027
county budget and the continuing
modules over a new human resources information system a
form.
of these tools make budgeting
and financial planning easier,
clear and more efficient for everyone across the organization
 organization.
it will also keep focusing on
the things that strengthen the
county
county's long-term financial position helping departments
with deeper financial analysis
, more strategic procurement report -- support and making sure we get good value for the
contracts we enter into.
all the behind-the-scenes work
that protects the levee and supports good decision-making.
one of the bigger items in this
years finance budget is the 1 million-dollar contribution
toward the ems hub and capital
plan.
this is a levy funded item exactly in line with the funding
model council received in august
 august.
it keeps us on track so when we
move forward with these land purchases design and construction the reserve capacity will be in place or at
the very least we have a plan
to replenish what is being depleted
 depleted.
a quick note on internal recoveries you will see movement between general government departments this year
 year.
that's mainly reallocating cost
where they more accurately live
.
it looks busy but doesn't change
the overall amounts.
for example, there was -- there
were legal recoveries previously
housed in finance however they
were moved to the corporate management area to reflect support they provide to other
departments.
finally, one small comment, earlier this year presented a
report on the county's credit
rating as there was -- questions
about the cost benefit of this
exercise.
there are no dollars included
in the draft budget for the credit
rating report at this time.
if council wants to added back
in that certainly can be done
at the end of the meeting today
.
otherwise, there is the 2025 report which you saw on the consent agenda.
the county did receive a aaa credit rating so that will hold
until the annual process is due
for renewal.
at that time, I would advise smp
we will not continue with the
credit rating process.
with that, I turn it over to daryl our director of information technology.
>> thank you.
for giving me the opportunity to speak with you
today about the proposed 2026
information technology services
budget.
I would like to start by acknowledging the hard work of
the small but mighty I.t. Team
that made 2025 a successful year
for our department, particularly
in advancing several key initiatives.
in july 2025, we took another
step toward centralizing our service delivery model by onboarding our business analyst
.
since then, we've made significant progress in understanding our application
landscape our data structures
and how our employees use our
systems.
we've already seen immediate results for bringing in the business world into the organization especially project
engagement and helping move several initiatives across the
finish line.
in early 2025, we also implemented and launched our managed detection and response
system service through field effects in partnership with tell
us work this investment has already paid dividends as our
modern provider alerted us to
attempted logins from russian
threat actors trying to access
our environment.
this validated the importance
and urgency of enhancing our cybersecurity initiatives.
in the third quarter of 2025,
we upgraded our firewall, which was
long overdue replacement.
this upgrade has allowed us to
implement stronger security controls including geo-fencing
and stricter access rules, helping us better protect the
county
county's environment.
we also made strategic staffing
improvements this year.
one of our help desk analyst positions was reclassified into
a help desk lead role.
this change has strengthened our
ability to coordinate daily operations assigned tasks effectively and ensure urgent
issues are prioritized appropriately.
finally, this quarter has been
especially exciting as we successfully advanced our microsoft 365 project.
over the past few weeks, we have
onboarding staff to exchange online implemented teams and
enabled cloud-based collaboration tools.
we are now moving into the design phase of our sharepoint
environment with targeted implementation in the first and
second quarters of 2026.
thank you to council for your
support of these initiatives in
2025.
in 2026, we continue advancing
the work recommended through the
2023 service delivery review.
in the proposed budget, you will
see line items related to improving network availability
, dependability and software and
service monitoring tools.
these tools will allow us to better monitor the performance
of our environment, proactively
detect issues and receive alerts
before outages occur.
if systems or services go down
, our enhanced visibility will ensure we are aware of the issues immediately and are able
to respond before users are able
to report on these issues.
in addition, we will continue
exploring efficiency tools recommended through the service
delivery review, particularly
those that are now available to
us through our recent microsoft
365 migration.
as part of the county's mission
, the I.t. Department will strengthen relationships with
other I.t. Departments in the
region as well as other locals
thought leaders, building this
community of practice will help
us.
knowledge, align emerging best
practices and implement solutions that benefit the broader region.
finally, we will continue our
cloud migration journey.
now that the county is operating
on microsoft 365, we will further embrace cloud services
to support and improve service
delivery.
in this budget, you will see references to our as were environment now rebranded by
microsoft as microsoft entre.
this transition is important as
it will enable greater administrative control, stronger
governance and improve protection from threat actors.
the current slide identifies business cases I.t. Submitted
for consideration.
if there are any questions, I'm
happy to answer them at the end
of these presentations.
but we will continue to strengthen our cybersecurity posture.
this includes ongoing initiatives such as our no before security awareness training program, which will remain a core component to our
defence strategy.
we will also be upgrading our
mobile device management platform.
this upgrade will improve our
management capabilities while
also providing cost savings for
the organization.
we will be performing additional
network upgrades throughout the
year enabling improved monitoring of our network quality access device management
 management.
in 2025, the county also created
an ai policy and is working on
an ai framework.
building on that momentum, one
of our top parties for 2026 is
run an ai productivity pilot in
the county.
now the work really operating
within the microsoft 365 environment we plan to work with approximately 25 users who
will be identified early in the
new year to evaluate how the paid version of microsoft pilot
can help reduce time spent on
routine task and improve our overall productivity.
we will also continue our full
transition into the microsoft
365 ecosystem, by establishing
our sharepoint environment.
this will expand our ability to
support asynchronous and synchronous collaboration across
employees teams, departments
and partner organizations.
thank you very much.
I will handed over to danielle
lappage.
>> thank you, worden.
through you to county council,
to strengthen the service delivery and meet increasing operational demands, the 2026
budget includes two new hr positions a shared human resource generalist to support
ems and sun parlor homes and a
human resources assistant to facilitate the implementation
and administration of the redesigned attendant support policy.
together, these additions will
enhance recruitment, compliance
and employee support across the
corporation helping to optimize
the potential of every employee
and ensure sustainable service
delivery.
this slide outlines hr's priorities for 2026 for collective bargaining in 2026,
hr will engage in collective bargaining with 5 of 6 union groups.
this will be a key area of focus
 focus, particularly for the first half of the year.
our objective is to engage in
respectful collaborative negotiations that recognize the
valuable contributions of the
workforce while ensuring fiscal
sustainability.
building on the recruitment enhancements meet in 2025, hr
will continue to strengthen strategies that attract and retain diverse, skilled and motivated employees.
will refine onboarding processes
 processes, that has the candidate experience and ensure
equity and accessibility at every stage.
in addition, we will continue
to assess compensation and benefit
offerings to maintain competitiveness in the labor market.
for employee development and training in 2026, we will continue to expand leadership
and professional development opportunities including the quarterly leadership meetings
to strengthen organizational capacity and support long-term
success.
in 2026, the implementation of
the refreshed attendance support
policy will be a major focus,
providing a proactive and supportive framework for addressing attendance concerns
and encouraging open communication between employees
and leaders.
a positive and inclusive culture
is a foundational to employee
engagement and retention.
building on a culture -- building on the culture conversations initiated in 2025,
hr will lead the next phase of
this work in 2026, expanding discussions countywide to reinforce shared values, expectations and daily practices
that contribute to a respectful
and collaborative workplace.
ensuring policies remain current
 current, compliant and reflective of best practices will continue to be a key priority.
hr will continue to take systemic policy reviews and updates to align with the evolving legislation and county
operations.
following the successful implementation of the new human
resource information system in
2025 the 2026 focus includes
deploying the workforce management and scheduling module
to improve integration and enable data-driven insights for
workforce planning.
finally, from a health and safety and emergency management
perspective as the county grows
 grows, hr will continue to strengthen its health and safety
and emergency programs to ensure
all workplaces meet or exceed
regulatory requirements.
we will have targeted training
, especially in emergency management and continue to promote a culture of shared responsibility for workplace safety.
with that, over to you.
