Realtors feel they’ve turned the COVID corner

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May 14, 2020

Haliburton County realtors are feeling optimistic about the future despite the challenges COVID-19 has thrown at them so far this year.

“The last few weeks have really, really, woken up,” said Andrew Hodgson of Century 21 Granite Realty Group. “We’re busy right now.”

Andrea Strano of RE/MAX Professionals North added, “it’s definitely not business as usual, but just in the last couple of weeks, it’s been more of a normal pace for us, so that’s positive.”

The two said COVID-19 has brought change to their industry: both in terms of how they operate and trends going forward. With real estate being an essential service, they were never shut down. And, unlike the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), they have never been reliant on open houses, so that has been a plus. They have turned to more virtual marketing. They have also been able to visit properties under strenuous public health guidelines.

“Viewings are happening by all the social distancing measures,” Strano said.

So, while she’s looking forward to eventually going back into the office, Strano said she’s steadily working from home. She added that sellers are more comfortable putting properties on the market now that restrictions are easing and the weather is getting nicer. She said people are feeling reassured by COVID-19 protocols.

Hodgson said he reviewed real estate activity after SARS, and 9/11.

“There was quite a push out of Toronto after each of those episodes.”

Following COVID-19, he added, “we are going to have low interest rates like we’ve never had before, and there will be greater demand. We’re not worried about our community.”

For example, he said his agency has been approached by a client who traditionally travels, spending thousands of dollars a year. Now, he said that person has told him, “I’m looking to buy a place up here instead.”

He added he’s had several conversations with people in the GTA who have figured out they can work from home now and want to get out of the city.

Strano said her firm is seeing similar trends. With the pandemic as a catalyst, she said, “more and more clients are realizing they don’t want to be in a hectic city anymore. This has made people take a step back and re-evaluate where they are, their lives, and wanting to slow down a bit.”

She said as long as they have access to good internet, they are keen to come to Haliburton county, where they can enjoy space and tranquility, “and choose their own adventure, including their own work schedule and slowing the pace down a little bit.”

She said buyers want to come sooner, still work, but ease back, and accelerate retirement plans.

Hodgson said he is an optimist. After all, “in the old days, real estate didn’t start in Haliburton County until the long weekend of May.” He said if the industry gets going by June 1, they’ll have a good 2020.

Strano agreed, saying the majority of sales will happen between June and the fall, and the season may extend longer into winter this year.

“I feel very positive about things moving forward, as long as the community is being vigilant and listening to what the government is telling us to do.”

School board adapts to learning at home

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Lisa Gervais

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May 12, 2020

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JQ – School board Learning@Home web — Trillium Lakelands District School Board is adapting to learning at home with schools closed until at least May 31. File photo.

Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) is working through the hurdles of Learning@Home but its polling indicates most families are satisfied by its efforts so far.

Director of Education Larry Hope reported to the school board about the program April 28. Boards across the province have rolled out home learning with schools closed until at least May 31 by provincial order due to COVID-19.

Hope said in a board-wide survey of families with 3,200 respondents, 68 per cent expressed they were satisfied or very satisfied with online programs and tools. Meanwhile, 80 per cent of respondents expressed satisfaction with schools’ communication and 65 per cent expressed satisfaction with the quantity of schoolwork, Hope said.

“Particularly proud of our staff for the incredible work they’ve done to bring this to life,” Hope said. “Doesn’t mean we’re done; it just means we have some things to continue to build on and hopefully do even better on in the coming days and weeks.”

Hope said although they have received positive feedback, there are concerns. He said there is pushback on work quantity, with some families saying students are finishing too quickly and others struggling to get it done on time. Learning@Home includes reduced schoolwork hours, with Grades K-6 at five hours per week, Grades 7-8 at 10 hours per week, and Grades 9-12 at three hours per credit per week.

“We know there are students who will get the work and have it in 10-15 minutes and other students who require an hour or two,” Hope said. “We’ve asked our educators to be as mindful of that continuum as they possibly can be.”

Another point of issue is grading, Hope said. The province has mandated students’ grades cannot go below where they were March 13, when schools closed, though grades can still improve.

