City promises generous stimulus package

By COLLIN GALLANT on April 29, 2020.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Potential details on a proposed relief package from city hall to those affected by this spring’s economic downturn were pulled back on Tuesday but the mayor reiterated the raft of measures could be the most generous of any municipality in Canada.

Mayor Ted Clugston said the complete package will be outlined at council’s meeting on May 4.

“We’ve built it, and council needs to vote on it in open council to approve it,” said Clugston at a Tuesday morning press briefing on the city’s operational COVID-19 response plan.

“I think what you will see … is per capita one of the most generous plans from a municipality in this country.

“There are a lot of moving pieces, but hopefully there will some tax deferral and some economic stimulus as well.”

Council’s corporate services committee met later in the day in a meeting originally advertised as being open, but the agenda had since been removed from the city’s website.

A meeting of that committee would be required to discuss potential changes to tax dates.

The mill rate, which determines the amount of tax owing alongside property assessments, also needs to be instituted in May. City taxes are typically due on June 30 each year.

Already, the province has instituted a deferral process for commercial property account holders to pay their education levy later in the year.

As well, the city has aligned utility billing practices to a provincially mandated 90-day deferral period on amounts owning and disconnection holiday that is set to expire on June 15.

The city along with other utility providers in the region recommend that customers keep up with their account balances as much as possible to avoid balloon payments coming due at that point.

Garage sales

Hatters should not hold or attend garage or yard sales, said local director of emergency management Merrick Brown on Tuesday.

“Having a garage sale or attending garage sales are not responsible decisions,” said Brown. “Considering the guidelines put forth by Alberta Health, ask yourself some questions.”

For a second straight week, Brown called on citizens to be responsible and not only follow the technical aspects of health restrictions and apply general principles – such as maintaining physical distancing and hand washing – to all situations, not just those spelled out in health orders.

He told reporters that Hatters are decluttering, spring cleaning, and may want to hold yard sales.

But, he said, it’s almost impossible to maintain health considerations in such an environment – keeping distance, or disinfecting merchandise that a walk-up crowd is handling.

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