Remuneration report released for county council & committees

Remuneration for members of Essex County council and its committee members for 2025 has been released.

The annual report, which county director of financial services/treasurer Melissa Ryan states fulfills the requirements of the Municipal Act, details all forms of remuneration from salaries, conference expenses, mileage and more.

“Base salaries for the warden, deputy warden, councillors, and alternate members are adjusted annually in line with the percentage increase approved for management and non-union staff. For the 2026 Budget year, council voted to reject their own salary increase an will be paid at 2025 Rates,” Ryan wrote in her report.

The report details what the county council members made at that level, and does not include remuneration earned in their respective municipalities.

Of the 14 members of Essex County council, Warden Hilda MacDonald’s remuneration totalled $104,501.13. Her salary as warden was $94,426.62 with indemnities totalling $2,880.02 and mileage $3,242.01. 

MacDonald, also the mayor of Leamington, saw her per diem for conferences amount to $875 and conference expenses totalled $3,952.48.

Deputy Warden and Tecumseh Deputy Mayor Joe Bachetti had a total remuneration figure of $53,364.21. Broken down, the statement of remuneration shows Bachetti’s 2025 salary was $41,688.53. Indemnities totalled $6,314.06 and mileage was $1,649.97. His conferences per diem was $525 and his conference expenses was reported at $3,186.65.

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy’s 2025 remuneration totalled $40,770.44. Her salary was $31,875.87, her indemnities totalled $2,603.10 and her mileage totalled $1,370.66. Bondy’s conferences per diem was reported at $875 and her conference expenses totalled $4,045.81.

LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche’s remuneration total was $38,497.38 with her salary last year being $31,875.87. Meloche’s indemnities were $1,329.28 and her mileage total was $831.46. The conferences per diem for Meloche was reported at $700 and her expenses for conferences was $3,760.77.

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara saw his total reported at $38,486.35, with $31,610.67 being salary. 

McNamara’s indemnities was reported at $1,329.28 while his mileage came in at $546.40. McNamara saw his conferences per diem reported at $875 and his conference expenses totalled $4,125.

Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue had a total remuneration figure of $38,270.14. Prue’s county salary was $31,875.87, his indemnities were $553.85 and mileage totalled $1,069.16. His conferences per diem was $875 and conference expenses amounted to $3,896.26.

Essex Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley’s 2025 remuneration from the county was $38,246.81. His salary was $31,875.87 and his indemnities amounted to $1,661.55 and mileage totalled $146.82. His conferences per diem was reported at $875 and conferences expenses was $3,687.57.

Amherstburg Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb saw his 2025 remuneration reported at $37,399.91. Gibb’s salary was $31,875.87 and his indemnities $886.16 and mileage was reported at $1,248.28. Conferences per diem for Gibb was $700 and his conference expenses was $2,689.60.

Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers’ remuneration was $37,262.66. Rogers’ salary was $31,345.41, indemnities $664.62 and mileage $935.20. Conferences per diem for Rogers was $700 and conference expenses was reported at $3,617.37.

Leamington Deputy Mayor Larry Verbeke had his 2025 remuneration reported at $36,523. His salary was $31,875.86 with nothing listed under indemnities but $775.46 for mileage. His conferences per diem was reported at $875 and conference expenses was reported at $2,996.68.

Kingsville Deputy Mayor Kim DeYong’s remuneration total was $33,343.99 with a salary reported at $31,610.67. Her indemnities totalled $1,107.70 with mileage totalling $625.62. DeYong didn’t have any conference per diem or expense totals.

Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey had a total of $33,419.55 with a salary of $31,610.67, indemnities of $664.62 and mileage of $1,144.26. Bailey didn’t have any conference per diem or conference expenses reported.

Lakeshore Deputy Mayor Kirk Walstedt’s remuneration total was $32,943.53. His indemnities were $664.52 and his mileage total was $403.04. Walstedt did not have conference per diem or conference expenses.

LaSalle Deputy Mayor Michael Akpata’s 2025 remuneration total was $32,442.48. Akpata’s salary was $30,815.07 while his indemnities and mileage totals were $996.93 and mileage was $630.48 respectively. There were no conference per diem or expenses for Akpata.

For county council members, total remuneration amounted to $595,471.58. The schedule of other remuneration, which included alternate members and committee members who either were paid a salary or had indemnity or mileage totals totalled $15,419.59.

Deborah Alexander’s total was $1,665.82 with indemnities being $1,440.02 and mileage $225.80 and no salary. Katie Blais’ total was $60.86 with $60 for indemnities and 89 cents for mileage. Terry Burns had a total of $1,281.49 with no salary, $996.93 for indemnities and $284.56 in mileage. Mark Carrick had a total of $1,164.48 with $1,060.80 in salary and $103.68.

Sherri Currie’s total was $1,422.04 with no salary, $1,329.24 in indemnities and $92.80 in mileage. Tony Gaffan’s total for 2025 was $877.68 with $795.60 and $82.08 in mileage. Brian Houston’s total was $292.56 with $265.20 and $27.36 in mileage. Rachel Jewell’s total amounted to $1,396.47 with nothing in salary, $1,218.47 listed for indemnities and $178 in mileage.

John Kerr’s total was $304.80 with a salary figure of $265.20 and mileage of $39.60. Diana Kirkbride’s total was $1,831.84 with no salary, $1,329.24 for indemnities and $502.60 for mileage. Heather Latam’s total was listed as $1,067.61 with no salary, $886.16 for indemnities and $181.45 for mileage.

Maria McPherson’s remuneration total was $81.60 with no salary, $60 in indemnities and $21.60 in mileage. Julie Miles’ total was $926.73 with no salary, $775.39 for indemnities and $151.34 in mileage. Tadeusz Polewski’s total was $86.64 with no salary, $60 for indemnities and $26.64 in milage. Diane Pouget had a total of zero listed for 2025 remuneration.

Dennis Sanson’s remuneration total was $1,860.16 with no salary listed, $1,661.60 for indemnities and $198.56 for mileage. Lauren Segedin’s total was $689.20, with $553.85 in indemnities and $135.35 in mileage. Paul Tiessen’s total was $316.61 with $265.20 in salary, no indemnities and $51.41 in mileage. Kim Verbeek’s total was $93 with no salary, $75 in indemnities and $18 in mileage. 

Remuneration report released for county council & committees

By Ron Giofu