For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Council Connect: Highlights from May 28, 2024, meetings of Council

Regular Meeting of Council

Essex Power Youth in Community Fund: Council received confirmation that the Essex Power Corporation has once again approved funding to continue to support organizations that offer activities and projects geared towards youth in 2024. The “Youth in Community” Fund programming has continued annually since 2014, and throughout the years has sponsored a variety of recreation programs, events and local sport organizations including Breakfast with Santa, Canada Day Celebration, Christmas in Tecumseh, and Earth Day Celebrations. EPC has approved $40,000 Youth in Community Funding to be distributed among its four communities, with Tecumseh receiving $10,000. 

Essex Power Corporation – Appointment of Proxyholder for Shareholders’ 2023 Annual Meeting:  Essex Power is required to hold an annual meeting of shareholders and occasionally requires a special shareholders’ meeting. Mayor Gary McNamara and Mr. Tom Burton are the current directors appointed by the Town to sit on the Board and have the authority to represent the Town and vote at board meetings but are not authorized to represent or vote at shareholders’ meetings. Council approved the report for Mayor McNamara to be appointed proxyholder for the Town to cast its shareholder votes at the Essex Power Corporation’s 2023 Shareholders Annual Meeting. Tom Burton was appointed as an alternate proxyholder. The meeting will take place on June 27, 2024. 

2024 Draft Development Charges Background Study and Development Charges By-law Scheduling of a Public Meeting: Council received a report summarizing the process and anticipated timelines being undertaken by the Town and its consultants, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd., to develop a new 2024 Development Charges Background Study. A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. to offer comments on the new Development Charges Background Study.  An Administrative Report summarizing the comments received at the public meeting will be brought back to Council at a later date. 

Arena Restoration Project - Tender Award: Council approved the award of tender for the Tecumseh Arena Restoration Project in the amount of $2,541,618.16 to TCI Titan Contracting Inc. The restoration includes a renewal of all interior spaces, including new flooring, front lobby and washroom renovations. By-law 2024-036 was given first, second, third and final reading. 

Lacasse Park Parking and Trail Improvement Project - Tender Award: Council approved the award of tender for the Lacasse Park Parking and Trail Improvement Project in the amount of $1,068,049.50 to Piera Con Enterprises. Project features include concrete pads for bleachers, fence repairs, landscaping, pathway network, parking additions and resurfacing, new pavilion, and additional signage. Additional funding of $30,000 was requested and funded through the Infrastructure Reserve. By-law 2024 was given first, second, third and final reading. 

Bill 185 Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act 2024 and Draft PPS 2024 Summary Report: Council received a report summarizing changes to the Planning Act, the Development Charges and the Provincial Planning Statement that may have an impact on the Town. The proposed changes are proposed through Bill 185. To view an itemized summary of the key changes proposed by Bill 185 and the Draft 2024 PPS that may impact the Town, along with Administration’s comments, click here.

Sign By-law Amendment To Permit Digital Billboard Signs in the Walker Road Corridor of Oldcastle: Council received a report regarding a request for the Tecumseh Sign By-law 2018-33 to be amended to permit digital billboard signs along the Walker Road/County Road 11 corridor.  Based on report, Council passed a by-law amending the Tecumseh Sign By-law 2018-33 to permit digital billboard signs. 

County Road 43 Improvements, W-4 Trunk Watermain Cost Sharing Agreement with the County of Essex: Council received a report on the works to be done on County Road 43, including a Cost Sharing Agreement with the County of Essex for the Town’s W-4 Trunk Watermain. To formalize the cost sharing, the agreement defines the County’s portion and the Town’s portion of the costs for works to be completed by GIP Paving and consulting services from both Dillon and ConceptDash. The total budget required is $3,161,200, with an overall $1,724,800 decrease to the Town’s original allocation. By-law 2024-049 was given first, second and third reading. 

Tecumseh Hamlet Secondary Plan Area Environmental Assessment and Functional Servicing Report Project Expenditures and Scope Increase: Since 2020, Dillon Consulting Ltd. has been working on the Tecumseh Hamlet Secondary Plan Area Study, which includes analyzing water distribution, wastewater servicing, stormwater management, and transportation updates. Throughout the Class EA and Functional Servicing Report studies, several unanticipated items have been required, such as Project Management and Schedule adjustments, and Northwest Hamlet Trunk Infrastructure Design Support. To accommodate these items, a notice of scope letter was signed, and funding allocation was adjusted, reflecting a total budget requirement of $1,006,000, with an overall increase of $151,000.

2024 Asphalt Paving Tender Award: Council received the report for the tender for the 2024 Asphalt Paving of $659,325 be awarded to GIP Paving. The following streets were included in the 2024 Asphalt Program:  1) Little River Blvd. (Donalda to Manning Road) 2) St. Gregory’s Road (Michael Drive to Green Valley) 3) Lesperance Road (Calvary to Westlake) 4) St. Anne Street (Gouin to Intersection). The tender came in reflecting a decrease of $29,070 from the original allocation and will be funded from the Roads Lifecycle Reserve. By-law 2024-052 was given first, second, third and final reading. 

Next Regular Meeting: The next regular meeting of Council is June 25, 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.