The remuneration report for members of Essex County council and others who were compensated in any way by the county last year has been released.
The 14 members of Essex County council amassed a total remuneration of $584,074.16 in 2024. Each member received a salary with the total also reflecting other expenses that were paid out, including indemnities, mileage, conference per diems and expenses. The report that appeared on the Feb. 19 county council agenda listed zeroes for out-of-town and association meetings per diems and expenses.
Warden Hilda MacDonald, also the mayor of Leamington, had an overall remuneration total of $109,015.17. Of that, her salary as warden was $92,719.51.
Deputy Warden Joe Bachetti had a 2024 salary of $38,873.46 and a total remuneration figure of $50,417.59 once all other earnings and expenses were factored in.
Most other members of Essex County council each had salaries of $29,794, except LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche, LaSalle Deputy Mayor Michael Akpata and Kingsville Deputy Mayor Kim DeYong. Those three had salaries of $25,534.47 before other forms of remuneration were factored in, bringing their overall totals to $35,565.47, $35,730.94 and $35,764.21 respectively.
The two Amherstburg members of Essex County council – Mayor Michael Prue and Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb – had totals of $35,545.82 and $35,225.86. Prue has gone public with several donations to various charitable groups in Amherstburg instead of accepting the raise county council voted for earlier this term.
Total remuneration figures for the other members of county council included Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey ($39,341.15), Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy ($38,680.17), Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara ($33,685.58), Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers ($33,778.76), Essex Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley ($36,015.41) and Lakeshore Deputy Mayor Kirk Walstedt ($30,333.79).
The County of Essex also paid out $22,815.71 to others, with some being county council alternates or those who received compensation or reimbursement in some fashion for committee or other works.
Councillor Diane Pouget, the county council alternate for Amherstburg, had a total remuneration of $1,552.74 for 2024.
Those listed in the 2024 schedule of other remuneration for the county included Deborah Alexander ($1,627.70), Katie Blais ($182.52), Terry Burns ($843.12), Mark Carrick ($1,140.80), the City of Windsor ($1,455), Sherri Currie ($1,676.56), Tony Gaffan ($573.20), Brian Houston ($572.36), Rachel Jewell ($1,608.10), John Kerr ($597), Diana Kirkbride ($1,645.54), Heather Latam ($1,133.12), Louise Masse ($156.40), Maria McPherson ($243), Julie Miles ($1,654.04), Susan Morand ($243), Tadeusz Polewski ($171.80), Dennis Sanson ($3,044.96), Lauren Segedin ($1,233.81), Paul Tiessen ($779) and Kim Verbeek ($681.94).
County remuneration report released
By Ron Giofu
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