For Immediate Release
Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Council Connect: Highlights from January 28, 2025 meetings of Council

Public Meeting of Council

Expanding Housing Choices and Improving Affordability Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Initiative 5 – Scheduling of Public Meeting to Amend Tecumseh Road Main Street CIP: New CIP Grants for Affordable Housing and Expand CIP Area: The purpose of the meeting is to hear public comment on proposed amendments to the Tecumseh Road Main Street Community Improvement Plan.

Request to Consider Engineer’s Report – 11th Concession Drain (Balkwill Culvert): On August 13, 2024, Council approved recommendations in Report PWES-2024-44 and initiated the process for repair and improvement of the 11th Concession Drain (Balkwill Culvert). The Drainage Report includes constructing new access tied to a recent severance application. Council gave first and second readings of a provisional by-law to adopt the Drainage Report in accordance with Section 42 of the Drainage Act (Act), and a meeting of the Court of Revision is scheduled for February 25, 2025 to allow any affected owner of land assessed for the drainage works to appeal their assessed costs.

Regular Meeting of Council

Committee and Board Appointments: Council received the report for appointing various committee and board appointments. Congratulations to the following:
Successful Applicant for the Business Improvement Area (BIA) Board of Management: Carlyn Bistany
Successful Applicant for Essex Power Board: Tom Burton
Successful Applicant for Tecumseh Accessibility Committee: Kristina Fernandez

Consideration for Financial Assistance for Local Historical Societies: Last Fall, Council made a motion requesting consideration of financial assistance for the Tecumseh Historical Society (THS) and Sandwich South and Area Historical Society (SSAHS) in the 2025 operating budget. Both societies currently operate from town-owned facilities, however the operating agreements are under review. Council recommended allocating an additional five thousand dollars to the 2025 Public Relations budget of Council, and funding allocation be held pending a report to be presented at a future Council meeting on the updated agreements.

Private Property Towing Application for 12237 Riverside Drive, Dan’s Nautical Shop: By-Law 2003-58, adopted in 2003, allows property owners to remove vehicles parked on private property without their consent. To enforce this, owners must submit a “Request and Authorization to Remove Vehicle From Private Property Application” to the Legislative Services Department for Council approval. The owner of 12237 Riverside Drive, where Dan’s Nautical Shop operates, has applied for inclusion in the by-law. The lot has eight parking spots, and the owner faces ongoing issues with unauthorized vehicles parking overnight or blocking access for customers. The property owner has arranged with a local towing company and will provide towing and storage cost information on newly erected signs.  Council approved the report and by-law.

Taxes Receivable December 2024:  Council received the report describing the status of property taxes outstanding as of December 31, 2024 for the Town of Tecumseh. Taxes receivable as a percentage of tax levy increased to 6.0% as of December, 2024. Since 2017, the Town has been in the 4.0% - 6.0% range. While there has been a steady rise since 2021, the current rate remains within a healthy range.

Spills and Emergency Remediation of Storm Infrastructure 2024: In 2024, the Town responded to 3 notable spills into municipal drains. Pursuant to Section 100 of the Environmental Protection Act, the Town has a duty to respond and clean up these spills to the best of its abilities.  Staff contained and mitigated the spills through various measures and are still actively monitoring and responding as necessary.  Council received the report.

Fire Equipment Five Year Capital Works Plan 2025-2029: Council approved the Fire Services five-year capital works plan, including the request for funding in 2025 for replacement of radio hardware used by the department for pagers ($3000), Firefighter Helmets, Boots, & Bunker Gear ($28,000) and Radio System Upgrades ($120,000). A future report will be presented for Council’s consideration regarding the purchase of the radio equipment noted in this report and execution of an agreement with the radio system provider. The $151,000 capital equipment will be funded from the Lifecycle Fire Equipment Reserve.

Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments 5881 Malden Road Scheduling of a Public Meeting: Applications have been submitted to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law for a 1.3-hectare (3.2-acre) parcel of land at 5881 Malden Road, located about 77 meters south of North Talbot Road. The proposed amendments aim to introduce a site-specific policy and rezone the land to allow for the future development of five single-unit residential lots with frontage on Malden Road. A public meeting has been scheduled for February 25, 2025 at 5pm.

Request for Extension of Draft Plan of Subdivision Approval Old Castle Heights Inc. County of Essex File 37-T-21004 Northeast Corner of 8th Concession/North Talbot Road: Council received a request for a three-year extension of the Draft Plan of Subdivision Approval for Old Castle Heights Inc. The subdivision, located at the northeast corner of 8th Concession and North Talbot Road, includes 220 dwelling units and 10 blocks for open space and stormwater management on a 20.7-hectare parcel.  Initially approved on February 14, 2022, the project faced delays due to a required Stage 3 Archaeological Assessment and supply chain issues. Town Administration and the County of Essex have no concerns with the extension. Council supported the requested extension.

Official Plan Amendment No. 5 Tecumseh Hamlet Secondary Plan Results of Public Meeting and Final Recommendation: Council received a report summarizing the comments received at the September 24, 2024 Public Meeting for the Tecumseh Hamlet Secondary Plan and provided a response to those comments. The major items addressed were in relation to the following matters: 1) Shields Street extension/McAuliffe Park expansion; 2) Transition to existing neighbourhoods; 3) Successful collaboration with THSPA landowners; 4) Traffic analysis for the THSPA. Council adopted the Official Plan Amendment. To view the full overview, click here.

Sylvestre Sanitary Pump Station: Emergency Backup Generator: At the February 13, 2024, meeting, Council approved upgrades to the Sylvestre Drive Sanitary Pump Station as part of the 2024-2028 Capital Works Plan. The project, managed by the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), includes a new electrical panel and an emergency backup generator to support growing development in the area, including a new hotel. The generator will be an 80KW pad-mounted unit with electrical connections, a concrete pad, and necessary panel upgrades. OCWA provided a quote of $118,750 (excluding HST) and will handle procurement and installation following provincial guidelines. The electrical panel installation is planned for spring 2025, with the generator to follow after its delivery, which may take up to 26 weeks. Council approved the report.

Lesperance Road & Little River Boulevard Multi-Use Trails Project Update: The consultant, RC Spencer, has advanced the design of a new multi-use trail network along Lesperance Road and Little River Boulevard. The project includes a 3.0-meter-wide asphalt trail from Riverside Drive to McNorton Street on Lesperance Road and from Lesperance Road to Gauthier Drive on Little River Boulevard. A concrete trail will extend from McNorton Street to First Street, featuring continuous pathways that give trail users priority over vehicles. The project will include upgraded municipal parking lots, landscaping, and soft-scaping around the Town Hall/OPP campus. The design is 80% complete, with tendering set for February 2025 and construction expected to begin in spring 2025. To meet grant deadlines, construction must be finished by fall 2025, ensuring the project aligns with funding requirements under the Active Transportation Fund and Rural Economic Development program. Council received the report.

Next Regular Meeting: The next regular meeting of Council is February 11, 2025. 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.