by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative
Additional funds for Harrow and Essex arena projects approved
Essex Council approved $2,191.36 above the approved Capital Budget of $32,000 for the replacement of washroom stall partitions at the Essex Centre Sports Complex, and an additional $1,565.44 above the approved Capital Budget of $8,000 for replacement of the Harrow Arena canteen exhaust fan.
The additional funding for both projects will come from the Asset Management Plan (AMP) Reserve.
Rodney Klie, Manager of Parks and Facilities, said the wiring needed updating when trying to install the canteen exhaust fan. Unforeseen costs came up when installing the bathroom partitions at the Essex Arena.
Enhancing Digital Security
and Trust report received
Essex Council received a report titled “Bill 194 Enhancing Digital Security and Trust” for information.
Jack Barron, Manager of Information Technology, prepared the report that noted on November 25, 2024, Bill 194, the Enhancing Digital Security and Trust Act, received Royal Accent.
This Act will be applied to all public sector entities across the Province of Ontario, including municipalities, ensuring responsibility is being taken and that processes and policies are in place for cyber security, data loss prevention, and use of artificial intelligence.
In his report, Barron noted the Town of Essex’s IT Department remains committed to strengthening network security through ongoing improvements with a specific focus on staff education and awareness initiatives, continuously updating and monitoring all security systems, and launching the creation of a Business Continuity Plan.
Water Supply System
Wholesale Water Rate increase
Essex Council passed a by-law to establish water and wastewater rates and charges at the March 17, 2025 meeting.
The Town of Essex recently became aware of the 2025 increase from Union Water Supply System (UWSS).
This rate increase is $0.0628 per cubic meter and is effective April 1, 2025. The new revised rate for UWSS is $0.7967.
Heather MacDonald, Manager of Revenue and Customer Relations, explained this increase would be 89-cents on the average bill. Average consumption is 14.3 cubic meters.
The report submitted to Council on the matter notes the capital improvement levy of $0.01 per cubic meter is to be applied to greenhouse operations customers to support the treatment plant capacity expansion infrastructure projects.
Reduced wastewater rates eliminated
Essex Council approved the elimination of reduced wastewater rates at the March 17 meeting.
In her report to Essex Council, Heather MacDonald, Manager of Revenue and Customer Relations, explained during the water/wastewater billing transition, it was noticed that there were some accounts receiving discounts on their water/wastewater bills. The discounted rates were for wastewater, which were calculated at 75% of water consumption. The town had no record of agreements or by-laws for these volume discounts.
The Town will proceed with notifying these property owners that effective the third billing cycle after the date of the report, the discounts will no longer be applied.
“Good work team, closing all those loopholes and finding ways to recoup those funds,” Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said.
Harrow/Essex Legion Banner
applications approved
Essex Council approved the banner application and banner design submitted in the applications
from the Harrow and Essex Branches of the Royal Canadian Legion.
The Harrow Legion application was for the use of 26 streetlight banner arms on King Street, Queen Street, and McAffee Street in Harrow, from mid-September to the Friday following Remembrance Day.
The Essex Legion application was for the use of the 20 streetlight banner arms on Talbot Street, from Cameron Avenue to Laird Avenue in Essex Centre, from mid-September to the Friday following Remembrance Day.
The banners will be part of the Salute Our Veterans banner project. They will detail a photo and story of local veterans as a way to recognize their sacrifice leading up to and during Remembrance Day.
Last month, Town of Essex administration was directed to provide a report detailing the possibility of expanding the planned street banner program area in Essex Centre, so more street poles could be utilized when the program is up and running. Staff will also outline where costs of the needed additional brackets to hang the additional banners can be allocated.
The committee also asked Essex Council to consider paying for the needed brackets, which they estimated to be around $250 a set, in the 2026 Budget.
Grants are being applied to. If successful, funds may be used to purchase additional brackets for an expanded banner area in Essex Centre, with further Council approval for the expansion of the program.
The vision of the “Salute our Veterans” banner project is to honour past and present local Veterans by featuring their faces and service stories.
With this, Council’s approval is considered annually approved without the need to re-apply moving forward, unless the program changes or ends or the banner design changes, requiring Council’s approval.
Essex wishes to remain status quo
and continue managing phragmites in house
Essex Council voted to remain status quo and continue to manage phragmites in house during the March 17 meeting.