>> that concludes the general
 general government area.
if anyone has any questions for
any of the directors, please feel free to ask at this time.
>> thank you.
are there questions?
we start with councilor prue.
>> thank you.
I have two questions.
the first has to do with truth
and reconciliation.
I noticed that that was one of
the elements that's going to be
dealt with this year.
can you tell me with whom are
you going to deal in developing
this process?
I would take it probably caldwell first nations and may
be another.
is there anyone else on that list that will be first -- that
will be consulted?
>> we are -- it may have been
issued today or yesterday, an
rfp to find a consultant to assist us.
in advance of that, letters were
sent out to caldwell first  first nation and indigenous group at the university of windsor and they can then friendship centre so the three
local indigenous groups that we
are aware of have received letters from us, asking that they participate in the process
.
>> are there any other groups
that you may want to use?
I'm just thinking in terms of
some of the work that some of
them do.
there are groups out there that
you provide child care.
there out there that provide help for older people, for poverty reduction, for a number
of things that are aboriginal
base.
are you dealing with any of them
 them?
>> I think the vision was, once
we have a consultant in place,
we will for grow two we should
be involving in the process.
we thought it was appropriate
to ensure that those in the region
who are recognized indigenous
groups should be advised in advance and that's why rewrote
to caldwell first nation and the
two other groups in the city.
>> are they going to advise on
the person to conduct the study
or are they part of the study?
>> they have been asked to participate in the process and
that the rfp was being issued.
>> that would be my question.
but I do have a question for someone else.
>> any other questions?
I will go to councilor rogers
and then come back to you.
>> may be a clarification piece
on the truth and reconciliation
.
I believe there are 21 steps within the municipality as far
as the road to truth and reconciliation.
maybe if you could comment on
that item, where we're at as far
as those steps.
I understand we want to be respectful and ensure we are taking those steps but there is
a booklet that says what municipalities should be doing
.
if we are not doing those items
first, to me it doesn't make sense to reach out and find more
items that we should be doing
before something that's actually
been documented for us to do first.
>> we have limited capabilities
here at this stage to know what
we should be doing going forward
 forward.
that's the purpose of bringing
in a consultant to say what should the county be doing?
this year, for example, I'm not
sure when we started the process
but we do land to him -- land
acknowledgements at council meetings.
we ensure truth and reconciliation day that there
is an event here at the county to
recognize that.
we are doing what we can do.
but now we are going to come up
to a fulsome plan specific to
the county with our local indigenous partners.
>> further three you, madame worden we are using that book
for reference, and again I think
it's 21 items, 20 items.
you mentioned a couple of them
but there were more items there
.
so my question is is that's going to be a consultant going
to tell us the other items that
have to be done when we already
have the information.
my point is we have information
, we haven't may be completed anything on that list.
what's the point of bringing in
another consultant when there
is still work to be done?
maybe it's a question for the
cao?
>> the rfp we have is to develop
truth and reconciliation action
plan.
the foundation of that action
plan are those directed steps
that municipalities across the
province are required to engage
in.
the consultant is going to take
an inventory of the things we
are already doing and see what
boxes we are achieving and highlight for us to things that
we are falling short on or build
us a plan in both short and long-term of how the county can
move toward full compliance with
those directions and steps as
the director said, it's going
to be specific to the county of essex and the work that we do
here at the minister polity.
but also, the summer, we had representatives from amo come
because as an organization, they
have also undertaken this work
.
we wanted to make sure that our
rfp was informed by the work of
amo that we are not duplicating
things as well.
so certainly to your point, there are a number of foundational pieces we need to
consider.
the scope of the work for the
rfp for the consultant asked the
consultant to look at those foundational pieces in light of
what we are currently doing, where we have gaps and help us
build a plan to action ourselves
towards compliance on both the
short and long-term basis.
>> may be final, I appreciate
that I want to make sure, there
have been steps put out there
for us to follow and they want
to make sure that that is the
guidebook and the path that we
are following moving forward.
so thank you.
>> thank you.
councilor waldstedt.
>> a couple of things.
the first is on the same topic
.
if everything is laid out by the
province of the federal government with respect to this
issue and I see we are budgeting $226, 226,000 to tell
us to go over it and double check it to see if we are doing
everything we should.
is that not all laid out for us
already?
I don't know why we would spend
a quarter of $1 million to have
a consultant tell us.
we have people in charge of these programs that know what
we are doing and we are meeting the
requirements of the legislation
in the policy at the federal and
provincial level.
why would we spend a quarter of
a million dollars to have somebody look at it to tell us
what we already know and why would we go beyond what we are
asked to do in any event?
>> just to clarify within the
budget and I'm not sure what's
mine is being referred to right
now but 75,000 has been put in
for truth and reconciliation consultant and $30,000 has been
in sort -- inserted for our record management review that
I spoke about in my presentation
.
>> further?
>> my question remains the same
.
the amount hasn't change, soria
had the wrong line item.
70,000 instead of 226?
that's what I hear.
any comments on my concern with
respect to having an outside individual tell us?
I don't know for sure but if it's in black and white in front
of us, I don't know if we need
someone to tell us what that means.
>> I'm going to look to our finance friends to help confirm
my understanding.
the rfp we have just released
in 2025 was based on a project approved in the 2025 budget.
we have already approved the funds to seek a consultant.
admittedly, it is late in the
air.
we hope to get this project off
the ground earlier in 2025.
knowing that amo was working on
their process, we wanted to inform our rfp scope so we weren't duplicating effort.
my understanding is the budget
funds for the consultant's work
has already been approved in 2025.
we have an rfp out right now.
we hope to secure the consultant
before the end of the year and
the work will proceed in 2026.
perhaps most can clarify that.
>> yes, that is correct.
that was a 2025 initiative.
the rfp is coming out at the end
of the year but we do -- we did
have that approved in the 2025
budget.
>> thank you.
so it is still at 70,000?
or are we adding it?
was approved in 2025, why's
it back in the budget again this
year?
what am I missing?
>> I recall it being 50.
it's a little convoluted because
that line includes other consultant costs we can get the
exact figure but I believe we
did have 50,000 earmarked in 2025 for those costs and we will
confirm what the consultant costs are for 2026 and what does
exactly where.
I do remember there being potentially initiatives that came out of what the rfp advised
us to do.
we were trying to locate daughter -- locate dollars but
I will confirm that with what's
in the budget.
>> my other concern is I guess
on page 122 of the budget, I see
salaries for county council salaries.
it goes from 518 to 538.
what percentage is that?
a 2% increase or what is the actual percentage?
>> that would be 2.5%.
>> thank you.
I'm just concerned, madame warden with respect -- I know
we've been going through the budget and we've cut some things
out to try to keep it at a reasonable level.
but the canadian economy isn't
good at all.
we have 11% unemployment rate
in windsor-essex county, which I
understand is the highest in canada.
