by Sylene Argent
Former Harrow light poles going to CTMHV
Council declared the old Harrow light poles as surplus and approved donating them to the Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village (CTMHV) to be used for the Museum’s laneway lighting.
The CTMHV had contacted Council and Administration to see if the Town would donate the previously-used downtown Harrow light poles replaced during the Harrow Streetscape project.
Doug Sweet, CAO, noted around 15 concrete light poles were removed and replaced with new light poles as part of the Harrow Streetscape project. The light poles are past their useful life and have limited market value.
Prior to the request, the Town planned on crushing the poles and using the crushed concrete for road maintenance.
Town’s COVID-19 vaccination policy suspended
Council approved the suspension of the Town’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, that affects employees, Council members, and Committee members – effective March 22, 2022.
Brandi Sieben, Manager of Human Resources, noted since the beginning of the pandemic, the Town has followed all provincial and local health unit recommendations, including the creation and implementation of a vaccination policy.
The Town’s vaccination policy was adopted on October 19, 2021, and part of its adaptation was to review it every three months. Since its last review on January 17, hospitalizations and ICU cases, locally and provincially, have declined, Sieben said. In addition, the province’s proof of vaccination requirement has been dropped.
She said the Town’s current vaccination rate was over 96 percent.
“The health and safety of our staff will always remain a high priority,” she said, adding Administration is recommending the current policy be suspended. That way, if there are further recommendations, the policy can be reinstated.
Finance Model, federal funding application for County Road 50 West paved shoulders
Council pre-approved the multi-year Capital Project for the completion of County Road 50 West Paved Shoulders, with a total cost of $2,268,444, in partnership with the County of Essex.
This will be funded from 2023 through to 2026 by a total operating contribution of $375,000 and a total grant funding allocation of $1,893,444.
In addition, Council supported Administration applying and partnering with the County of Essex for the Federal Active Transportation Fund, through Infrastructure Canada, for the construction of paved shoulders along County Road 50 West, between County Road 41 and Dahinda Drive.
Corrine Chiasson, Planning Assistant, said the Town has partnered with the County of Essex for the planned road rehabilitation.
Councillor Chris Vander Doelen said this is a great project, wanted by thousands of cyclists, walkers, and residents.
Construction up 173% comparing February in 2021 to 2022
Council received the development overview for February, noting there was $14,307,900 in total construction value, including all new and expanding commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential developments that required a building permit. This is up 173 percent, compared to February 2021.
The average home sale price for Wards 1 and 2 in February 2022 was $546,243, which was up slightly compared to the $522,866 recorded in 2021. The average home sale price for Wards 3 and 4 in February 2022 was $709,004, which was up significantly compared to the $557,463 recorded in 2021.
Additional funds allocated for 3rd Concession paved shoulder project
Council approved the additional expenditure of $31,751.42, including applicable taxes, to implement paved shoulders, from Queen Street to Sellick Drive, on the 3rd Concession. This will be funded from unallocated Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) dollars.
Previously, $120,000 was approved in the 2021 Capital Budget for the project, but “due to unforeseen conditions of the project, additional asphalt was required to ensure the grade of the paved shoulders was consistent with the road surface” the Report to Council notes, adding as construction occurred, the 3rd Concession surface edges were damaged and required immediate emergency repairs.
The additional funds being requested was used to make the necessary repairs and improvements.
Colchester Harbour to get dredged
Council received the report, “Harbour Maintenance Dredging Update,” which noted after developing a plan with Cobby Marine that addressed concerns with the two types of fish species at risk in the surrounding area of the Colchester Harbour and administration being asked to provide more information with additional steps to minimize any potential danger to these species, the Town of Essex was given a permit to dredge on December 23, 2021, which was set to expire on March 15, 2022 to dredge.
The Report to Council notes the Harbour froze shortly after receiving the permit, which prevented work from commencing. The Ministry has approved an extension until March 31, 2022.
The Town put out a request for tender for the Colchester Harbour Dredging and Council awarded the tender to Cobby Marine at the August 23, 2021, Regular Council meeting.
Cobby Marine will complete the project within the extended permit period.
Admin to prepare a report on interior greenhouse light emissions
Council directed Administration to prepare and return with a by-law to regulate public nuisances related to interior greenhouse light emissions in the Town of Essex, following the best practice recommendations that are expected to be received in 2022 from the greenhouse industry.
In November of 2020, Council directed Administration to review and create a report regarding the implementation of a by-law prohibiting and regulating lights and odours.
“The consequences of internal greenhouse lighting and odour arising from processing and production activities [are] very evident in Southwestern Ontario. This has resulted in an increase of public nuisance concerns by area residents in recent years,” the Report to Council notes, adding the Town of Kingsville and the Municipality of Leamington have both passed by-laws restricting public nuisances related to greenhouse operations.
It was recommended Essex’s Administration utilize the proposed light abatement best practices forthcoming from Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, expected to be provided to the Town within the second quarter of 2022. It is believed the updated/revised best practices will serve as a reasonable basis upon which the Town can prepare a by-law under the nuisance provisions of the Municipal Act to regulate light emissions from greenhouse operations in the Town.
The Report to Council adds a by-law may require subsequent amendments when the final results or recommendations from OMAFRA and AAFC abatement projects are released in the fall of 2023.
Councillor Chris Vander Doelen wanted to ensure the by-law will have sufficient teeth.
Director of Legislative Services/Clerk, Robert Auger, said staff is looking at the right level of abatement using curtains at appropriate hours, buy-in from the industry, and appropriate enforcement.
Letter to be sent to School Board Trustees
requesting update on Kingsville school project
At the March 7 meeting, Councillor Sherry Bondy put forward a Notice of Motion that Council have a discussion at the March 21 meeting regarding the lack of progress on a new school being built in the Kingsville area that is to include students of the Harrow/Colchester area.
Having a public conservation on the matter is diligent to show residents Council is listening, she said, adding she wanted to know where the project was at.
Deputy Mayor Steven Bjorkman agreed. He said Harrow is not being treated properly in this process, adding the new school was supposed to be open in September. The new Amherstburg High School is slated to open this year, and it was a project that started after the Kingsville school project was approved.
Councillor Chris Vander Doelen said he understands people’s concern, but it is “strange this motion doesn’t mention the democratically elected body whose jurisdiction it is to make these decisions. We have a school board. We have people locally elected to represent this region, this area. They made this decision. They should be the ones who you are addressing, and we shouldn’t be continually trying to rehash their decisions. It is not our jurisdiction.”
He said if the motion does not mention the school boards, he could not support it.
Bondy amended her motion to have Council direct Administration to reach out to the Board of Trustees to ask what is the status of the new build of the Kingsville school. The letter will be copied to Kingsville Council and Essex MPP, Taras Natyshak.
Notices of Motion to be considered at the
April 4 meeting
• Councillor Sherry Bondy will ask Council to consider that the vacant seat on the E.L.K Energy Board be filled by someone in the community through an application process, based on qualifications and not another member of Essex Council.
• Councillor Sherry Bondy will ask Council to consider that as part of its policies and procedures governing the election sign by-law that “Re-Elect” only be permissible when a candidate is duly elected to an office directly by the citizens during a