“We know that has caused some anxiety for some of our staff. It’s certainly caused some uncertainty in our communities,” Hope said. “The simple reality is when we’re given a directive like this, we accept the directive because it is our responsibility.”

Hope reported a common point of feedback is high stress and anxiety levels for students and their families. He said TLDSB has launched a series of video supports and is highlighting mental health supports in the area.

Bracebridge trustee Stephen Binstock asked about what guidance counsellors are doing and Hope responded they are reaching out to students.

“Our single greatest challenge is that’s not happening in person, and that is a problem, there’s no two ways about that. But they’re doing everything they can,” Hope said.

Haliburton trustee Gary Brohman expressed his appreciation for staff and sympathy for parents dealing with high workloads, particularly single parents.

“Let’s just be really careful on workload,” Brohman said. “Kids are going to school next September and they’ll catch up regardless. They’re the most resilient group of people in our society.”

Dysart septic inspection overhaul delayed to 2021

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Lisa Gervais

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May 12, 2020

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JQ - Septic re-inspection - 1 - web — Dysart et al is delaying planned septic re-inspection changes to 2021. File photo.

Dysart et al is pausing its planned overhaul to its septic re-inspection bylaw due to COVID-19 but will require outstanding properties in the first testing area to get inspected.

Council passed a resolution May 5 to postpone revisions to 2021. The municipality had planned to alter its program to be handled by a third-party contractor and no longer require pumpouts but decided to wait given the impact COVID-19 has had on municipal operations.

However, chief building official Karl Korpela said the situation should allow them to test the 112 properties that failed to comply with the bylaw around the Kennisis Lake area in 2019, where the first round of inspections occurred.

“We’re looking to kind of revise that process because we will have time this summer,” Korpela said.

The 112 properties will be sent an order with an identified date for inspection, with a $250 fee. If an owner or representative fails to attend, they will be charged another $250 with another inspection date, with the process repeating until compliance.

Initially, those 112 properties were going to be placed into the second round of inspections, meaning they would avoid having to get pump-outs their neighbours did.

The Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners’ Association has protested that, as well as dropping mandatory pump-outs. The revised process will force those 112 properties to get a pump-out by a certified septage hauler within one month of inspection, with the hauler also verifying the tank’s condition afterwards.

But Coun. John Smith, the lone councillor to vote against the revised process, took issue with that. He noted certified inspectors had looked at tanks immediately after they were pumped out and said the same should occur this year.

“Eight-hundred people who had their septics inspected in Area 1 so far have had their inspector and pumper there at the same time,” Smith said. “Why would we not continue with the same approach with the 112?”

Korpela said it would not be practical to repeat that this summer, given the modified process.

“What if those owners are not there? We’ll have to pay those pumpers to follow us around to not pump anything,” Korpela said. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

Smith said haulers are not required to get any qualification or training with respect for assessing tanks after a pump-out and that task should be left to an inspector. Korpela disagreed and said in his opinion, a qualified pumper could do that to the same standard.

Mayor Andrea Roberts said there could be more discussion in the fall about a revised process and said it is good the municipality is proceeding with some inspections when it could have easily done nothing due to COVID-19.

“We will have more fulsome discussion on this when we look to revise the bylaw,” Roberts said.

Businesses open doors as restrictions eased

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Lisa Gervais

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May 11, 2020

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JQ - Businesses reopening - 2-web — Baked and Battered is re-opening its doors as the province begins the process of economic recovery. File photo.

Local businesses are re-opening, welcoming the province beginning to ease COVID-19related restrictions.

The Government of Ontario allowed some businesses and industries to reopen starting May 4, as long as they comply with public health measures. The list included garden centres, landscaping, car washes and auto dealerships. Other sectors impacted included construction, marinas and golf courses.

The province further announced May 6 that retailers with street entrances would be able to open for pickup and delivery starting May 11. Garden centres will be able to open for in-store purchases May 8. Hardware and safety supply stores can also open for in-store purchases May 9.

The Haliburton County Home Builders Association said in a release it’s glad to see the province easing its restrictions and expanding its scope of essential construction projects to include site preparation, excavation and servicing for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional development.