I just don't think it is proper
for us -- we talk about social  social service requirement and
housing and everything else and
I know it's probably in line with what would be -- what we've
been giving through union agreements but we need to be responsible and I know it's not
a lot of money.
it's about $20,000 but I think
it's important that we show some
leadership with respect to that
.
I am not in favour of increasing
wages by 2.5% for this year.
I know that arguments can be made that if we do this, we do
this constantly and we are falling behind but every few years council seems to have a
study done in any event that takes a look at it and inevitably it increases in some
way shape or fashion.
but that is for future councils
to decide.
why am not in favour of that.
I won't support this part of the
budget unless there is some way
of pulling that item out and dealing with it separate or dealing with the motion to approve it but not increasing
the salaries and indemnities for
council.
>> thank you.
councilor deyong.
>> I have a question on the council services budget.
meeting expenses have been pretty steady and then it triples this year.
I'm wondering what they expected
-- what that line is?
line 2110.
>> I will start as david continues to look.
in 2026, it will be an election
year.
so what we were finding when we
were going through the budget
is that we weren't allocating enough to reserves for those meetings every year.
I know there's the wardens luncheon and stuff like that that happens once every four years.
you will definitely see a spike
in there because of those reasons as well as some other
items related to it being an election year.
>> just to clarify, there is no
actual election activity expense
that the county incurs, or is
there?
you are talking about the outcome of the election and the
new council and whatever is involved with onboarding the new
council but is there an election
expense as well?
>> yes, and no.
they know being we are not involved in the elections but
there always is an annual -- every four years there is a dinner, organizing the former
-- we do that.
going forward, we want to level
this off so there's a little money put aside each year so you
don't see huge spikes in election years.
>> councilor bondy.
>> thank you.
a couple of comments already out
there the wardens outgoing dinner that has never been considered to be a ticketed event.
from what I remember, it is not
ticketed.
the people that get invited don't have to pay anything.
rather than doing maintenance
on the wages, I would rather look
at that -- like I would buy my
ticket.
has that ever been looked at?
>> it is a ticketed events.
I don't recall the amount of the
tickets but it is ticketed.
$125 per ticket.
>> thank you.
I don't think I've ever paid for
it.
my local must pay for it.
I don't think we have.
I don't know.
I look -- I could be wrong.
I look forward to paying for it
this year.
I will support if someone makes
a motion or I can make a motion
, I will support the budget as presented.
I don't believe that we should
pull out the maintenance on county councillors salaries because that is what got us so
far behind, was not doing maintenance on the salaries.
so I don't want to go backwards
on that.
I think it is responsible for
us to keep the maintenance in there
 there, just like everything.
the reason why we were targeted
this term, some of us, was because there was no responsible
maintenance in the future.
whether we make a motion that
we receive this or pull it out, I'm
willing to make the motion that
we do it all.
>> I just want to get a line of
established year.
the first to speak are going to
have preference.
then I will come back to councilor prue and then councilor deyong.
councilor akpata.
>> thank you.
to the director of I.t., a quick
question on the end of support
for the windows 10 solution.
have we transition completely?
we don't have machines tucked
in corners running it?
just want to make sure we're in
the proper cyberspace that we
need to be.
>> we do have some machines left
in the environment with windows
 windows 10.
they support systems that are
third party proprietary and cannot be updated at this time
.
we are taking extra diligence
to make sure that every patch that
we can apply to those is applied
and we are working with our mdr
service provider to ensure those
systems are specifically monitored as well because they
are still machines.
>> a supplemental, I want to make sure that I understand the
machines running windows 10 aren't running any critical --
without breaching security, I
would assume were not running
critical for structure or anything like that.
you've got them walled off so
should something happen, you are
able to mitigate what may happen
with running old software.
>> that is a good assumption.
>> thank you, madame warden.
>> thank you.
no other questions?
I will come back to councilor
prue.
>> thank you, madame warden.
my other question relates to the
credit rating.
I remember if it wasn't laughter
 laughter, may be the year before
 before, there was quite a spirited debate about a credit
rating.
I remember speaking against it
and everyone voted to continue
with the credit rating.
all of a sudden, we have a motion that we don't need it anymore.
can you tell me what the change
has been during that period?
I agree we don't need it.
we didn't need it then either.
but why now are you saying we
don't need it?
>> the conversation was had in
2025 when I did a thorough analysis of what it means to actually get this done and what
the consensus was at that time
was it would be deliberated at
budget time.
we didn't include it in the budget right now.
however, if you choose to put
it back in the budget, it's $28,000
that there is the opportunity
to do that.
there wasn't consensus, it was
more or less deliberated at budget time because we had already approved $2025, and the
exercise happened in october of
every year.
I think it was, we are ready approved the budget or the credit rating in 2025 and then
we will deliberated for 2026.
>> why did you take it out of
the budget?
>> based on council direction
to that at or below inflation, we
chose -- administration chose
to take it out.
but obviously there is an opportunity to still put it back
in.
>> but you took it out because
you didn't think it was necessary.
it's not something that is really required?
>> it is up for council debate
.
I guess when we are looking at
the priorities, it wasn't the
highest priority so we did leave
it out.
>> okay.
thank you for that.
just as a comment to the other
thing I was 1 of 3 who did not
vote for the increase in salaries and I do not feel that
I can vote for a 2.5% increase
on a salary increase I did not
approve in the first place.
so I will be joining councilor
waldstedt if that comes up.
thank you.
>> thank you.
councilor deyong.
>> thank you.
there are so many different budgets and I had my questions
in a row.
I wanted to get clarification.
I think it was the financial services budget you talked about
 about.
I think it's a million dollars
of the financial services budget
going toward ems.
I wanted to make sure I heard
that clearly.
there's a lot of talk around ems
today but it's under financial
services budget going to reserve
for the spoke building.
is that what I understand?
>> correct.
finance houses the land so we
would own the land and the building.
so we have that under the finance budget but it is for ems
capital.
>> thank you.
and back to mr. Sunday and, you
talked about appendix three and
I wanted to give you an opportunity I'm looking specifically
at 19 and 20 and I wonder if they go together.
19 is reserve funded so I don't
understand why we would do that
.
I'm guessing maybe it is only
possible if we do 20?
>> yes, number 19 and 20 are the
two are referred to in my presentation.
19 observe funded in order to
make improvements to a room in
the basement.
records management is managed
by the deputy clerk, who follows
-- who falls within my department
.
we have records that are kind
of everywhere across the county.
we're trying to get to the point
where records are eventually digitized to the extent possible
 possible.
those that have to be stored in
long-term are in one locked and
secure location.
that's what we are working toward.
the ideal being the description
that's in -- within the appendix
three is to say we need to get
this room ready to receive those
records somewhat timely, if there's going to be renovations
in the basement or library, perhaps it's a good time to consolidate everything in one
room.
I was speaking with my staff at
the break, if you had to pick
one of these two, we would prefer 19 over 20.
ideally both, we not both at some point but if it's one or
the other, the records arm is
the preference.
>> I don't understand if it's
reserve funded, ryoal would require council?
you are talking about pulling
from reserves.
am I missing something?
why would you do that?
>> as I alluded to in the budget
overview reserves are important
for us to have.
some of these are smaller dollars but we have to think about long-term planning.
for example, if this comes from
capital we have the ems funding
model that is borrowing from our
capital not just ems capital
but for wing from capital so we
don't take on that.
it's just an exercise of making
sure we don't deplete reserves
as well and we have to be smart
about how much reserves we use
in the year so when we really
needed or for one-time things
-- if the province decides to kick
in money for something, we have
to have our share as well.
just thinking long term not depleting reserves for the future.
