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Tecumseh Council Approves Tax Increase for 2022

Tecumseh’s municipal levy will increase by 2.95 per cent, net of growth, to allow the Town to balance its 2022 budget.

The increase in the tax levy approved by Council on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, — as part of the 2022 budget — translates into $76 for the average residential property assessed at $250,000.

The three main themes of the budget are:

• a return to normal, full-capacity operations after almost two years of interruptions by the pandemic;
• implementing the first phase of an organizational review of the Town’s operations; and
• ongoing reviews of operating processes and implementing related recommendations.

“This status quo budget allows us to refocus our energy and resources on enhancing our services to the residents and businesses of Tecumseh,” said Mayor Gary McNamara. “The Town has weathered almost two years of COVID-19 in good financial shape and with plans to improve flood protection, repair roads and increase recreation amenities. We also look forward to a community celebration of the Town’s centennial in 2022.”

The Town has budgeted total expenditures of $28.7 million for 2022.

Tecumseh’s assessment grew $250,000 due to new development last year, without which the Town would have had to increase its tax levy by another one per cent to cover expenditures budgeted for 2022.

Town of Tecumseh taxes comprise 54 per cent of a typical residential tax bill, with the remainder made up of the education and County of Essex tax levies.

The post Tecumseh Approves 2022 Tax Increase appeared first on Biz X magazine.

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Tecumseh Provides for Limited In-Person Services

Beginning Tuesday, August 3, 2021, the Town of Tecumseh will be reopening Town Hall and the Tecumseh Recreation Complex and Arena for limited in-person services. Individuals seeking to attend Town Hall or the Arena in-person must complete the screening form located at: https://frm-cvd-ca.esolg.ca/Tecumseh/Screening-Form prior to being allowed entry. Masks will be required for all visitors in the buildings and appointments are required for specific services.

“We are very pleased to resume in-person services and welcome visitors to our newly renovated Town Hall,” said Gary McNamara, Mayor of Tecumseh. “I thank residents for their patience and understanding while the buildings were closed to the public. We continue to ask anyone seeking to attend in-person to complete the screening form, wear a mask and stay home if you are ill.”

The front doors of both Town Hall and the Arena will be open between 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. A maximum of 10 people will be permitted inside the customer service area at Town Hall and a maximum of two people are permitted at the Arena office. Entrance to the building is permitted for those making a payment, requesting Building/Planning information and those who have an appointment. Payments made by cheque via the drop-box or through a banking institution are encouraged to reduce in-person contact. The secure drop box is located at the front entrance of Town Hall.

Services available for drop-in at Town Hall include:

Cash/Debit Payments:

• Bulk Water
• Building Permits
• Planning Applications
• Property Taxes
• Dog Tags
• Alarm Registrations
• Parking Tickets

Applications/Permits:

• Backwater Valve & Foundation Drain Subsidies
• Building Permits
• Planning Applications
• Driveway/Curb Cut; Culverts; Sanitary/Storm; Water Services and Water Meters

Services available by appointment only at Town Hall:

• Marriage Licenses
• Lottery Applications and Reporting
• Commissioning of documents
• Burial Permits and Registrations
• Taxi Cab Drivers’ Licenses
• Urban Hen Applications
• Cat Spay/Neuter Vouchers

Services available for drop-in at the Arena include:

• Purchase of tennis/ pickleball keys
• Registration for recreation programs

Services available by appointment only at the Arena:

• Park and arena rentals
• Funding assistance for recreation programs

Visitors seeking an appointment must call ahead between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. The last possible appointment of the day will be 4:00 p.m.

Entrance outside of an appointment time will be on a first come/first serve basis. Anyone entering Town Hall or the Arena for any service must wear a mask or face covering and hand sanitize on entry. The Town will continue to accommodate virtual appointments for meetings with staff, provided signatures or payments are not required. Please contact the relevant department to set up a virtual meeting.

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Temporary Changes to Waste Collection in Tecumseh

At the Regular Meeting of Council on April 28, 2020, Council approved temporary changes to the Town’s Waste Collection to accept an additional two (2) bags of household waste per week until May 28, 2020.

“We have heard from a number of residents that are home more and seeing an increase in their household waste,” said Gary McNamara, Mayor of Tecumseh. “We reached out to Windsor Disposal Service to address this increase and we feel that this will help alleviate some of the impact on residents during this time.”

This temporary change means residents may place an additional two bags of household waste out on garbage day. The bags must be tied at the top, be less than 50 pounds (27 kilograms), be placed next to the hard sided container not on top, and not contain sharp objects, paint batteries or other hazardous waste. It is also requested that residents be cognizant of the increase in urban wildlife and pests seeking new areas for food and that food waste be put in hard sided containers to prevent attracting rodents or other wildlife. Existing hard sided containers must meet weight restrictions as outlined in the Town’s Collection Calendar. WDS will not collect containers that are outside the size/weight limits as directed.

