Merrick Brown, the city's director of emergency management, speaks to reporters on Tuesday morning as Mayor Ted Clugston looks on.--NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Emergency planners are figuring out how to reopen city facilities and return to normal service delivery from COVID lockdown, but stressed on Monday night that could take “months and months.”
“We really don’t have an end in sight for this,” said Merrick Brown, the city’s director of emergency planning, during an update to council Monday.
“We realize there is a reopen that has been laid out by the province … That still doesn’t mean we can let our guard down.”
After nine weeks of operating the city’s emergency protocol, Brown said plans to respond to other types of emergencies (such as floods or wind storms) are being updated, and an outline of how to come out of COVID lockdown is being drawn up.
Golf courses were allowed to open this week, while retail stores and some other general business will be allowed to open on May 15, provided they comply with health orders, social distancing rules and measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
More businesses would open in a future phase, but the timeline depends on how well the pandemic is being contained.
Health inspectors are responsible for business compliance, but the city’s role is two-part, said Brown. It enforces health orders in the public via the bylaw and police service, but it is also an operator of a number of facilities currently restricted.
It must follow Alberta Health Services guidelines about operating procedures, just like any business, he stressed. Planning for how to gradually re-open facilities for in-person use and service delivery is being determined.
“We’re assuming that the first to shutdown will be the last to reopen,” said Mayor Ted Clugston.
The city closed the Canalta Centre in mid-March, then shortly thereafter pools, recreation facilities and some offices to the general public.
Currently, the city has restricted access to skateparks, playground equipment, outdoor fitness equipment, park washrooms, spare parks and outdoor kitchens.
Parks in general, sports fields and courts are open to causal use by members of a singe household if social distancing is taking place. They’ve also asked pedestrians take greater care on trails and dog parks.
Brown estimated that public use of facilities and concert venues could be closed until next fall, and that includes the lake at Echo Dale Regional Park, but not the park itself, though city-run boat launches have never been closed.
But putting back other buildings in to use by the general public, such as city hall, where residents are greeted and informed of how to conduct business by phone, could take longer.
Brown said restrictions came in on a stepped phase approach – crowds were restricted to 50 then 25, then 15 – and restrictions could be lifted in the same way.
Generally, councillors said Monday they support city administrators’ handling of the closures and are “proud” of how Hatters have responded.
“Citizens have a responsibility but we haven’t had the approach that we’re a police state,” Coun. Phil Turnbull told council.
“There are people who don’t like rules … but it shows me what I’ve always believed of our citizens, and we have confidence in them.”
To this point, city bylaw and police have not issued any tickets, and Brown described their stance as educational.
Clugston said that footing appears to be working.
“We really don’t want to get police involved, but if we have to we will,” he said.
As for the general “re-launch” of economic activity, Clugston said the city “will support AHS in their decision to reopen some businesses on May 14.”
“Frankly, personally, I’m excited. I’m happy and I like the sense of optimism in the community,” said Clugston.
“I’ve spoken with some business owners and they’re rarin’ to go, and they need to get going.”
