For Immediate Release
Thursday, January 26, 2023

Council Connect: Highlights from January 25-26, 2023, meetings of Council

Tecumseh Town Council met this week and here are the highlights:

Public Meetings of Council

South Talbot Road Drain East & 12^th Line Drain – Tender Results Meeting to Consider Contract Price (s. 59 Drainage Act): Council received the report outlining the project’s various tenders and awarded the tender to the lowest bidder, Nevan Construction Inc. This project consists of the cleanout of a portion of the South Talbot Road Drain East to accommodate a proposed culvert, the replacement of existing access culverts as required and the construction of a buffer strip. Four tenders were received, all of which exceeded the engineer’s construction estimate by more than 33 percent, requiring the Town to call a public meeting. The main reason for the increased tender prices is due to significantly higher prices for the concrete block end wall on Concession Road 11.

Request to Reconsider Engineer’s Report – Antaya Drain: The purpose of this meeting is to provide a background summary and hear public comment from any affected landowner on the proposed drainage works to assist Council in giving reconsideration to the Drainage Report in accordance with the Drainage Act. The summary of changes to the original report includes corrections to the schedule of assessment to reflect fairer assessments and consistent land designations (non-agricultural to agricultural).

Request to Consider Engineer’s Report Branch of the South Talbot & Holden Outlet Drain (Meo Bridge):  The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the background and other information to assist Council in giving consideration to the Drainage Report in accordance with Section 78 of the Act. The Report provides specifications for a new farm access bridge serving part of Lot 3, Concession 6 over the Branch of the South Talbot and Holden Outlet Drain. The bridge is to be installed as part of a land severance.

Special Meeting of Council

Council Workshop: Procedure By-Law and MFIPPA: The purpose of this meeting was orientation for Tecumseh Council, for the Procedure By-Law and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act.

Regular Meeting of Council

Business Improvement Area - Memorandum of Understanding and Budget Strategy: Council received the report and authorized entering into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Business Improvement Area (BIA) outlining the respective roles and responsibilities between Town Administration and the BIA.  The MOU is intended to help the Town support the BIA’s overarching goal for the improvement and promotion of the Tecumseh BIA area. Further, the CAO and Councillor Houston (Council’s BIA non-voting representative), proposed providing support to the BIA with setting its strategic priorities for this budget year. Foresight Consulting Inc. will be retained to support the BIA’s budget process with facilitated strategic priority sessions. Council authorized the CAO to give financial support to the BIA for 50 percent of the cost of this strategic planning exercise.

Zoning By-law Amendment 13931 Riverside Drive Scheduling of a Public Meeting: Council approved the scheduling of a public meeting, to be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 5pm, for a 0.12 hectare (0.29 acre) parcel of land situated on the south side of Riverside Drive, approximately 35 metres (114 feet) east of its intersection with Arlington Boulevard (13931 Riverside Drive). Administration is seeking to amend Zoning By-law 2065 by rezoning the subject land from “Residential Type Two Zone (R2)” to a site-specific “Residential Type Two Zone (R2-8)” in order to facilitate the construction of a one-storey, two-unit dwelling (semi-detached dwelling) and establish site-specific lot provisions.

Financial Incentive Program Grant Application Tecumseh Road Main Street Community Improvement Plan: Council approved a grant application for the Tecumseh Road Main Street Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Financial Incentive Program for property located at 12021Tecumseh Road. Specifically, an application to the Planning Application and Permit Fee Grant Program in the amount of $2,000 was approved as was an application to the Development Charges Grant Program in the amount of $23,998. These amounts are related to the costs associated with the building permit and development charges calculated for a proposed commercial addition to the building at this location.

Tecumseh Transit Service (TTS) One-Year Extension of Transit Delivery and Maintenance Services Agreement with First Canada ULC for 2023: Council approved the report for extending the Tecumseh Transit Service agreement for one additional year with First Canada ULC for 2023. TTS reverted to its original Monday-Friday scheduled route and continued on with the on-demand service every Saturday. 

2022 Bridge and Culvert Needs Study Structures with Spans Greater than 3.0 m: The Town of Tecumseh is required to undertake an inspection, under the direction of a Professional Engineer, for every bridge and culvert (with spans greater than 3.0 m) at least once every two years in accordance with the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act. The 2022 study indicated that the average bridge condition index for the Town’s bridges is 77.7, which indicates that the Town is maintaining this infrastructure in overall good condition. Key rehabilitation work is needed on two bridges and these works will be incorporated into upcoming 5 to 10 year capital plans. Council received the report. A full copy of the bridge study is posted to the Town’s website. 

Traffic Radar Speed Survey for 2022: Council received the report outlining the results of the Town’s speed radar devices deployed at certain locations throughout the Town in 2022 to collect data, often in response to speeding complaints. The speed radar devices are deployed at a given location for one to two weeks, and the results are shared with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), identifying the best days and times for when enforcement may be most effective. The report also commented on speed limits and the use of in-road traffic calming measures to reduce travelled speeds and foster greater road safety.

County Road 42 and County Road 43 Improvements, Phase 1 Cost Sharing Agreement with the County of Essex:  The County of Essex is proceeding with improvements to County Road 42 (CR42) from the City of Windsor to County Road 19 (Manning Road/CR19) and County Road 43 (CR43) just south of CR42 extending north to CP Rail. Based on these improvements, Tecumseh Administration identified required improvements to the Town’s existing and planned municipal services (watermains and sanitary sewers) in the vicinity of the County’s project. Tecumseh Council authorized entering into an agreement with the County of Essex to cost-share the Town’s elements of the project. 

Special Council Meeting January 26, 2023 - Capital Budgets:

Community Safety: Council approved the Capital Budget for Community Safety, which outlines the need to maintain equipment in peak operating efficiency and maximize firefighter safety while spreading purchases over the expected life of the equipment. Funding is being requested for firefighter helmets, firefighter boots, bunker gear, SCBA Cylinder Replacement and Radio System equipment. Administration recommends that the aforementioned equipment purchase in the amount of $677,700 be funded from the Lifecycle Fire Equipment Reserve, with a one-time transfer of $500,000 from the Infrastructure Reserve to offset costs associated with the new radio system.

Public Works: Council approved the Capital Budget for Public Works & Engineering Services, which outlines a series of ongoing projects and approximately 7 new projects. Notable projects for 2023 consist of the detailed design of water and wastewater infrastructure to facilitate development in the Tecumseh Hamlet area, finalization of  the Shoreline Management Plan, the Stormwater Rates Study, and the Sanitary Sewer Model Update, continued design and construction for the Scully, St. Marks and PJ Cecile Storm Pump Stations under the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund program, construction of the Lesperance Road/VIA Crossing Improvement Project, and construction of watermain and sanitary sewer infrastructure related to the County of Essex County Road 42 Improvements Project. The capital expenditures proposed for 2023 total just over $38.8M in addition to unfinished works carried forward from 2022, with a preliminary estimate of an additional $59.0M projected for future years.

Technology & Client Services: Council approved the Capital Budget for Technology & Client Services, which outlines a list of ongoing program expenditures along with new programs. Notable funding is for PC replacements, network upgrades, virtual server upgrades, time and attendance software, and phone system upgrades. As technology continues to grow across the organization, this increase has assisted in keeping systems and infrastructure current, improving efficiency, and minimizing disruption in service. Annual funding level for the TCS Lifecycle Workplan is $173,000 with a proposed expenditure of $152,000 in 2023.

Next Regular Meeting: The next regular meeting of Council is February 14, 2023. 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 Twitter for news and the latest information.