Tecumseh Town Council held an emergency meeting today regarding the ongoing response to COVID-19 in light of the announcement on Saturday, March 14 from the federal government on the escalation of international travel risk to Level 3, the ongoing information from both the federal and provincial governments on the spread of the illness and regional decisions related to municipal activities and facilities. Four reports were provided on the following topics: facilities; dog tags; personnel; and, Emergency Operations Centre.

“This is solely a proactive, precautionary measure based on the alerts from the federal government on Saturday and with the support of the Windsor-Essex Medical Officer of Health,” said Gary McNamara, Mayor of Tecumseh. “The Windsor-Essex Health Unit has advised that there are still no local cases of COVID-19 and our risk continues to remain low. We are taking pre-emptive measures to keep that risk level low. We are not happy we have to cancel activities—especially as many families have had to cancel March Break plans—but we are acting to stop the community spread of any illness and particularly COVID-19.”

Council ordered the cancellation of all public activities at the Tecumseh Arena, St. Clair Beach Community Centre, the Golden Age Club, the Tecumseh Historical Society Museum and the Sandwich South Cultural and Resource Centre. Save for the Parks and Recreation Office located in Tecumseh Arena, all of these facilities will remain closed with activities cancelled until further notice. The Parks and Recreation Office located in the Tecumseh Arena will remain open to the extent needed for front-line customer service of our Parks & Recreation services.

Town Hall will remain open and day-to-day municipal services will continue. You may make payments of taxes, tickets and dog tags; as well as apply for/purchase permits and licenses and register death certificates. The Town requests that if anyone is feeling ill that they avoid public buildings like Town Hall and the Arena until they have recovered fully. If you are unsure about attending Town Hall but are worried about payments, you may make payments by cheque through the mail drop beside the main entrance off McNorton Street. If you have any questions about attending in person, please contact us at 519-735-2184 for further information.

Administration will work with staff at the Town to provide for new self-isolation requirements that will impose a 14-day period of staying away from Town offices for employees recently returned or soon to be returning from foreign travel. Employees whom this affects will be paid during the isolation period and will, where feasible, be set up to work from home. Employees leaving the country after the change in Federal Government elevation of any country outside of Canada to Level 3 risk will do so at their own risk and will not be paid by the Town during the required 14-day isolation period, unless severe extenuating circumstances require such travel. Similarly, measures will be taken to assist employees who have childcare requirements during the 2-week period following March break when schools remain closed.  

Council agreed to the continued partial stand-up of the Tecumseh Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and that should a Regional EOC be activated, that Tecumseh would participate. Members of the Town’s EOC have been meeting daily since Friday, March 13 and will continue this practice until further notice.

Finally, Council agreed to extend the discount for the payment of Dog Tags and Kennel Licenses until April 30, 2020 to allow for sufficient time to obtain renewals at the lower rate ($20 for dog tags and $100 for kennel licenses) in consideration of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The Town will continue to provide ongoing updates on further decisions and any potential changes to front line service at Town Hall. As this situation is ongoing and changes daily, the EOC will continue to meet daily with updates as needed and will advise when conditions have warranted standing up a Regional Emergency Operations Centre. All updates will be posted to our website and users may register for regular updates from the online subscription service by clicking on the “Connect” button at the top of the page and submitting the online subscription form within that pop up window.

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, we encourage you to visit the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit website; Travel Advisories; Health Canada; and, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

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Program Contacts:                                         

Marg Misek-Evans                                           Wade Bondy

Chief Administrative Officer                              Fire Chief and Community Emergency Management Coordinator           

519-735-2184 Ext. 111                                    519-735-2184 Ext. 210