UPDATE #20-04 COVID-19
For Immediate Release
Algonquin Highlands, Ontario
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
6:00 pm
Release # 20-04
Subject: Township of Algonquin Highlands COVID 19 Update
The Algonquin Highlands Emergency Control Group met earlier today to continue its assessment of the rapidly-evolving COVID-19 pandemic situation and its potential effects on Algonquin Highlands. As a result of the provincial directive on non-essential business, updates from today’s meeting include parks, water trails and campsites and the 2020 Septic Re-Inspection Program.
Please see the NEW information, as below.
Administration
- The administrative office on North Shore Road is closed to the public effective March 18, 2020.
- NEW: Departments deemed “essential” will continue to operate with accommodations made for working from home where possible, and with strict distancing and hygiene protocols in place where working from home is not possible (e.g. Public Works). In accordance with the provincial directive, essential municipal services include:
- Airport Fuel Services (for emergency services)
- Public Works
- Landfills
- Payroll
- Drinking Water Testing
- Tax Collection
- Emergency Services
- Licensing and Permits
- Cemeteries
Airport
- The terminal building is closed to the public effective March 18, 2020.
- Fuel remains available via the card lock system.
- Aviation operations that don’t involve staff or any interaction continue.
- Emergency services such as Hydro One, Ornge and MNRF retain full access to the airport.
Building/By-Law Department
- NEW: Year 3 of the Septic Re-Inspection Program is postponed until further notice.
- NEW: The 2020 Septic Social scheduled for May 30, 2020 has been cancelled.
- Interaction with staff is limited to telephone and email. In person meetings are not available at this time.
- Application forms pertaining to this department can be found online.
- Staff will continue field inspections while observing appropriate distancing and hygiene protocols.
- The public is asked to consider the urgency of their request or application.
Council
- All Regular Council meetings and Council Committee meetings have been cancelled until further notice.
Finance Department
- The due date for the first installment of the 2020 Interim Taxes has been extended to April 24, 2020.
- At this time, we are unable to accept cash or debit payment.
- Tax payments are accepted as follows;
- Online or telephone banking.
- At your financial institution - please check with your local branch for hours.
- Cheques may be mailed or deposited in the secure drop box located on the front porch of the Township office (absolutely no cash is to be deposited in the drop box).
- Pre-Authorized Payment – Registration forms are available on the Township website.
Fire Services
- Fire Services will continue to operate at full capacity with universal precautions in place.
Library Services
- The Stanhope Library is closed to the public.
- The Library Book Depot at the Dorset Recreation Centre is closed.
- Public Wi-Fi hotspots at both locations remain available.
Parks, Recreation and Trails
- NEW: All parks, playgrounds and trails are closed effective immediately.
- NEW: All campsites are closed effective immediately. Currently we are not accepting new reservations however; we will re-evaluate the acceptance of campsite reservations on April 30, 2020.
- Prior bookings for campsites between March 25 - April 30, 2020 will be refunded.
- NEW: Dorset Recreation Centre Memberships – membership fees will be adjusted once the recreation centre reopens.
- The Water Trails office is closed to the public effective March 18, 2020.
- The recreation centres located at Stanhope, Dorset, Oxtongue remain closed until further notice.
- Public Wi-Fi hotspots remain available at the Stanhope, Dorset and Oxtongue Community Centres.
- Equipment rentals are not available.
- Public washrooms remain available at the Dorset Parkette, Elvin Johnson Park, Stanhope Courts and Playing Field as well as our Water Trail access points. Although these facilities are regularly checked and cleaned, users are asked to undertake appropriate hygiene protocols.
Planning
- Interaction with staff is limited to telephone and email. In person meetings are not available at this time.
- Public meetings related to Planning matters will occur with appropriate distancing and hygiene protocols.
- The public is asked to consider the urgency of their request or application.
- Application forms pertaining to this department can be found online.
Public Works- Roads
- Service levels will be maintained
Public Works – Landfills
Until further notice, the Township will no longer be accepting the following materials at ANY landfill site;
- No construction materials, concrete of shingles
- No scrap metal
- No bulky items (anything that doesn’t fit in a standard size garbage can is considered a bulky item)
- No mattresses
- No furniture
- No appliances (Fridges, stoves, freezers, etc.)
- No brush, no leaves, no yard waste
- No boats
Only up to 1 cubic yard per vehicle of household waste and blue box recycling will be accepted.
Re-use centres at Maple, Dorset and Oxtongue will be closed.
Please ensure you check the latest information prior to attending a landfill site.
Water Taps
- The Township’s public water taps remain open and all users are reminded that these are public facilities where extraordinary hygiene protocols are required.
Algonquin Highlands remains attentive to this quickly evolving situation and any changes to the above can be found:
- On the News and Notices section of the Township website; you may subscribe to News and Notices here.
- On the Township's NEW webpage dedicated to this issue;
- Via the Township's various social media channels
For further questions or inquiries, please leave a message at the Township office at 705-489-2379 and your call will be returned as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience in potential delays.
Once again, we thank the public for their understanding as we work toward keeping our community safe and healthy in this uncertain time.
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