>> anyone else?
councilor mcnamara.
>> getting back to the standard
and poor -- getting the rating
, I know we don't borrow a lot of
money but if we were to borrow
money is it also utilized to
be able to get favoured interest
rates on loans?
>> in my exercise that I took
earlier this year to prepare the
council for what I have understood from infrastructure
ontario which is typically where municipalities borrow from
 from, it does not factor into
the rate, which is why it was
up for debate, the cost-benefit analysis.
but it does really help with vendors.
know when every screens us or
anything like that, they understand we have a aaa rating
so it simpler from an administrative position.
>> so realistically, it wouldn't
affect us if we have to borrow
money through infrastructure ontario for major projects?
>> in february, when I checked
, it did not have an effect.
>> okay then that is my decision
 decision.
I certainly wouldn't want to bring it back.
but also, as councilor prue and
certainly councilor waldstedt,
I do support what they are saying
as well as I think it's a matter
of principle moving forward and
again the 2.5% is on the salaries I would say -- I would
support what councilor waldstedt
has brought forward.
>> thank you.
councilor waldstedt.
>> thank you.
I'm just wondering how many silence people are in opposition
to the wage increase?
what procedure -- is there a motion on the floor now?
>> not yet.
>> because I know councilor bondy mentioned she had a motion
but I would make a motion that
we would deal with the wage salaries and indemnity's increase for council separately
.
if that is proper.
>> we will do it the weight we
need to do it.
thank you for that's.
we will look to you for -- as
a mover.
anyone else?
in regards to this report?
okay.
seeing none, I will look to madame clerk.
we will just wait for the clerk
 clerk's department to list the
motion.
>> thank you tag team.
thank you, team.
>> the motion from councilor
waldstedt is in the revised screen.
>> I will read the motion from
councilor waldstedt, just to make sure you are good with the
boarding.
that is that essex county council reduce proposed line item 105-60-1101 of the general
 general government council services budget to the 2025 level of $518,100.
that is moved by councilor waldstedt.
>> that takes care of my concern
and others that I've heard from
.
>> looking for a seconder to the
motion.
that is moved by councilor mcnamara.
question, councilor bondy?
3 yes, thank you.
it's an election year.
we all know it.
that's why we are talking about
this right now.
what does this mean going forward?
are we four years behind again
?
what happened was we reviewed
our wages and we were supposed
to stay in line with our non nonunion comparators.
if we don't support this, does
this mean we are not supporting
it for the four years?
because then we are going to get
back to where we have been.
so I just want to understand,
we know it's an election year.
everyone's got to do their election things.
but what does this mean going
forward?
I want to know what this means
for the new term of council.
are they behind or did they come
back in?
do they stay a cycle out?
>> I do remember the conversation at the time and I
believe we have it in a policy
on exactly how often we would
do the market salary review for council.
I believe it was every term of
council.
anyone please correct me if I'm
wrong.
so that would still occur because that was approved already that every term of council we would do that review
again.
potentially, yes, like any other
salary if we don't do it on an
annual basis, it may be a bigger
jump all at once but that is already factored in that we would have that review every term of council.
>> any other questions in regards to the motion?
I will ask you to vote electronically.
we are pausing.
councilor waldstedt?
>> in order to make sure we have
the correct dollar figure in there we're going to remove the
dollar figure and reworded to
say maintain 2025 pay level?
>> that was the intent.
test
>> again, I will read the revised.
the essex county council reduce
the proposed line item 105-60-1101 of the general government council services budget to maintain the 2025 level.
councilor waldstedt, just wanting a nod.
yes.
and seconder was councilor mcnamara.
and you are good.
we will ask you to vote electronically for that motion
.
and that carries.
secondary to that, there is a
recommendation that the presentation for the proposed
2026 general government budget
be received can further that the
2026 budget estimates for general government to be received or received and approved as amended.
looking for your wishes.
councilor verbeke.
>> I would like to move, receive
and approve.
>> as amended?
that is moved by councilor verbeke.
looking for seconder.
councilor gibb.
comments or questions?
we will ask you to vote electronically please.
that is carried.
next we have external commitments.
back to you again, melissa.
>> this final sections covers
the county's external commitments both legislative
and discretionary, and how these
investments support our residents and regional partners
.
our goal is to manage these obligations responsibly, he partnership strong and make sure
we're reading community needs
effectively.
many of the 2026 figures from
the city of windsor, who administer some of these programs.
while the city won't finalize
its budget until late january,
we've used the most current information to guide projections
 projections.
legislative commitments covers
services we are required to fund
 fund, public health, property
assessment social services and
social housing.
health unit costs are expected
to rise just over 1% for 2026
and impact property assessment
cost are anticipated to increase
by 3.7%.
social services and social housing operations are higher
due to contractual wage increases for city staff and changes to the child care administrative funding formula
.
windsor-essex community housing
corporation has also requested
additional operating funds so
this budgetthis includes budget includes
ourare anticipated anticipated share with further adjustments dependency approvals
share with further adjustments dependent on cit approvals.
approval.
so for the social housing capital renewal, this program
is administered by the windsor-essex community housing corporation it's an important
initiative that utilizes county funding to improve, modernize
and maintain social housing
Properties
and maintain social housing
Properties throughout essex windsor This problem addresses energy efficiency and upgrade safety
and excessive building features
ensuring that residents live in safe, healthy and sustainable environments so this program supports a ten-year social housing plan.
while the 2025 funding requests were lower, the significant projects are scheduled from 2026 to 2028 which rely heavily on
reserves.
to prepare, we are continuing
to contribute an additional 200,000 to the social housing capital reserve annually to build capacity in that program.
when we look at projective reserve balances, social housing
capital reserve is part of the
overall capital reserve balance and are expected reserve for this
one is 7.8 million at the end of 2025 with unanticipated
spend of 5.7 million in 2026.
and 7.7 million in 2027.
so doing the math, this reserve
will be deleted of all the projects move forward however, we do have a plan to replenish
in years where costs are not expected to be so high.
these are discretionary obligations which include
Investments
these are discretionary obligations which include
Investments or -- windsor-essex
so funding is remaining at the same level as previous years, same with tourism windsor-essex
.
there is no increase in funding
. The community safety and well-being plan, a slight increase and that's for the contractual wage increases for the city staff that oversee this
program There's also the tax appeals for lower tiers.
these funds to support tax appeals services for local means
apologies and they're critical to ensure fair taxation so there's an increase in this line
as last year
as last year's budget decreased it by 90,000 but we are trending
if it can be higher that -- found out this year so we want to bring a backup the necessary
levels.
and then this year's hospital contribution sees an increase
of 720,000 of levy dollars bringing
the total annual funding to 7.76 million.
we are in ongoing discussions
with the hospital regarding timing of payment, however, nothing has been confirmed to
date.
should council wish to reduce additional funding emotion would be required as it is built into the proposed budget.
and lastly we have the erie shores health care so there --
this is a long term commitment
with $200,000 allocated and this
is year three of a 10-year commitment.
without I'm happy to take any
questions >> thank you melissa.
let's start with you councillor mcnamara >> I would propose that on the
hospital allocation the extra
720,000 this year be deferred to help offset some of the costs on the augment that I've talked about with ens and others so I would propose that at the proper
time as a motion. >> so you're talking that it
Remain
time as a motion. >> so you're talking that it
Remain at the 2025 budget number of 7,040,000?
