At the start of 2017, Essex County faces the challenge of maintaining services, possibly downloading the responsibility for some roads to municipalities, and finally resolving the six-month-old strike by library workers.
Members of CUPE Local 2974 have been off the job since June 25 in a dispute nobody believed would become as protracted, and at times nasty as it has.
Warden Tom Bain is eager to return library service to residents, and says opening branches for limited services on a rotating basis may not be the only option.
"According to the chair of the library board, [there's] a number of options that they're looking at," says Bain, adding that he wouldn't specify what other options are being discussed but says the board is reviewing them now.
Bain says settling the dispute will be one of county council's top priorities in 2017.
County council also starts budget deliberations in early February. Bain says the county is debt-free and on solid financial footing, but he anticipates a rate increase as councillors move to maintain social services.
"[There's] a huge demand in the area of health care. One of the examples with our Sun Parlour home and also with our ambulance services," Bain says. "I see an increase, but I feel strongly that county council will be able to keep it at a minimum."
Roads will also be a hot topic around the horseshoe as councillors contemplate the results of a major report on the county's entire road network. Bain expects healthy debate.
"We will look at roads that possibly need to be downloaded to the municipalities and also look and see if there are municipal roads that should be uploaded to the county," he says. "A look at how we're going to finance how we're going to bring these roads into proper condition."
Bain says 2017 should be an exciting time for the county, considering work to start the Hwy. 3 overpass at Victoria Rd. in Essex and the Gordie Howe International Bridge will continue.
