Tecumseh Council Connect - January 23, 2024

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Council Connect: Highlights from January 23, 2024, meetings of Council

Regular Meeting of Council

Essex Power Corp. Amended Shareholder Agreement: The Town of Tecumseh, along with three other municipalities (LaSalle, Amherstburg and Leamington), are the shareholders of Essex Power Corp. The Board of Essex Power Corp. through its management has asked its shareholders to consider certain amendments to its Shareholders Agreement, which has been in place since 2000. The purpose of these amendments is to bring the agreement up-to-date and align it with contemporary standards. Additionally, the proposed changes aim to empower the Board with decision-making authority at a level that is comparable to other modern shareholder agreements observed in municipally owned companies overseeing local distribution entities. Council approved the report and authorized the Mayor to sign a Shareholder Resolution and/or such other documents as may be necessary to amend the shareholder agreement.

Electric Vehicle ChargeON Grant Application: Council received the report to move forward with a grant application to the Ministry of Transportation for the Electric Vehicle (EV) ChargeON Program Grant for Electric Vehicle Chargers. The Level 2 charging stations have proven successful across Tecumseh, and administration is proposing the submission of an EV ChargeON grant application with a focus on installing Level 3 fast charging units at Tecumseh Town Hall, the BIA parking lot, the Legion parking lot and the Cada Library parking lot. The proposed partnership involves Jule Power assisting with the grant application, and the partnership entails a ten-year commitment, with assessments of each site after the initial five years. Council approved moving forward with the application.

Community & Recreation Services 2024 One (1) Year Capital Works Plan:  Council received a report outlining the recommended projects intended to upgrade and maintain existing parks and facilities for the Town of Tecumseh. This includes exciting new projects such as the Lakewood Park South Plaza, further refreshments to Lacasse Park, Arena Restoration, repairs and refurbishment to playground equipment and courts, along with reoccurring costs. The 2024 Capital Projects will be funded through identified Lifecycle Reserves and the Infrastructure Reserve for $5,741,250 and the remainder of the 5-year capital plan (2025-28) is forthcoming in a separate report. To view a presentation of renderings and ideas, click here. Council approved the report.  

Tecumseh Historical Society Log Cabin Roof Replacement: Council received a report outlining the poor condition of the roof on the Tecumseh Historical Society Log Cabin, including a condition assessment and replacement requirements. This assessment was provided by Empire Roofing, who have offered to make a charitable contribution to the Society to offset 50% of the costs of the roof replacement. Council approved the request for the preservation of local heritage and Town incurred costs of $7,500 plus HST to replace the roof on the Lesperance Log Cabin. The roof replacement will be funded from the Building Lifecycle Reserve.

Town Awards Review Update: Council received a report outlining the results of the research to increase nomination submissions and streamline the process for the Town’s 4 community awards (the Dr. Breault Community Excellence Award, the Donald “Donny” Massender Memorial Volunteer Award, the Senior of the Year Award, and the Youth of the Year Award. The report reviewed similar municipalities, frequency of awards, selection of award recipients, residency requirements and nominee requirements. Council gave direction to Administration to draft and present proposed amendments to the Policy and Terms of Reference in March 2024.

Traffic Radar Speed Survey for 2023: Council received the findings from the Traffic Radar Speed Survey conducted in 2023. This report provides valuable insights into the speed patterns on Tecumseh streets, serving as a crucial tool for addressing concerns such as heightened traffic volume or excessive speeding. Throughout the year, PWES staff strategically placed speed radar devices, including digital speed display boards and Black Cats, at a total of twenty-four (24) locations spanning nineteen (19) different streets. When excessive speeding is observed, pertinent location details and collected data are promptly forwarded to the OPP. For a comprehensive overview of the survey results, you can access the complete report here.

County Road 46, Webster Drive and Laval Sanitary Sewer Extension – Tender Award: Council approved the tender award for County Road 46, Webster Drive and Laval Sanitary Sewer Extension project to Rudak Excavating Inc. in the amount of $3,158,200.00 excluding HST. Previously, Council authorized the funding for this project based on preliminary estimates of $6,748,000. Based on the tender results, a total budget requirement for this project is $4,131,000, indicating an overall $2,617,800 decrease to the original allocation. Council authorized that this decrease in project budget requirements be accommodated by adjusting amounts to be funded through various reserves, including Road Lifecycle Reserve, Watermain Reserve Fund, Wastewater Sewer Reserve Fund and Storm Sewer Lifecycle Reserve.

Legacy Oil and Gas Well Funding: In 2023, funding was allocated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to mitigate risks linked to legacy gas and oil wells and subsurface gas migration hazards in southwestern Ontario. The County of Essex Emergency Management, acting on behalf of the municipalities in Essex County, has submitted a funding application and is overseeing the program's local coordination. The initial stage of the program involves a $280,000 allocation in 2024 for a public awareness initiative, first responder training, procurement of gas detection equipment, and acquisition of radio equipment to improve the efficiency of the local emergency operations center in handling gas emergencies. There is no financial requirements for the Town of Tecumseh. 

Community Support Centre Services Agreement Renewal 2024-2025: Council approved a report to renew a two-year Agreement entered with The Community Support Centre of Essex County (CSC) for the term commencing January 1, 2024, through to December 31, 2025, with the maximum contribution remaining at $15,000.00 per year. CSC provides affordable door-to-door transportation services that allow seniors and persons with disabilities to independently access medical facilities, hospitals, clinics, and other appointments throughout the Windsor and Essex County area with ease.

Appointment of Drainage Engineers: The following appointments of Drainage Engineers were made at the Regular Council Meeting of January 23, 2024:

• Oliver Moir, P.Eng., of Dillon Consulting Ltd. was appointed Drainage Engineer to examine the East McPherson Drain. View the full report here.  
• Dan Krutsch, P.Eng., of Landmark Engineers Inc. was appointed Drainage Engineer to examine the Washbrook Drain. View the full report here.  
• Dan Krutsch, P.Eng., of Landmark Engineers Inc. was appointed Drainage Engineer to examine the Sullivan Creek Drain. View the full report here.   

Next Regular Meeting: The next regular meeting of Council is February 13, 2024. The meeting is scheduled to be held electronically. The agenda and livestream will be available on the Town’s website. Follow the Town of Tecumseh on Facebook and X for news and the latest information.