>> that's correct your guy maintain 7,000,040 in the base moving forward and then 720,000, the additional for 2026b deferred their and move in to allocate some of the costs for the enhancements in the various
positions.
>> okay thank you
positions.
>> okay thank you.
any other comments and questions
 questions?
councillor akpata. >> I like seeing invest windsor-essex I'm glad they came. I was one of the people who voted to change their funding
allocation and I hope through you and the office of the commitments they made to us hold true because they did a great job in pivoting and changing us
those bringing us what we need. I want to make sure as we go for
word we don't have to go through that cycle again so.
[inaudible]
>> council will be able to hold their feet to the fire because
they promise they would be here
four times a year and we will certainly let them know if they were overdue because I do think that was a scare for them last year to think that they would have to operate at 15% less than what they had expected and so I
think I'm of the opinion that
councils had a very strong message and also with gordon moore at the helm, he understands how counsel operates and knows that people of our and I believe they will hold true
but myself and the cao will make sure that if there seems to be a
slip we will remind them.
councillor prue, was your hand up?
>> no I didn't know whether the motion was made I was just going
to second it. >> I wanted to have some conversations and I will come back to you councillor mcnamara
for that.
anyone else to comment on the external commitments?
in that case, then I'm coming
back to you councillor mcnamara, I believe we have the wording just about ready.
just bear with us for a few moments.
so the motion is that the essex
 essex county budget be adjusted
to reflect the 2025 contribution to the new windsor-essex hospital system reserve to be the sum of 7,040,000. That's moved by councillor mcnamara and seconded by councillor prue.
comments or questions in regards to that motion?
councillor gibb. >> I'm looking at my screen and it says 6 million. That would explain it.
we cut that a few beats ago.
no comments or questions?
I'll ask you to vote electronically please.
and that's carried.
there's a recommendation also to the presentation for the 2026 propose external commitments budget be received and that the
2026 budget estimates for
External commitments
2026 budget estimates for
External commitments be received
or received and approved as amended.
Looking
or received and approved as amended.
Looking for a mover.
moved by councillor prue to receive and approve.
councillor prue, seconded deputy
warden any discussion?
councillor bailey. >> thank you read through you. Just a question related to the
capital renewals renewal that was roughly 2 million and went to 5.7, recognizing the increase that's three-point for, I think
it's related to the capital renewal and construction that
will be needed with windsor-essex community housing corporation but can you confirm
?
>> yes. That's correct it's their 10-year capital plan that
it's just certain years are higher than other >> you so much.
>> if there are no further questions I will ask you to vote electronically please.
and that's carried.
so that concludes the departmental budget presentations pure we are now at the point where we approve, amend what does it council wishes to dupe your guy will start with councillor. >> I expect this to be a bit lengthy and I will start with
wanting to add number 19 which is the renovation of the storage
room During the basement already with
a library.
I don't understand why we wouldn't just add this room, it's reserved funded, not a lot
of money so that's a motion if needed.
I
of money so that's a motion if needed.
I don't know how you want to do this one at a time. >> I
. >> I think it will be less confusing for us and finance.
I'm going to rely heavily on the clerk forwarding et cetera so if you don't mind bearing with us
will work together that we will get it into the phrasing that
you would like and anyone else who comes forward. >> so everyone is in the same comfort level if you have an item that you wish to move from that list that was previously
spoken about, appendix three, we're tracking things by the line number and it would be helpful for us to look at that number when you move the item.
base will be listed under 1210 if you're following on your agenda.
>> so the first motion, councillor de young is that the room g28 safety and efficiency
project added to the 2026 general government corporate management budget as outlined on line 19 of the appendix three of the treasurer's report.
I will be looking for nods.
they need a second or cocktails want to make sure that melissa gets what we need.
looking for a second or, in regards to that motion, deputy
warden melissa?
you're good?
are you clear on that?
okay.
any questions from council  council members in regards to
that motion?
no clarification needed. Okay.
then will ask you. and that's carried.
next, councillor meloche. >> one question before I make a
motion, among our extra items, number 18 and 23, they're both speaking to the generator and I'm just wondering why their separated issues when they're both to deal with the generator in the grid iso agreement.
>> is that something you can speak to?
>> I can't pull up that appendix quickly.
and I would maybe like melissa
to just confirm, is there an item in the additional items for
a generator study and is there also one for humidity study?
those of the two that I had. >> to me it looks like the same sort of study I just want to figure out why there's two different line items for it If it couldn't be one study completed that may cost less
than dude -- during two separate
studies.
>> they are two separate studies but whenever we put together an rfp, if they're similar enough
in scope and we can find someone to do that same work, that's definitely a possibility so I
guess at this point, if council chooses to bring both of them in
 in, obviously that would be our budget but if we come in under budget that's fine too.
>> thank you I would like to make a motion that we move forward with those two items from the appendix three, along with the other item 24 so those are the three other remaining
items and those are reserved funded items in the additional
.
those are the three I put forward.
that's 18, 23, and 24.
those are all reserved funded.
>> if you don't mind clerk's office would like to do them separately so we will vote on
each one separately.
>> no problem I just was not sure because 18 and 23 are similar I wasn't share if we should put them together or not because if we could rf he had them it would make sense that if we can do them soberly.
>> I think it will do better if we do it soberly.
that's their expert opinion so we will go with that.
did you have a question councillor prue?
>> I'm trying to understand this
 this.
right now, they're funded but
they're funded from the reserve
and the motion is to fund them
from general tax revenue.
of the is to what?
okay so they're not on the budget you just wanted back in the reserve? Okay now I understand all right.
>> but they were on that wish list >> okay >> okay.
I need a second for the motion of the county a administration
building generator added to the
2026 interest doctrine planning services budget as outlined on line 18 and the appendix treasurer's report.
moved by councillor meloche excellent -- seconded by councillor deyong, question should go ahead. >> to do a study in support of -- I didn't quite pick up from
councillor prue this usually is a one-time fund, right?
so would it be taken from the re restabilization fund or reserves
 reserves.
I hate to see a study go on a
base >> melissa?
>> entire list included some reserve items as well as some lovely funded items so that the three that are mentioned right
now and we will do them in separate motions, they're all levy funded and it will be one-time dollars and restabilization.
>> the reserve funded. >> yes. [booing]
you said levy but that's okay. >> sorry.
>>
you said levy but that's okay. >> sorry.
>> reserve funded. >> reserved because then I would be a post -- this makes sense
one time funding to do this study and then move forward after the fact.
okay.
anyone else?
really have conversation will
he have a conversation with mike
so without wheat I would prefer if we have conversation, we stick
to the mic.
please go ahead.
so the rest of us know what's
going on >> thank you and I was just confirming that indeed these three items are coming from the
reserve, you're on the wish list and then we will vote to put them back in but funded for reserve >> for council awareness, these
studies will generate items that potentially would be required
in the future which would require other dollars but for now, the
studies themselves would be reserved and funded yes.
>> perfect then thank you for
that.
I think it clarified for everyone.
>> with that, I will ask you to vote electronically please.
>> a question before, there's no no mention here about the reserves Should it be indicated in the
motion?
>> it's in the report.
if you look on page 37 in the
report, it lists where those projects are being funded from
. >> okay so just the confusing part is there in the report but it's not in the actual motion.
