Council Connect - February 10, 2026

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Council Connect: Highlights from February 10, 2026, meetings of Council

Public Meeting of Council

Oldcastle Hamlet Special Planning Study: Council heard public comments on the Oldcastle Special Planning Study and received a presentation from WSP that included a draft by-law for the proposed Official Plan amendment.

Regular Meeting of Council

Fairplay Woods Conservation and Recreational Use Plan: Council received a report outlining the first phase of a two-phase plan to establish a new natural park at Fairplay Woods. The first phase includes plans for site access, conservation and recreational use, which will start in Q2 2026 and continue until early Q4 2027. Council received the report and approved the implementation of the Fairplay Woods Conservation and Recreational Use Plan.

Community Safety – 2025 Year in Review: Council heard a presentation and received an annual report from Community Safety summarizing activities and services provided, including fire protection services and by-law enforcement, during the calendar year 2025. This includes:

• 1,127 total calls for service (43% increase over the previous 4-year average)
• 470 emergency calls for service (22% increase over the previous 4-year average)
• 657 by-law enforcement calls (67% increase over the previous 4-year average)
• 182 Fire Code compliance inspections
• 209 public education events
• Recruitment and Training of Firefighters
• An emergency preparedness exercise involving the Town’s Emergency Control Group and support agencies from the Windsor-Essex Region. 

Mayor’s 2026 Business Plan and Budget: Council received a presentation from Tom Kitsos, Director Financial Services and Chief Financial Officer, and Vanessa DaDalt, Manager Revenue Services and Deputy Treasurer, regarding the Mayor’s 2026 Business Plan and Budget. The presentation provided a budget status recap, highlights for operating and capital budgets, 2026 tax levy changes, 2026 water and wastewater changes, the 2026 Full-Accrual Proposed Budget and an Engage Tecumseh summary of public comment on the proposed budget. Following the presentation, members of Council put forward questions to Town Administration. No amendments were proposed by members of Council, and accordingly, the 2026 Business Plan and Budget was deemed adopted.

Taxes Receivable December 2025: Council received a report describing the status of property taxes outstanding as of December 31, 2025, for the Town, which totals $3,621,256 or 6.0% of the total taxes levied (consistent with 6.0% in 2024). Since 2016, the Town has been in the 4.0% to 6.0% range. To date, there are 2,603 properties enrolled in the monthly pre-authorized payment debit (PAD) plans and 1,034 properties enrolled in the due date PAD plan. Total enrollment in the PAD programs represents approximately 36% of all properties in the Town. Tax Arrears Certificate registrations totalled 42 properties in 2025 (compared to none in 2024). The Town has 13 outstanding registrations for which tax collection has yet to occur. Council received the report.

2025 Year End Building Permit Report: Council received a report summarizing the total permits issued for 2025 and with comparators from the previous year. The total construction value was $199,583,460, reflecting an increase of $112,458,134 (129%) from 2024 value ($87,125,326). This significant increase in construction value was mainly due to projects like the 332-unit Fuze apartments, a car dealership and multiple residential/industrial projects that were initiated in 2025. There were 315 building permits issued (2.2% increase) and 394 dwelling unit permits issued (up from 42 in 2024).   Approximately 32,637 square feet of industrial floor space was constructed in 2025, compared to 12,979 square feet in 2024, representing an increase of approximately 151%. Total permit fee revenue for the reporting period was $994,037, exceeding the 2025 projected budget by $287,520 (41%). The surplus will be allocated to the Building Reserve Fund to help offset future periods of reduced revenue.  Council received the report.

Proposed Update to Environmental Assessment Regulation for Municipal Infrastructure: Council received a report of the proposed changes to the updated environmental assessment regulation, called the Municipal Project Assessment Process (MPAP), that will replace the current Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Municipal Class EA) process. This new approach is intended to reduce the burden and duplicative requirements on lower-impact projects to support Ontario’s rapidly growing population. The updated regulation introduces a new archaeological assessment process for certain projects and includes changes to the previously proposed streamlined EA process, addition of provisions related to addendums project review and transition periods and provides project lists subject to the archaeological assessment process.  Council received the report.

2025 Reporting for Town Traffic Related Policies: Council received a report overviewing the requests received and processed under Town traffic-related policies in 2025 including the Community Safety Zone, Controlled Pedestrian Crossing, and Speed Management and Traffic Calming policies. Administration will include recommended works described in the report as part of the annual PWES Capital Works Plan. Council received the report.

2026-2030 TCS Capital Works Plan: Council received a report detailing Lifecycle purchases, including Regular Ongoing Program Expenditures and Periodic Program Expenditures, as part of the TCS Capital Works Plan for the current year (2026) totalling $166,652. Council received the report and approved the 2026 TCS Lifecycle purchases as part of the TCS Capital Works Plan 2026-2030.

Next Regular Meeting: The next regular meeting of Council is February 24, 2026. The agenda and livestream will be available on the Town’s website. Follow the Town of Tecumseh on Facebook for news and the latest information.

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Media Contact:
Aaron Carder
acarder@tecumseh.ca
519.735.2184 ext 136