CKL CLOSES MUNICIPAL OFFICES, LANDFILLS

At the March 17 Special Council Information Session, Mayor Letham and senior staff provided an update on municipal services.
Mayor Letham commented, “We are taking these measures to protect our most vulnerable. We will get through this. I have full confidence in our staff and partners.”

Emergency Operations Centre Update
Fire Chief Mark Pankhurst provided an update that as of March 16, 2020, Kawartha Lakes has activated the Emergency Operations Centre to ensure a coordinated response during this time for our community. It provides a venue for municipalities and their partners to share information and to ensure that all essential services remain in place. There is no expectation at this time that a state of emergency will need to be called locally. A State of Emergency is declared when our local resources are exhausted and we require assistance from the Province or neighbouring municipalities. The municipality will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Updated closures, as of March 17, 4:30pm
Municipal Administration
All municipal buildings will be closed to the public.
Essential municipal services can still be accessed online or through telephone.
Please see Staying Connected below for more details.

Waste and Recycling
Curbside collection will continue as scheduled.
All landfills will be closed to the public, with access to approved contractors.

Human Services
Administrative offices in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton will be closed to the public. All supports and services for Housing, Ontario Works and Children's Services will continue to be delivered via telephone at 705-324-9870 during business hours. Any inquiry or information can also be submitted to cklhumanservices@kawarthalakes.ca. Services will continue to be monitored and adjusted as needed to meet the needs of our customers.
All licensed Child Care centres in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County are now closed.

Victoria Manor continues to operate under restricted access protocols as directed by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Long Term Care.

Fire and Paramedic Administration
All administration buildings (Headquarters) for Fire and Paramedic Services will be closed to the public. This includes all Fire Stations across the municipality. Fire and Paramedic Services will continue to operate and provide emergency services while the buildings are closed to the public.

Council, Boards and Committee Meetings
The regularly scheduled Council meeting for March 24 is rescheduled for March 19 to discuss essential City business. All other meetings of City Council, Municipal Boards and Committees, including Task Forces, will be suspended until the end of April and reassessed at that time.

Building Inspections
Building Officials will not be conducting inspections on projects that contain an occupied dwelling (Finished basement, Secondary suites or addition, etc.). This temporary halt to inspections will continue until April 6. We will continue to offer inspections to all other permits during regular inspection hours, until further notice.

Lindsay Transit
Conventional transit is continuing service with modifications.
LIMO specialized transit – cancellation of non-essential services.
All fares will be waived in an effort to keep our staff and the public safe.

Municipal Airport
The airport will be closed. It will remain open for Orng and any emergency vehicles.

Community Services
All arenas, community halls, libraries, recreation centres, pools, museums and service centres are closed until April 5 and will be reassessed at that time.

Provincial Offences Act Matters
All matters beginning March 16 through to April 3 will be adjourned to a later date and the defendant will be notified by mail.

Staying Connected and Informed
Visit our dedicated webpage at kawarthalakes.ca/covid19. You will find important information including contact information for our local health unit and the online assessment tool and links to latest municipal news.

Subscribe to our newsroom. Visit KawarthaLakes.ca/Subscribe and select our news category. All updates are published online through our newsroom. When you are subscribed, you will receive the email immediately to your inbox. Be sure to check your spam folder, and confirm your subscription.

Download our municipal app, PingStreet. This app allows us to send out emergency notifications straight to your smartphone, similar to Amber Alerts. It’s available for download Android and Apple through the Apps Stores.

Municipal Service Centres are providing service by telephone 8:30am-4:30pm by dialing 705-324-9411 or 888-822-2225. For COVID-19 information, enter 4000 when you hear the main message.

Community Partner Communications
The Health Unit is urging residents to self-assess as the first step in taking precautions against Covid-19. You can do this by:

a) Completing the self-assessment tool online
b) Contacting the Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577, extension 5020
c) Contacting TeleHealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000

Based on your results, if testing is required you will be sent to the local assessment centre at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay. Please do not go to the assessment centre if you have not been referred through any of these means. Before visiting the Ross Memorial Hospital, please check their COVID-19 webpage for up to date information. Starting Wednesday March 18, the Hospital's COVID-19 Assessment Centre can be reached at 705-328-6217. The hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8am to 4pm.