>> it says as outlined if you want to pull up that appendix three, if you've got the printed
version so it says as outlined
in the report.
and that's carried, thank you.
next, anybody else?
so this is now, we're waiting for that wording.
>> the motion is that how did administration building summer humidity investigation be added to the 2026 infrastructure and planning services budget as outlined on line 23 of the appendix three of the treasurer treasurer's report.
that was moved by councillor meloche and seconded by councillor deyong.
So we're
meloche and seconded by councillor deyong.
So we're now looking into that electronically.
and that's carried.
one last motion.
and this motion is that the county administration building west to south sidewalk be added to 2026 infrastructure and planning services budget as outlined on line 24 of the appendix three of the treasurer
 treasurer's report, moved by councillor meloche and seconded
by councillor deyong.
looking for voting. and that's carried.
councillor gibb. >> thank you madame morden. I'd like to make a motion that we include item number one on the business case requests for the committee programs coordinator.
if I can get a secondary, I'd like to speak to it.
>> community programs coordinator for ens. I'll wait till we get -- oh it's already.
were 79 steps ahead of me.
their ego.
so the motion is that the community programs coordinator
be added to the 2026 essex windsor ens budget as outlined
on line one of the appendix three of the treasurer's report
and that's moved by councillor gibb and seconded by councillor meloche.
councillor gibb wanted to speak to that. I apologize.
>>
to that. I apologize.
>> I feel that we've done so much work on the public access to for belated program that to
see it full by the wayside would really be a shame. I like the idea of public cpr
training and building community
Resilience
training and building community
Resilience I think is important,
especially when our ems system is stretched to have civilians who can step in and take care of people who needed, isn't readily
important.
one of the other things that she's mentioned as it reduces and prevents 911 calls when people know how to use these machines and know how to keep --
take care of each other.
for something that's $121,000 but half of that cost will be
recuperated from the city and
in year two I believe, another half
of that cost is recuperated from the province so for essentially
$30,000, I think this is well
worth investing in.
>> thank you, councillor deyong, comment >> a question.
any existing ems program, there's someone who can do this training I'm guessing because I had done by ems at the community centre for my senior year volunteers.
I'm just hearing comments that's adjusted if we don't find this
new program that will be available anymore, we won't have someone who can come and teach
cpr or help people learn that we current have written out will is that >> numbers of counsel, that's correct we will not have a dedicate a lead as mentioned earlier it would be peace nailed
so we will do it we could but we will not have been. [inaudible]
>> so the person is dedicated
now as being reassigned to a different area or was never dedicated then he just filled in in?
I'm just trying to understand
because I thought we had somebody in there who's doing
that >> the individual doing it right now is not permanently in the
role.
It
role.
It will be tough for me to get any deeper than that.
>> councillor bondy. >> thank you madame morden.
this will be like that person will be in the budget and going forward and then the province picks up on it.
thank you.
I will be supporting it I've seen a lot of gains in education
 education, I think it's vital. We were just -- we adjusted our ed yesterday I think at the cold
chester harbor and I see the value in this. After this I'm wondering if we can get where we are with our levy before we keep going. I think I'm curious to see where we are. Please and thank you.
>> we are just conferring on the wording because the appendix refers to the full cost as our finance folks have alluded to.
we just want to make it abundantly clear, the amount that we are adding back to the
budget and it's 50% of that amount.
you will bear with us a moment
to make that clarification and
motion.
>> a motion is that the community programs coordinator
be added to the 2026 essex ems budget as outlined on 11 of appendix three of the treasurer treasurer's report at 50% of the
indicated amount.
because of the sharing with partners.
understood? perfect.
I'm looking to melissa.
it's technical because of the
weighted assessment, right?
so I leave it up to the group,
I don't want to get that technical
but it's approximately so we'll change it >> we will change it to weighted assessment so good.
I don't think that's being picky picky.
I think that's being exact.
councillor akpata. >> to our finance person if one of our partners the sides don't want to find anything, then what happens?
I'm just saying that my windsor star open I don't want to mention that place and we don't
want -- they don't seem to want to do anything just wondering what this position. >> because we provide the service the county provides the service we get this at that service level, similar to how the city gets a social services
-- so it's the same kind of scenario whether the service levels are set on us the cost of service level. >> thank you >> you have the windsor star open and the budget meeting? Just asking.
with that,. >> not intentionally >> the reworded motion of the
coordinator be added to the 2026 essex windsor ems budget is out of line -- as outlined on line one, the appendix three of the treasurer
treasurer's report.
to be divided in accordance with the weighted assessment rely.
looking to my move around secondary so you asked, you're the second or councillor meloche
with that will ask you to vote
electronically please.
and that's carried. Any other adjustments to the final -- deputy warden. >> I will try to get this motion motion.
I
>> I will try to get this motion motion.
I would like to add the additional hours under ems to be added to the 26th budget for essex windsor ems as outlined
in the appendix three of the treasurer's report to be divided
in accordance with weighted
Assessment
in accordance with weighted
Assessment formula.
>> that's the additional training hours, right?
>> yes.
>> and that's number five on the -- we will just wait until the wording gets -- so the motion
is that the additional training hours be added to the 2026 essex
the ms budget as outlined on line five, the appendix three of the treasurer's report to be divided in accordance with the
weighted assessment formula that's moved by deputy warden and seconded by councillor bondy
 bondy.
>> just a point of information, can we get that levy before we keep going?
>> kindly vote on this and then we will have a conversation?
is that okay?
lesser getting almost ready time for break so let's do a couple of these things in sequential order.
so that's asked about.
much that cost is and I know that it's. >> it's 199,935. >> page 31. >> about some of the $100,000.
>> yes, close, ballpark.
>> thank you.
and that's carried.
so melissa, you have a question
from councillor bondy about where we are in regards to levy
amount?
do you need time to do that because we scheduled for a break break, and I believe it's just so that running totals can be kept in heads. On comfortable >> I'm comfortable doing I don't
busy women have the final motion
of regulation will make sure that all the number that correct
so right now, I had us reducing
16,800 her counsel remuneration
for that 2.5 percent increase have a reduction of 720,000 that we were putting towards the hospital reserve and then added
back to the levy specifically
is the pad position as well as the training hours, the eight hours of training hours so that brings us to 2.25% tax rate increase at this time.
>> any questions on those numbers at all no questions.
councillor walstedt. >> approve the budget, so moved
. Were out of here A don't know else to talk about
.
I don't need a break,. >> well, you know, what, they just need a minute.
can we take a break and then we
will come back to that amount through endless treatment -- come back to you and your statement.
We
come back to you and your statement.
We will do a 15 minute break,
can you be back here at 2:50, I need a motion councillor meloche
and councillor akpata I call in favour of a 15 minute break, opposed carried.
>> test.
we're at 2:50 and I'd like to resume the meeting.
councillor walstedt we have a
few folks who would like to include a few motions if you don't mind holding off. >> if they insist. [laughter]
>> thank you kind, sir,.
it's duly appreciated.
councillor bailey. >> I wanted to circle back to the group because we were talking about the 10161 kilometres we created in this region and I understand that we
do have the number I know I've been talking to my department throughout the day and having
some conversation so I know we
do have a number they purify also know that the dollars being asked for is just a bit of an earmark because it comes from the reserve and will not impact
the levy anyway but I did want
to be able to return back to the
c watts committee and groups as
we talk to them saying that we have reserved the dollars in the
reserve for that product and I
will ask it administration if
they can confirm the amount that
would be needed to be earmark
here at the county and I would like to make a motion to go ahead and proceed that we hold those dollars from the
Discussion
ahead and proceed that we hold those dollars from the
Discussion with c watts and that I could get a second or. >> thank you, three warden, is to expand a little bit on that
, we're referring to a c watts. Shoulder project in lakeshore along county road 42.
we have approximated the cost to
be somewhere between $625,700,000.
it's a cost shared segment between county and lakeshore. In this situation we will be adding a paved shoulder onto an
existing road and be part of our combined paving and paved shoulder project as a stand-alone paved shoulder.
so, if we went with a number of
625, the county's share would be approximately $375,000.
