COVID-19 UPDATE: City closes playgrounds, postpones CIP meeting
By Rossland Telegraph
UPDATE: The City of Rossland has closed all playgrounds, because the virus can live for days on hard surfaces. Playing fields will remain open, but only if people using them comply with the two-metre “social distancing” requirement. Non-compliance will bring closure for all.
The CIty has also postponed the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting scheduled for April 6 regarding the Community Initiative Grant allocations.
Original news item:
The City of Rossland has taken measures to help control the spread of COVID-19, and has issued a series of press releases announcing the closure of City hall to the general public, the closure of the Miners Union Hall, the Rossland Arena, the Museum, and the Rossland Public Library. The City has also requested a Minister’s Order under the Local Government Act that the City by-election be postponed or cancelled until the pandemic is declared over; the City awaits a response on that. For the text of the City’s announcements with more details, and links to more information, please read on.
“In order to ensure the safety of City staff and Rossland citizens and to promote social distancing during the current COVID-19 Pandemic, Rossland City Hall will be temporarily closed to the public as of March 17, 2020. Available staff will be attending the office, however the general public will not be permitted to access our building. All other channels of communication will still be open to the public, including phone and email. Please check the City of Rossland ‘Contact Us‘ link at our website www.rossland.ca for a list staff contact information.
“We also recognize there may be instances where we have to make exceptions to ensure the public can access services, but we will do this by appointment only and only under very limited circumstances. Please contact the relevant department if this applies to you.
“For those looking for further information on these temporary actions and initiatives, please contact City Hall at 250-362-7396. We apologies for any inconvenience these necessary short-term undertakings may cause to either residents and/or visitors to our City.”
The City has also suspended non-essential meetings:
“In an ongoing effort to keep all members of our community healthy and safe, and to help reduce the possibility of COVID-19 transmission, the City of Rossland has decided to temporarily suspend all non-essential City Meetings effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, until further notice.
“We understand that this decision impacts the ability of the City to perform routine activities related to the planning and implementation of City initiatives; however, the health and well-being of our City and its residents is our current top priority during this COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone that feels they may be impacted by this decision is asked to contact City Hall to obtain further information. We apologize for any inconvenience these necessary short-term undertaking may cause to either residents and/or visitors to our City.
“The City will continue to review and monitor the COVID-19 situation in order to determine when this temporary suspension may be lifted. Additionally, please continue to check the City of Rossland’s webpage for the most current information on COVID-19 at www.rossland.ca.
“For those looking for further information on these and other possible temporary actions and/or initiatives conducted by the City, please contact City Hall at 250-362-7396 or review our Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic Policy.
“Thank you for your continued patience on this matter.”
Rossland Arena and Miners Union Hall, Museum and Library closed:
“In an ongoing effort to keep all members of our community healthy and safe, and to help reduce the possibility of COVID-19 transmission, the City of Rossland will be closing the Miners Hall and Rossland Arena effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, until further notice.
“We understand these closures will cause inconveniences to many people and we thank you for your understanding and patience. Any persons registered in Rossland Recreation Programs will be refunded their program fees starting March 17th. Any facility bookings will also have their booking fees refunded as per the City of Rossland Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic Policy.
“Please continue to check the City of Rossland’s webpage for the most current information on COVID-19 at www.rossland.ca. For those looking for further information on these and other possible temporary actions and/or initiatives, please contact City Hall at 250-362-7396. Again, we apologies for any inconvenience these necessary short-term undertakings may cause to either residents and/or visitors to our City.
And further;
“As a community-based measure to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, please note that effective March 17, 2020, and until further notice, both the Rossland Library and Rossland Museum / Visitor Centre / Research Room will be closed to the general public until further notice.
“For further information and updates regarding the Rossland Library, please visit: https://rossland.bc.libraries.coop/
“For further information and updates regarding the Rossland Museum / Visitor Centre / Research Room, please visit: https://www.rosslandmuseum.ca/
Update on the City of Rossland 2020 By-Election:
“In light of the recent announcements from the Provincial & Federal Governments regarding provisions to limit the spread of COVID-19, the ability to hold a fair and accessible by-election within the City of Rossland is compromised. Therefore, this morning, Staff forwarded correspondence to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing requesting a Minister’s Order, under the Local Government Act, from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to authorize the cancellation or postponement of the City’s scheduled by-election until the COVID-19 pandemic is declared over. The Minister is considering whether to order the cancellation or postponement and we will provide an update once this decision has been made. Please continue to check the City of Rossland’s webpage for the most current information regarding the status of the scheduled by-election at www.rossland.ca.
“For those looking for further information on these and other possible temporary actions and/or initiatives conducted by the City, please contact City Hall at 250-362-7396 or review our Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic Policy.
“Thank you for your continued patience on this matter.”
Contact: Chief Election Officer Alison Worsfold, executive.assistant@rossland.ca
The City has also published the following links for further information:
