UPDATE #20-09 COVID 19 - Boat Launches, Enforcement and Event Cancellation
For Immediate Release
Algonquin Highlands, Ontario
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
5:00 pm
Release # 20-09
Subject: COVID 19 Update - Boat Launches, Enforcement and Event Cancellation
Haliburton County currently has two confirmed cases of COVID-19. With early spring weather and Easter weekend quickly approaching, local medical professionals continue to remind us that this is a critical period in the advancement of the virus.
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.
Updates from today’s meeting include boat launches, enforcement and event cancellation.
NEW INFORMATION
1. Boat launches – Public boat launches remain open however; that could change based on Provincial direction and/or the public’s response.
2. The Township is experiencing an increased volume of complaints regarding inappropriate or illegal gatherings. Should you wish to file a complaint, please note the contact information below;
OPP
1-888-310-1122
- Concerns about a non-essential business remaining open or providing services;
- Concerns about gatherings of 5 or more people on private property.
Township of Algonquin Highlands, Building and By-law Department
705-489-2379
- Concerns about gatherings of 5 or more people on Municipal property.
Public Health Agency of Canada
613-614-4754 (from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm)
- Concerns regarding someone who is supposed to be in quarantine.
3. Planned programming and events are being reviewed in 30 day blocks. The following event has been cancelled;
- May 9 – Dorset Pitch In Community Clean Up
Administration
- As staff are working remotely, please leave a message for the respective staff member when calling the municipal office. Staff are able to receive voicemails at their remote locations and will respond as quickly as possible.
- The administrative office on North Shore Road remains closed to the public.
- All municipal departments continue to operate in accordance with Provincial orders
- Accommodations have been made for staff working remotely where possible, and with strict distancing and hygiene protocols in place where working from home is not possible (e.g. Public Works).
- All municipal buildings remain closed to the public.
Airport
- The terminal building remains closed to the public.
- 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
- By-law Enforcement Officers with the assistance of Parks, Recreation and Trails, Public Works and Fire Services, will be monitoring the community for public gatherings and to assist with enforcement to ensure social distancing and social gathering protocols are being followed in accordance with the Provincial Orders
- Field inspections will continue, at staff’s discretion, and only where
appropriate distancing and hygiene protocols can be maintained. - Year 3 of the Septic Re-Inspection Program is postponed until further notice.
- 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.
- 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.
- Effective April 3, 2020, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has implemented a Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) across the entire fire region of Ontario which includes Algonquin Highlands. This means no open air fires including burning of grass, debris and campfires. Note that charges and /or fines are being enforced
Library Services
- The Stanhope Library is closed to the public.
- The Library Book Depot at the Dorset Recreation Centre is closed.
Parks, Recreation and Trails
- The Province of Ontario issued a new emergency order to close all outdoor recreational amenities, such as sports fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, basketball and tennis courts, park shelters and other outdoor recreational amenities effective immediately.
- Scheduled recreational programs and events will be reviewed and decisions regarding cancellation will be made in 30-day blocks
- All parks, playgrounds and trails remain closed.
- The Water Trails office remains closed and equipment rentals are not available.
- The Stanhope, Dorset, Oxtongue recreation/community centres remain closed.
- All campsites are closed.
- New camping reservations are suspended until April 30, 2020 and will be re-evaluated thereafter.
- Prior bookings for campsites between March 25 - April 30, 2020 will be refunded.
- Dorset Recreation Centre Memberships will be adjusted when the recreation centre reopens.
Planning
- Public meetings related to Planning are suspended until further notice.
- 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.
Policing
- If you wish to file a report regarding a non-essential business remaining open, call the OPP’s non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122.
- If you wish to file a report regarding non-compliance under the Quarantine Act, contact Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Washrooms
- At the request of the Health Unit, public washrooms remain available at the Dorset Parkette, Elvin Johnson Park, Stanhope Courts and Playing Field, as well as our Water Trail access points.
- These facilities are regularly checked and cleaned however, users are asked to undertake appropriate hygiene protocols.
Public Works- Roads
- Service levels will be maintained
Public Works – Landfills
In order to reduce/eliminate interaction between people including the exchange of money, receipts or other documentation, the following materials are temporarily not allowed 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.
All sites are operating on the regular winter hours schedule.
The Waste Wizard provides current information regarding recycling and waste disposal, as well as site hours and locations. Information is updated regularly.
WiFi Locations
- Public Wi-Fi hotspots remain available at the following locations;
- Stanhope Public Library
- Stanhope, Dorset and Oxtongue Community Centres
- Stanhope Municipal Airport (please note that the deck is closed for physical distancing purposes)
- Township Office at 1123 North Shore Road
- Users are asked to be considerate of bandwidth consumption due to increased attendance at public WiFi sites
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 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 or e-mail [email protected]. 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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