>> clerks will craft a motion
for you to look at before we move on if you're good with that, councillor bailey.
so counsellor if I can draw your attention to the motion that reads that essex county council
reserves 375,000 in the dedicated reserve for the c watts program.
are you good with that? Looking for a second or for that
motion.
it's moved by councillor bailey and seconded by councillor walstedt.
any comments or questions in regards to that motion?
councillor meloche. >> I have no problem reserving money in the reserve but I feel
like I'm lacking a lot of information regarding the c watts program and where that falls in the order of replacement or order of items to be done in 2026. Does not bump someone else that
we've already approved?
I know we don't have the report in front of us so I don't know that information off hand. >> thank you the recommendation
would be that we take this money from reserves so it wouldn't impact any of the other planned projects we have and this segment was not intended to be built for a few more years.
>> does it bump anyone I believe
was the question, into someone else's initiative -- does someone else's initiative get bumped?
>> three warden, that's what I
was saying, we wouldn't bump any projects if this money is taken from reserve.
we would continue with the planned project on this would be
an additional project but I'm sure melissa has a comment on
that >> so technically it would
Increase
that. >> so technically it would
Increase the program for 26 however that addition would be
roadway expansion funded so it
would not affect the levy but it does increase the entire program because the other projects are already in there and this would be an additional project added to that project list.
>> so it wouldn't be coming from
the c watts reserve is what you're saying then?
>> c watts doesn't utilize the roadway expansion reserve.
there is not its own specific
reserve yet so it's the roadway
expansion reserve that typically
funds then see what -- a portion
of the program.
so there's no c watts reserve.
it's roadway expansion.
>> so further, how much is enough reserve?
>> originally, it was about 56 million anticipated at the
end of 2026, if all the projects move forward as they are. As of right now.
so there would be about 56 million so any additional items that get approved would draw down on lot 56 million.
>> are you okay? councillor prue.
>> I want to make sure before I
tie up $375,000 in the county,
it's going to cost 300,000 approximately the lakeshore.
you have the money?
and you're willing to spend of this year that's what this is
about.
>> that question will go through me so I will look to you councillor bailey. >> I'm a quick learner. >> 3u yes indeed it will be considered in the budget tomorrow with the municipality
. >> in your budget you'll put 300,000 in?
>> yes so I'm asking the county to tap into their reserves for
300,000 and we have 56 million in there.
thank you.
>> my question is answered and
you secured my vote.
>> thank you.
another question, councillor deyong?
okay so there are no further questions then.
I'll ask you to vote electronically please.
and that's carried. >> I would like to bring through item 14 on our appendix three which is the traffic signal at  at county road 20 and martin lane.
when study was completed well
over a year ago I guess at the
time it was based on traffic
counts We hadn't changed the way we evaluated our intersections and
so I took the time to reach out
to our police chief to get some numbers to help us understand
that intersection I'm laughing it's important that we install the signal.
in january 1st of october 31st of this year the town of la  la salle had a worker can't traffic actions. Of those, 41% were on front road and 20% occurred right in that
zone that we're looking at install this light that the area
where the speed limit goes from 70 to 50 as we either enter it la salle or leave la salle and that intersection is 0.3% of the
total road for the entire town
yet represents over 6% of the traffic actions that take place in the town.
we've also had four accidents at
that intersection just this year
alone one just past the intersection was a fatality and
the intersections before and after have also seen several accidents throughout the 2025 year and so, that's a very busy
intersection for us.
it's a direct route through the
town and we find that people tend to speed right through that
area and it's very dangerous as we have a school known that road
and I watched the school buses constantly try to turn and get
in through the very high level
of traffic that travels from la  la salle to amherstburg or vice  vice versa and so I'm asking for support from council today to approve this intersection.
it's put as an estimated cost of
500,000.
and appendix three it asks to be levy funded.
I don't want it to be levy funded as we heard, our roadway expansion reserve is hefty and I
would like that we funded from
that reserve and get that intersection upgraded this year and that's my motion. >> we will come back to reading
the full motion butwill come back
I see that to reading the full melissa would like to speak to it.
melissa motion.
>> just point of clarification
. >> point of clarification.
,so 6 million although the it's a
56 million, although it is a larger dollar larger amount, because of the roadway expansion plan we have planned over the next 20 years it will be depleted as of
2028.
just don't want it to be -- we
are nearing that target, I just wanted to add that.
>> any other comments or questions?
we are already updated,. >> so it will be approved for funding for the expansion reserve in 2026 and that is moved by councillor meloche, looking for a second.
deputy?
I will ask you to vote electronically, please.
that is carried.
deputy warden, do you have something you wanted to bring
forward?
>> just a question through the chief, I know the rank order hear that business states, so far we have approved numbers one one, can you get the correct numbers that were approved? 
?
there are two numbers.
>> they are listed on the screen
here, 918, line 19, line 23, 24, line one, line five and 14.
>> community programs coordinator, was that one of them and the command of operations was that one of them
 them?
what about the second vehicle
service technician?
okay, I would like to see in terms of health care dollars I
know we the furred kept the budget for the hospital grant the same rate is 2025 and I know that there were six or seven cases that were presented by the chief if I can ask the chief of the ones that have been approved
if there's one market will elect to see one more at this year's
budget to compensate the health 
Health care
budget to compensate the health 
Health care dollars for health  health care
health care's without ems has the support and resources they were asking for.
I'm not sure if it item two or three that the chief could speak
to if he had to pick one more,
I would like to put that word is a motion.
>> through you warden, and discussions with the team, commander of operations line three >> may be can you share why that
would be important and how it
would impact your delivery of service >> the operations department right now is staffed by the deputy chief and frontline supervisors The debate if chief is monday
to friday and the others are on the shift.
..they work monday, tuesday, these are nights, off wednesday
thursday or on the weekend. We don't have a running support
for the deputy chief to be able to follow through on things. Summit he starts working something up on monday, tuesday
then the off-line...
May be to have the we can off, falling back on the deputy chief, there's no support on constant monday to friday to allow him to function and to stay on top of operational issues.
it's a fast moving service 24/7
, things are happening every day, and night.
It
day and night.
It provide some capacity. >> thank you.
I'll put that word is a motion to include -- the volume of calls have increased significantly and I believe we need to provide support for this operation.
I'll delete make that as a motion >> that motion is that the command of operations be added to the 2026 essex-windsor budget
 budget...
The treasurer's report to be divided with the weight of assistant formula that
is moved by counsellor deputy warden looking for a
second, councillor mcnamara.
I'm asking you to vote electronically please.