“Building new homes and communities is a long, complicated process and requires different construction activities over a number of seasons” HCHBA president Keith Thomas said. “Losing the entire construction season for site servicing would set our local housing supply back and risk the homes that our clients are looking to move into next year. Under the new provincial guidelines, we will continue to deliver homes safely today and in the future.”

Marinas also welcomed the news that they could begin preparations for the boating season by servicing watercraft and placing them in the water, though buildings remain closed to the public. Boating Ontario had requested eased restrictions in a release April 24. Ann Gordon co-owns Haliburton RPM and they had advocated getting doors open for staff to prepare for the season.

“It’s going to take us four-to-six weeks to get the boats ready before they can even go off. It made good sense to open the marinas,” Gordon said. “When it does open up and cottagers are allowed to come up, the boats are ready.”

The province released its framework April 27 to begin mass reopening. It proposed businesses to start reopening in phases, based on several criteria, including a two to four week decline in the number of new daily COVID-19 cases.

Although the plan has not started rolling out, other businesses are taking it as a sign to start re-opening. Gordon’s other business, the Kozy Korner restaurant, is also opening again after being closed since March. Although restaurants have been allowed to stay open for takeout throughout the pandemic, Gordon said the province’s moves influenced her decision to open the restaurant’s doors again.

“I just think people are getting more comfortable with what they can do and what they can’t do and they’re not totally in their houses anymore,” Gordon said.

Gordon said she feels safe running businesses right now, with measures such as social distancing and limited entry in place. However, she added she has concerns with another spike of COVID-19 cases occurring as the economy opens.

“But you’ve got to live with what you’ve got to live with,” she said.

Dogs that attacked girl put down

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Lisa Gervais

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May 11, 2020

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JQ - Dog attack update - 1 - webs — The dogs that severely injured Sadie Lester were euthanized at the request of their owners. Photo via GoFundMe.

The dogs that attacked and severely injured a young girl and her mother in Dysart et al have been put down.

Haliburton Highlands OPP said May 1 the two Saint Bernards were euthanized at the request of their owners. Police said the dogs had attacked a six-year-old and her mother April 12 when they were walking near their home in Dysart et al. Police said their investigation is concluded, with no charges in the case.

“Our investigators did take it to the Crown Attorney and examined all the circumstances around it,” Sgt. Jason Folz said. “They didn’t feel at this time that there were offences under the Dog Owners’ Liability Act.”

The act does state a dog owner shall take reasonable precautions to prevent it from biting or attacking a person. A dog owner also has civil liability for damages resulting from a bite or attack. But the euthanization of the dogs may have played a factor in the case, Folz said.

“I feel the voluntary destruction of those dogs … assisted in making determinations on whether those charges were continued to be examined,” Folz said. “It was a traumatic incident; I’m assuming for everyone involved. Certainly, the young girl and the mother, but probably the owners of the dogs.”

The girl who was severely injured is Sadie Lester, who is still recovering. The community has supported the family, with a GoFundMe raising more than $40,000 as of May 5.

In a May 2 update, her father AJ Lester said there have been ups and downs for the family. “Emotional drain and strain have been hard,” Lester said. “Waiting to see if nerves will regrow, to see if the scars become healed enough that there are no longer any open areas. Just helping to try to make life as normal as possible for Sadie.”

In an earlier update, Lester discussed the family’s feelings about the attack.

“Don’t get me wrong, we are upset, frustrated and angry. But I want those who are watching to know we don’t have hate in us right now,” he said.

Why in-person meetings are best

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Lisa Gervais

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May 7, 2020

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I’ve now watched two council meetings that were done via Zoom, and shown on YouTube. Both were last week and both involved the Township of Minden Hills.

The first one was a special council meeting April 28. It was called to essentially sanction the use of virtual meetings, and quorum, going forward. It lasted less than 10 minutes with the council then going into closed session.

The second meeting, April 30, was a regular council meeting. It was a follow up to a committee of the whole meeting that had been held back in March. It was longer than the first meeting but still not lengthy. There were no delegations. However, a couple of staff members, public works director Travis Wilson, and planner Ian Clendening, did make appearances to discuss reports in their portfolios and on the agenda. After about an hour, the council again went behind closed doors.

The County’s library board was the first municipal board to kick off virtual meetings. By the end of next week week, all five tiers of government will have had a crack at it.

