Township Newsletter – April 2020

INFORMATION AND UPDATES

The Township would like to keep everyone up to date on municipal activities, services and the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The road department continues on with daily activities to ensure safe travel over municipal roads. Should you have information you feel would be beneficial to the road department staff, please leave a message on the garage answering machine at 705-248-1141.

The municipal administrative office is closed to the public. However, someone will be in the office each day, to take your calls and attempt to answer any questions you may have. The number for the office is 705-248-2395.

Fire permits are required from April 1st to October 31st each year. The Province has imposed a fire ban, therefore until the Provincial restrictions are lifted, no permits will be issued. As is the normal practise with a fire ban in place, no brush or burnable materials will be accepted at the waste disposal site.

Centennial Park at Pumpkin Point is closed to the public. It is understood that playground equipment is a transmitter of COVID-19. To ensure the safety of family and friends, please do not enter the park accept to pass through to access personal property.

Algoma Public Health is available to answer questions on the local COVID-19 pandemic. Its website is algomapublichealth.com/covid-19. Algoma Public Health advises that “No” evidence of community spread means that the cases so far have all been linked to either travel or being a close contact. It does not necessarily mean there is no community spread, but that there is no evidence to support it at this time. It is worth repeating the advice of medical experts: cough into your arm; wash your hands; don’t touch your face; abide by social distancing (6 feet); and stay in, if at all possible.

Tax Payment Options

1. a) Payments may be made in cash. Should the office be closed, envelopes and tax bill stubs may be placed in the locked drop box at the bottom of the steps to the municipal office. The box is checked daily.
2. b) Cheques may also be placed in the locked drop box.
3. c) Those tax payers, with the exception of the TD and RBC financial institution accounts, may make direct deposits to the township’s bank.
4. d) An e-Transfer can be made by persons who bank with TD or RBC. Use lairdtwp@soonet.ca to send an e-Transfer. Please contact the office if you use this method.
5. e) For those persons wishing to spread payments over a number of months, please contact the municipal office at (705) 248-2395 to discuss options available to you. Many tax payers have used this method in the past, and it would seem like a good option for some at this time.
6. f) When the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, you may access the municipal office where a debit machine is also available to accept your tax payments.

Council Meetings Staff are attempting to set up teleconferencing for its April 16th meeting. Should you wish to listen in on the meeting, please call the municipal office to arrange for access.

Quote from Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) President

“There is no place better prepared than Ontario to respond to the COVID-19 emergency, manage through it effectively, and to rebuild prosperity through a period of recovery. Municipalities will support the province, our communities, and enterprises large and small, every step of the way”.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this stressful time. Stay safe, be well.

April 14, 2020