Renovation debris is not accepted at curbside collection and will not be picked up. This includes materials placed in a hard sided container or in bags. WDS reserves the right to reject any waste they deem not acceptable or unsafe for collection. There are no exceptions and containers/bags will be left curbside.

“We know that this time has provided residents with an opportunity to clean around the house or complete outstanding projects,” said Phil Bartnik, Director Public Works and Environmental Services. “However the additional two bags does not take away from the materials that are unacceptable for collection. We ask that residents remember this when placing materials out for collection and hold onto them until the transfer stations re-open for public drop off.”

White goods like appliances must be registered for collection and residents may do so at 519-735-2184 ext. 142. Furniture like mattresses, bookshelves or dressers is acceptable and be placed at the curb for regular pick-up. If residents see anyone dumping waste in Town they are encouraged to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 with details on the vehicle including license plate, make and model.

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Tecumseh’s McAuliffe Park Experiences Damage from Vandalism

Tecumseh’s McAuliffe Park off Lesperance Road was vandalized sometime this weekend by a large vehicle driving through and around the sports fields. Tecumseh joins Windsor, Lakeshore, Essex and Amherstburg in their frustration and disappointment over this damage and urges anyone who knows about these acts of senseless vandalism to come forward.

“My feelings go beyond disappointment,” said Gary McNamara, Mayor of Tecumseh. “I am angry with the total lack of regard for quality public spaces. The damage was done not just to one park, but four of them throughout Essex County. Taxpayers in all of our municipalities should share my outrage as they will have to pay the price for this foolish act of one or more individuals whose sense of entitlement extends to the use of public parks as their personal off-road facilities. We are asking for the public’s help in identifying who may have done this. Someone knows something and they need to come forward.”

McAuliffe Park hosts a number of sporting events including baseball and soccer with McAuliffe Park Sports Group organizing the leagues. The washrooms at the park were recently expanded and the addition of a splah pad is shceduled for construction this spring. Damage to the park was extensive and Tecumseh’s Parks Department is currently assessing the damage and putting a plan in place to fix the fields in time for the spring start of sports activities.

“The perpetrator or perpetrators of this act spent time in the park,” said Paul Anthony, Director of Parks & Recreation. “Based on the damage to the fields, this vehicle was here for some time tearing up the field. Not to mention that we aren’t an isolated incident. Unfortunately we share a sad situation with our neighbours today. We need to stop this unacceptable practice of destroying fields and catch the person or persons responsible.”

The Town has zero tolerance for vandalism and is working with the Essex County OPP to investigate this incident and bring charges against the individuals responsible. Anyone with information on any of the park incidents is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or the Windsor Police at 519-258-6111 or, should you wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). You may also leave an anonymous online message. You may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

It follows similar damage to parks in Windsor, Lakeshore, and McGregor.

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Tecumseh Welcomes Four Legged Staffers in Lakewood Park

The Town of Tecumseh welcomed several four legged staffers in Lakewood Park this week to assist with Goose Detterance. Apollo, Archer, Aura, Brigid, Celeste and Evelyn from Caora Border Collies in Leamington, were on the job this week to disrupt geese that settle in the park. The dogs work off leash and are clearly identifiable by their reflective vests. A sign will be placed in the parking lots to indicate that the dogs are working and the Town requests that users not interfere with the handler and dogs while they are on-site and keep their own dogs on leash.

“We have heard input from the public that uses Lakewood Park and those residents that live along the park that goose control needs to be a priority,” said Gary McNamara, Mayor of Tecumseh. “This method is harmless for the geese and works much more effectively than other measures.”

The six dogs will work one at a time during various time periods at the Park. They are clearly marked with reflective vests and are only off-leash for the period where they herd the geese. They use a “stalk and stare” method which mimics the behaviour of wild predators. The dogs do not touch the geese or harm nests or goslings, their method is herding and they circle back to their handler after pushing the geese out of the area. The dogs are trained on sheep, ducks and geese in addition to obedience and manners. They are people safe and only respond to their handler. Work will include going into the lake along the shoreline as geese tend to wait out the dogs in the water.

“Parks staff have tried a number of control options to try to deter the birds from nesting and settling in the parks,” said Paul Anthony, Director Parks and Recreation. “Canada Geese are intelligent birds and have gotten used to the flashes, bangers and other measures we have tried. They are also used to domestic pets that use the park and get used to methods of shooing them away. Border Collies have been shown to be successful in other park areas which is why we decided to use this method in Lakewood.”

The program will run for the next three months and will be reviewed following that time to determine additional days and times throughout the summer and fall as required. As the dogs mimic the behaviour of a predator and they are being used at various times of the day and early evening, the geese will eventually move on to avoid them. The dogs are out now to prevent nesting in the park in the spring. It is hoped that this program will reduce the number of geese in Lakewood Park significantly so users can continue to enjoy the park area free of goose droppings.

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