My thoughts?

It is nice to see the councils meeting again, and taking back some of their delegated authority. It allows members of the press, and the public, to know more about what is going on when it comes to the day-to-day running of local municipalities.

I applaud the work of the County’s IT department, and municipal clerks in particular, for helping to get the technology up and running.

For the most part, I think it is going well. I have not noticed any major glitches, other than a few councillors forgetting to unmute microphones or turn on video.

As a reporter, it is actually convenient to tune into the meetings from home. There is no driving time. It is also quite easy to make audio recordings of the meetings to play back for more accurate reporting.

ever, I do prefer going to council meetings in person for a number of reasons. When in council chambers, you get a much better feel for a meeting. For example, you can read a councillors’ body language. You can pick up on side comments. Often, some of the best story tips come when chatting informally with the councillors, or staff, at the coffee station outside of the chambers.

It is also easier to clarify things on-the-spot and in-person, rather than chasing councillors and staff after-the-fact. This is the same for delegations to council. There have not been any at the meetings I have covered. However, it is much easier to follow them outside after they make their presentations than trying to do so after they have virtually pled their case.

And, finally, the press is given an opportunity to ask questions at the end of council meetings, as long as the queries are pertinent to something that has been on the meeting agenda. While we don’t always ask questions, the point is that we can.

So, while I am happy to attend some Zoom meetings for now – and delighted to have something to write about other than COVID-19 – I look forward to a return to business as usual and once again making my way to the County’s council meetings.

Paramedic chief worked front lines of SARS, managed Ebola

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Lisa Gervais

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May 7, 2020

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Supporting frontline paramedics during COVID-19 keeps Jo-Ann Hendry more than busy these days. One of two deputy chiefs with the Haliburton County Paramedic Service, Hendry’s job is to provide ongoing information and education to paramedics.

In relation to COVID-19, she said their focus has been on putting on, wearing, and taking off proper personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as standards and regulations that are continually changing. She is also participating on multiple task forces, committees and organizing of the assessment centre.

“The current most important role through this pandemic is to protect and support our frontline paramedics,” she said.

It isn’t completely new territory for her as she was an on-road paramedic during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003. She also had a managerial position during the ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in 2014.

Hendry said COVID-19 had changed a lot of things for frontline paramedics.

“They have gone from a fast-paced, critical thinking, decision-making, treatment-based working diagnosis to our focus being shifted to assessing a patient from a distance in full PPE to mitigate and manage the COVID-19 risk. Our paramedics continue to provide service for the sick and injured during a time of increased risk of communicable disease transmission,” she said.

She had a number of thanks you’s, including: The County of Haliburton, Haliburton Highlands Health Services, Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team and the physicians in Haliburton and Minden, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network, OPP, municipal fire departments, and the Central East Local Health Integration Network.

“I would also like to thank the rest of the HCPS management team, our executive assistant, community paramedic and staff of paramedics for their dedication and continuing efforts to battle this invisible threat. Haliburton County residents, and in time, our visitors, can be confident in the quality of care they will receive.”

Doctor part of ‘quite inspiring puzzle’

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 7, 2020

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Dr. Judy Suke isn’t one for tooting her own horn. In fact, she said she finds its awkward to talk about herself. However, Dr Suke helped create, and is helping to run, the COVID assessment centre that continues to operate on the grounds of the Haliburton Family Medical Centre (HFMC).

“I am just one small piece of a much bigger, quite inspiring puzzle,” Dr. Suke told The Highlander recently.

She was referring to what she calls the “inspiring collaboration between our HFMC office, led by our COVID hero and office manager Kim Robinson, Dr. Scott Coles, along with many other COVID heroes, including daily EMS involvement led by Jo-Ann Hendry, support from the local hospital, roads and fire departments.”

She said all of these community partners contribute in key ways and the centre wouldn’t exist without them. Dr. Suke added that the day-to-day operations of the assessment centre rely on staff from all of the teams she’s mentioned, along with dedicated HFMC staff who “care and counsel patients in our assessment centre tent.”