For many years, the Town has been managing a pretty robust program to combat phragmites, other invasive species of plants, and maintaining grasses in roadside ditches, municipal drains, and stormwater facilities, Norm Nussio, Manager of Operations and Drainage, said.
Town staff undertake routine roadside mowing performed through the Operations Department, he explained. In addition, larger municipal drains are mechanically mowed through contracted services in the Town’s right-of-way and on private land, spraying of noxious weeds through contracted services, and target spraying of groups or stands of phragmites through contracted services, are undertaken.
One way the Town has increased its awareness is by mapping areas of Phragmites by using its GPS equipment and capabilities to track progress of the methods uses, Nussio explained. That helps show what is working and what is not.
Town staff also meets with the Essex County Phragmites Working Group, which met five-or-six-times last year to discuss the ongoing practices in combating phragmites and other noxious weeds.
Essex Council has passed two resolutions regarding phragmites in the last five months.
Back in October, Council directed administration to formally reach out to the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) to obtain the necessary contacts and information regarding participation in the phragmites biological control program, and authorized the Mayor to draft and send letters expressing the Town's interest in collaborating with ERCA and other relevant agencies for the inclusion of Essex in future biocontrol release sites.
It also directed Administration to report back to the Council with updates on communications with ERCA and other agencies, as well as the next steps required for participation in the biocontrol initiative.
It also committed to exploring all available measures to combat the spread of invasive phragmites.
In speaking to the resolutions made in October, Nussio noted staff has spoken to ERCA reps on the program it has been running and studies it is undertaking. There was not a lot of information to provide at the moment, but ERCA will report back when it can provide more information.
At the March 3 Council meeting, Council of the Town of Essex directed the Town’s Administration to request more information from the County of Essex regarding the proposed uploading of the management of phragmites to the County of Essex in advance of making a decision at the local level.
Information, such as scope, level of service, and costs associated with the program, would be helpful in determining next steps.
At the February 5 County Council meeting, there was some census around the County Council table to possibly look at a regional approach to the issue, instead of municipalities dealing with it differently. At the March 19 meeting, County Councillors will have to decide whether or not to direct County Administration to begin the governance process to consult with the local seven municipalities to work towards a County-led concerted effort to establish a phragmites control program.
Through the Town’s efforts, Nussio said staff would prefer to remain status quo in how it combats phragmites through the Operations Department.
He believes that has been the consensus across the seven local municipalities and the County, as well.
“I have noticed the vast improvements in the phragmites in our area,” Councillor Rodney Hammond said. He was in favour of keeping the phragmites management at the local-level. “We are doing a bang-up job.”
In answering Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley’s question on how Essex compares to its local counterparts in terms of mitigation efforts, Nussio said Essex has a high-level of service in dealing with phragmites and other invasive species. Some municipalities don’t do anything, from what he understands. Others do more. He estimated Essex is either ahead or in the middle-of-the-road.
Shepley was appreciative of the report as it will come in handy when dealing with the matter at the March 19 County Council meeting.
“It will really help us try and move the needle to where we need it to be,” he said.
In answering Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais’s question on what some of the best methods have proven to be, Nussio noted he believed that would be spraying and the consistency of the work every year. The mowing and tracking are also important components.
McGuire-Blais and Councillor Jason Matyi wondered if the information on spraying can be shared with residents. That was a discussion had with the County, Nussio noted. Through the working program, perhaps a best management program for residents can be developed.
Mayor Sherry Bondy would like to see funds used through the Operating Budget on phragmites mitigation tracked. That way, it can be increased if needed.
Tandem axle plow truck and winter control equipment approved
Council awarded the Request for Tender for the supply of a tandem axle plow truck cab and chassis to 401 Truck Source in the amount of $245,079, including non-refundable Harmonized Sales Tax.
It also awarded the Request for Proposal tender for the supply of winter control equipment for a tandem axle plow truck to Viking Cives Ltd in the amount of $199,775.23, including non-refundable Harmonized Sales Tax.
The Report to Council noted $445,000 was set aside in the 2025 Budget for these items.
For more Essex Council news, see the articles “Essex continues its work to become more accessible” and “Grocery store, hotel, and more planned for Essex Centre” in this edition of the Essex Free Press. More will continue in the March 27th edition.