At the Regular Meeting of Council on March 24, 2020, Tecumseh Town Council approved several measures to ensure business continuity in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic. These measures follow discussions and planning between Council and Town Administration to ensure the health and safety of residents and staff while still providing essential municipal services.

Town Hall continues to be open for work and closed to the public. Inquiries are being taken online, by phone and email. Payments may be deposited in the secure drop box located outside the main entrance of Town Hall. If you have a question about service, please call 519-735-2184 or email info@tecumseh.ca.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Council received a report on Town service levels and measures underway to assist rate payers during this uncertain period. Council delegated certain authorities to staff, including the authority to waive late payment penalties and interest on property taxes. Council has also authorized the Town’s Treasurer to request Essex Powerlines for similar relief for water and sanitary billings for Town accounts.

At this time, the Town has taken action to slow the spread of COVID-19 through closing town facilities to the public, arranging for staff to work remotely from home where feasible and ensuring the continuity of essential services and those services needed to support them. Town service levels and changes at this time are summarized as follows:

• Fire and Rescue Services continue for emergencies with both fire stations closed to the public
• Police Services continue to be delivered by the OPP as per the contract, however the OPP station on Lesperance Road is operating with reduced public interface and front-line staff are screening for COVID-19 symptoms
• Garbage and recycling services continue, garbage must be placed in tied bags and in hard sided containers, as per the by-law; residents are asked to avoid interacting with waste collection crews
• Water testing and watermain repairs continue
• Traffic, roads and bridges continue to be maintained and monitored to minimum maintenance standards
• Storm and sanitary sewer system maintenance and monitoring continues
• Lake Flooding Response continues and residents are encouraged to monitor our website and social media for potential lake flooding as levels in Lake St. Clair and Pike Creek continue to be high this spring
• Transit continues to operate, and no fares are being collected to reduce physical interaction and fare passes are not being sold

• By-law enforcement continues for life safety and to assist with enforcing provincial orders
• Council meetings and support from the Clerk’s office continue with meetings held electronically and livestreamed on www.tecumseh.ca
• The issuance of licenses, including: marriage, lottery, and urban hens have been suspended
• Dog tag applications and payments can be submitted in the drop box; reduced rates are in effect to the end of April
• Public grounds and facilities continue to be maintained with parks and trails open for public use and social distancing advised; playground equipment and all parks & recreation facilities are closed and recreational programming is suspended
• High risk and dead tree inspections and removals continue
• Processing of building permits and scheduling of associated inspections, subject to screening for COVID-19 symptoms
• Processing of planning and development applications
• Support functions for essential services remains operational in information technology, finance, human resources, clerks, etc.

For questions regarding services not outlined here, please continue to check the Town’s website at www.tecumseh.ca.

Tecumseh has cancelled all public meetings for March and April 2020 and will continue to monitor the situation for rescheduling. This includes public meetings on the Town’s New Official Plan; Council deferred tabling the New Official Plan at this time. Parks and Recreation facilities and events have been closed and cancelled with the support of public health officials.

As this situation is constantly changing with updated messages from the Canadian and Ontario governments as well as public health agencies, the Town will continue to provide ongoing updates on further decisions. All updates will be posted to our website and users may register for regular updates from the online subscription service.

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, we encourage you to visit the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit; Travel Advisories; Health Canada; and, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Information on this and all Town of Tecumseh news and events is available at www.tecumseh.ca, Twitter (@TownofTecumseh), and Facebook (Town of Tecumseh).

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Program Contacts:  

Marg Misek-Evans                                         Wade Bondy

Chief Administrative Officer                          Fire Chief, Director Fire & Rescue Services

519-735-2184 Ext. 111                                519-979-4041 Ext. 210