She said their physician assistant, Kevin Penney, along with nursing staff, are at the frontline of the effort, along with nurses inside the office that field calls to triage, and or, make assessment centre bookings and help with all the follow-up calls and counselling. She said administration keeps it all rolling smoothly.

“I have never doubted how lucky I am to work with such an amazing group of people. All of our staff have stepped up with ideas, contributions and creativity to help.”

She had accolades for physician colleagues, such as Dr. Steve Ferracutti, for his leadership in educating hospital staff around care of COVID patients, while training them around policies and procedures that ensure staff and community safety.

She said Haliburton Highlands Health Services chief of staff, Dr. Keith Hay has been a guide and excellent leader; Dr. Kristy Gammon and Dr. Tina Stephenson key “and honestly every single physician. nurse and administrator that is a part of our HHHS and HFMC team.

“Members of our medical community are working hard at many levels to contribute not just to pandemic care, but evolving primary care models and needs. COVID heroes are everywhere you look right now amongst your medical community and beyond, which says a lot about our community.”

As for the public, she lauded them for playing their part in the physical distancing measures which are essential in keeping our population healthy during this difficult time.

“Physical distancing and COVID stress are hard. You all are COVID heroes.”

Lee Gauthier has headed home

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 7, 2020

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Kelly Gauthier called her aunt Lee ‘Aunty Oz’ because of their shared love of the movie, The Wizard of Oz.

“It was our favourite movie,” Kelly said. “There’s no place like home … and Lee was my home, so I referred to her as Aunty Oz.”

Lee Gauthier, who died peacefully via medical assistance in dying (MAID) April 30, is being fondly remembered by friends, family and colleagues.

Kelly said she and Lee had a special bond. She said she grew up in a dysfunctional home but was too young to know that. However, Lee did, and would pick her up every other weekend and whisk her to the cottage on Kushog Lake.

“She was instrumental in my childhood in terms of getting me away, and showing me ways of expressing myself.”

While young Kelly did odd jobs, such as taking snow off the roof in winter or raking leaves, she was encouraged to do art. She went on to become an art and photo therapist. As she grew into her teens and adulthood, Kelly said Lee was always home for her, no matter where she went. And she said other family members felt the same way.

“She was just my north, south, east and west. She probably was a compass for me, or maybe she was a healing spot for a lot of people in the family. She shared a friendship with some of us. She was more like a mom for others. She never hesitated to be there for someone. Her home was just a place where you felt comfortable and welcome.”

Kelly said when Lee told her she had cancer and didn’t know how much time she had left, but was not going to do chemotherapy, “she said ‘I’ve lived a great life. It’s my time’. She was so comfortable with her decision.”

Kelly and Lee’s friend Darlene Brown were with her at the time she passed “and her decision never wavered. She was at ease the whole time, reminiscing about old times. We laughed and cried. She also made sure to let us know how deeply we were loved and made eye contact the whole time as if to take that image of us with her. She passed peacefully.”

Friend Brenda Peddigrew said Lee told people she was going to be reincarnated as an owl so she isn’t surprised that she, and others, have been seeing owls, or symbols of owls, since Lee passed away.

“Lee told most of us she’s coming back as an owl. She loved owls. She told us ‘just look out for owls’. Since she’s been gone, the number of owl sightings, I’ve had three this morning,” Brenda said in an interview May 4.

Peddigrew had known Lee for more than 20 years, part of three groups with the well-known local realtor: the Outloud Womyn’s Voices, the Algonquin Highlands Writers Circle and the Soul Sisters group.

“Lee was a very significant, visible member of so many communities in our area. It is a huge loss. We all feel it. And we are kind of still on the edge of shock,” Brenda said.

But she said Lee “was completely at peace. She had all of her affairs in order.”

Peddigrew last saw her on April 24. She said Lee had thought of everything, charities to give to, new homes for her cats, where to donate her movies.

She said once people learned of Lee’s plans, they were able to reach out by phone and email. And, on Tuesday, April 28, a procession of people in vehicles did an organized drive by for Lee, who stood in her driveway, farewelling them all.

Peddigrew said she would remember her friend for her love of art, writing and travel. She said Lee was a global person in many ways.

“It was part of her essence. She had a very big mind, and a heart that was capable of going to another country and absorbing their culture. Lee travelled for adventure. It symbolized her life and her being expanded when she went to these countries, not just to see what was there.”