>> -- I was -- at this point I
believe that this is 12 staff members that will be asking the city to cofund at 50 percent,
correct?
overall, from the county, there were 11 positions and added back
in with the pad coordinator so that would be 12 and then I believe that said.
that's it for positions however from that there were few human
resources position oneness have between ems and halfs and part
of our homes.
the 25% of that portion would be
covered by the city
.
in the ms positions would be that way of assessment. >> thank you for that.
I know it's great work and I know overtime is going to be needed.
We are really
know overtime is going to be needed.
We are really looking out at to
eat an elephant because we saw the master plans and the cost needed for services like these.
are hard ones to deal with the
is numbers of council. Were trying to eat too many pieces Certainly bridging the gap makes
sense but during the gap to this
extent and one fiscal calendar year I think it's a whole lot did you I'm going to be opposing the motion on the table. >> thank you.
councillor prue?
>> as I said to a few people today I've never been to a budget like this before in my 30 some years where everybody is
adding into the budget. Usually cancels it around -- council sit around and put it
at an acceptable level.
right now it's acceptable at 2.25.
I understand what the ms wants, I understand and appreciate what they want.
my wife and I both used their service in the last two years, they are excellent but I want
to tell you, when you have a wish
list that is vetted by senior management and is not there for a reason, it's not there because they didn't feel they could do it and come in with a budget that was reasonable. Had never seen anyone just go,
right down the list and say they
want all these things can just give it to them. I have never seen it.
no conscience even though it might be valuable, it will still be there next year and if we have the money next year then we
should spend it then.
I don't often care what happens
because they don't treat us very almost often but I can understand what councillor bailey's house to say here.
you go and tell them... Is not going to bode well to continue negotiations if they ever do take place.
I don't think it's the wrong way to do it. I appreciate it's on the wish
list but not all wishes come true All not -- I will now be supporting this. >> I am not sure if adding that
position like to point to 5% right now, do we know what it would be if we added this position?
as I understand, I'm seeing both sides, I really am.
it's a bit of a hard one for me
because I supported ems, I see there is so much value added and
everyone over family members and ourselves are going to need them at some point.
I am inclined to support this
because I have always supported
ems and if it's not supported
I do hope that
our chief may bring it back to us, it's an extra need.
I do believe that administration came to us with a really low-budget because they read the room it's an election year, the
red the room and they wanted to
get as many of their things past as they could but I believe administration pulled a lot of items out of the budget to get that around 3%.
do I think there is some needs
in the list that -- or someone
's -- I don't know, I don't want to slip backwards and we are going
in the right direction.
did I talk long enough to get you that number? no?
>> through you warden, adding
that position would move us from
2.25% to 3.2%.
the tax policy doesn't get approved until february so that
can slightly change.
as it stands right now we would meet moving from 2.25% to 2.32%
. >> anyone else In that case will ask you to both electronically please, for the motion.
and that is lost. Councillor deyong?
>> may be last but not least I
would like to make a motion for
appendix three. >> it's the traffic signal  signal county 23.
>> just to confirm roadway expansion.
so the motion is that the traffic signal be added to the
2026 infrastructure and planning services budget is outlined on line ten of the appendix three of the treasury's report and that is moved by counsellor the young looking for a seconder. Councillor meloche?
[simultaneous talking]
>> a la it over again, sorry.
revised, refreshed, is the motion that the traffic signal
be approved and funded from the
road to expansion reserving 2026 2026.
that is moved by councillor deyong and second by councillor
meloche >> may be you will have deja vu
from a few minutes ago, but I'll try to keep it specific. From the comments on the report
there has been 19 collisions including a fatality and multiple major injuries.
the intersection already has oversight stop signs and flashing red beacons that are
not preventing these incidences. At the stretch of road is pretty
much a clear way connecting kingsville to harrow, there's
not anything really slowing
People
not anything really slowing
People down the hall stretch and
in addition to the faculty at the actual intersection there has been two deaths just this year on either side of this intersection I think having a light that makes people aware that this is a place where other things happened besides just a
straight through will make that safer because people will have to slow down for the site and against
at something similarly funded but does it say one time expense. >> any comments or questions?
councillor bailey. >> I was feverishly trying to go through my other notes from my
briefcase because I do believe
that this was assessed and it was on the list that we received but I'm wondering where it was
at on that list. >> page 33, number 10. >> sorry, I was referring to the project list. And will turn to the director.
>> through you, I think I found
it here, number 42 on that vehicle list.
I think my only question would be when these were ranked as the top 100 intersections they were
ranked in a priority reading of this number. I see it sounded appendix b, I
see it was ranked significantly
lower than many of the others so I'm just wondering if you can speak to that. >> do you want to speak too?
>> I remember we have dollars
in -- for the design of it in 2025,
so maybe that's why it's on a
project last seen but we do have the design dollars, this would be the construction dollars from
my understanding when we had a conversation around this because I did see it on the report.
it was designed dollars not construction dollars.
>> do we still need an answer
or are you okay?
thanks for looking, allen.
no other questions then?
can we get a seconder?
I did not write it down, who was it?
we are looking to --
[indiscernible]
all right, then we are looking to vote on the motion.
that is carried, thank you.
so, are there any other additions If not, we are at the point in time where we could actually
vote for the final budget. There is recommendation that the essex county council... Approves the amount of -- do you have a final number?
okay.
it got smaller, hang on a second second.
A hundred
it got smaller, hang on a second second.
A hundred and 45 million, hundred and 44,000, 150.
>> what she said.
looking for a mover and seconder
 seconder.
any discussion on the motion?
did you want me to read it again
 again?
I'll read it again.
>> there it is, the motion is that the county council approves as amended the overall proposed
2026v requirement for the county
of essex in the amount of $145,144,950 most
$145,144,950 -- moved by councillor deyong. I'll ask you to vote electronically please.
that is carried unanimously.
well done.
there are no items of unfinished
business.
for consideration for december
 december third 2025, any other
mark
Matters
mark
Matters of new business to bring
forward?
>> it's just wondering where we
stand with meeting with the hospital because we talked about it here at budget, we talked about it and I'm wondering if there's any follow-up from and mr. And from having that's joint meeting, please and thanks. >> I know we attempted twice this fall to
have a joint meeting with the city to have a
presentation about the hospital
. Information hasn't been finalized from that group and speaking with administration both of the city and with windsor regional hospital we
want to make sure this joint meeting is as meaningful and productive as possible for both of our councils.
we had this conversation... It's expected that windsor regional in operation with the
province had more concrete
Information
province had more concrete
Information to share with us publicly in the new year.
at something we are definitely still in connection with both
windsor regional in the city of windsor on this topic.
and wanting to make sure that the foregoing to bring in every
bite in the room together, it's a worthwhile conversation Stay tuned and the hope is that
in q1 of 2026 we will be able
to record eight that joint meeting
. >> anyone else or new business
?
seeing him, there's one bylaw
for the kenny consideration this afternoon that will be read by the county clerk. >> bylaw number 2025, being a
pilot you can from proceedings of the council of the corporation For december  december third 2025. >> motion is a recommendation that counsel -- bylaw two '02
553 be given through readings
And
553 be given through readings
And have being read a second and
third time, finally passed and
enacted looking for a mover and
seconder.
counselor mcnamara, second by -- you'll have to vote electronically.
that is carried.
any notices of motion to be introduced for december third
2025?
seeing non, all matters of businesses have been addressed
. The motion is that essex county
council meeting for december  december third 2025 to be adjourned at 3:22 p.m.
moved bank councillor gibb, counsellor verbeke, that is carried, thank you.