Essex delays task force decision amid support and staff concerns

Essex Fire and Rescue respond to a situation on Gore Road off County Road 20 in Essex following flooding caused by a heavy storm. Aug. 24, 2023. (AM800 file image)

Essex council has deferred a decision on a proposed flooding task force after hearing public support for the idea and concerns from municipal administration.

Mayor Sherry Bondy introduced a motion calling for the creation of a task force to examine recurring flooding across the municipality and report back with costed, long-term solutions.

Residents told council flooding is becoming more frequent and severe, and said a coordinated, evidence-based approach is needed.

Ward 4 resident Rachael Mills said flooding is no longer an occasional issue, but a growing concern.

“Flooding is not a new concern for Essex residents, but it is an increasingly urgent one,” Mills said.

“Weather events are becoming more frequent, more intense and less predictable. We’re talking about neighbours with flooded basements, residents and businesses with damaged properties, and the stress and cost that comes with these events.”

Mills said the proposed task force would help guide long-term planning.

“It proposes something reasonable and responsible, which is bringing the right people together to investigate, to listen and to build a path forward grounded in evidence,” she said.

However, infrastructure services director Kevin Girard cautioned that creating a separate task force could delay work already underway.

“My concern with establishing a separate flooding task force at this time is that it would create a parallel committee structure that duplicates the work already assigned to the consultant team,” Girard said.

“It would require additional staff resources and may slow implementation of the work in the master plan.”

Council voted to defer the motion to a future meeting to allow further discussion between administration, the chief administrative officer and the mayor.