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