She said they’ve also leaned new things about her, such as Lee’s ongoing support of the Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary.

“What she brought, besides her generosity, was her interest in so many different things.

Peddigrew added her friend wasn’t an angel. “She also had a stubbornness and feistiness I think contributed to everything else. She had a quick temper and could go off like a firecracker, and then come back and apologize. She was totally human and knew it.”

Century 21 Granite Realty Group’s Andrew Hodgson said he’d worked with Lee for 14 years.

“First and foremost, she was a dear friend and a wonderful person,” he said.

He added that she was a “great realtor, loved being a realtor, for over 33 years in Haliburton. She insisted on dying as a realtor.” She was fully licenced at the time of her passing. “She was professional to the highest degree. Top notch.”

He added she had a true affinity for Kushog Lake out of her Carnarvon office. He estimates that during her career she would have served close to 1,000 clients, and had an amazing referral network and dedicated repeat customers.

“Lee was proud to be a realtor, proud to be part of our team. I loved working with her. She knew her stuff, she knew her cottagers, her area. She understood her buyers. I used to make jokes, ‘that listing’s a Lee special’.”

Minden Pride also honoured Lee on their Facebook page.

“It is with sadness that we learned of the passing yesterday of friend of Minden Pride, Lee Gauthier. Some referred to Lee as the founder of the lesbian community in Haliburton. Our sincere condolences to Lee’s friends and family.”

Minden to tender major projects despite COVID

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 7, 2020

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Minden Hills council voted to proceed with tendering some major projects, including reconstructing IGA Road, when it met April 30.

Director of public works, Travis Wilson, was looking for direction amidst COVID19. “In regards to the continuation of construction with the current restrictions from the province in regards to critical infrastructure,” he said in a report. He also wanted to know how council felt about existing contracts, and if the municipality would consider compensation to contractors should their operations require substantially more money to complete.

The 2020 budget has several rehabilitation, preventative maintenance, and maintenance and construction projects. They include: roads’ resurfacing, the Sunnybrook Bridge, Milburn, Bobcaygeon, IGA and Shetland roads, the Salerno Lake bridge, Scotch Line slopes and closing the Irondale waste disposal site.

Wilson said a number of projects can easily be justified as critical and essential, including resurfacing, Sunnybrook and Salerno Lake Road bridges, Scotch Line slopes and Irondale closure. However, he felt others, such as reconstruction of IGA and Bobcaygeon roads, Shetland Road drainage and Milburn Road bridge, cannot be justified as critical and essential.

“(IGA) Road has been in poor shape for at least 15 years. One additional year will not make this road in any worse condition. The reconstruction will require storm sewer work, which will require close proximity of staff,” he said.

The current direction from the province would classify all of these projects as essential and critical, Wilson said, however, he said the township should be cognizant of the potential risk and health impacts of allowing, and in this case, promoting gatherings of contractors within the municipality.

But Deputy Mayor Lisa Schell said, “Yes, (some roads) have been that way for a long time but I still consider them critical. IGA Road may have looked the way it does for many years but that doesn’t make it any less worthy to be fixed.” She went on to say the township has budgeted for these projects in 2020, understanding they may cost more now depending on COVID-19.

“My recommendation would be that we move forward and we put the tenders out and if they come in astronomically different than we thought they should have been, we don’t have to accept them at this time. But, I’d like to see the current projects for 2020 all move forward and if grant money comes forward in the fall or later, even possibly for next year, that we look at projects we haven’t been able to do due to funding or money in Travis’s department.”

Coun. Bob Carter said as much as he agreed with Schell about trying to get ahead with roads, “at the same time, I think of things such as the Sunnybrook bridge … if it hasn’t been tendered and if there is the possibility of infrastructure money coming, it would seem that it might be a good thing to try to take advantage of that infrastructure money.”

In a recorded vote, the motion passed 5-2. Carter and Coun. Pam Sayne voted against. (Sayne wants work on the Shetland Road drainage done sooner, rather than later). Mayor Brent Devolin, Schell, and Councillors Jennifer Hughey, Jean Neville and Ron Nesbitt voted in favour.