MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, Mountain View County (MVC) council has been updated on activities taken by the municipality in response to the crisis.
Highlights include the fact council and council committee meetings have continued without interruption throughout the pandemic.
Chief administrative officer (CAO) Jeff Holmes presented a report on the county’s response to the pandemic during a recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
“Section 3 of the provincial Municipal Government Act states that one of the core purposes of a municipality is to develop and maintain a safe and viable community,” said Holmes.
“Within the limits of our municipal authority, MVC has taken (numerous) actions in response to COVID-19.”
In his report to council, Holmes outlined various activities and programs undertaken by the municipality since March 2020, including the following:
• Continue to deliver all services and programs that were with the municipal scope to residents including all annual road maintenance programs to 100 per cent of approved service level standard.
• Staff interaction between facilities has been limited to ensure that municipal services would be minimally interrupted if an outbreak occurred in any of the county-run facilities.
• Maintain office and administrative access for ratepayers through the pandemic allowing residents to continue to conduct municipal business.
• Since the provincial relaunch in May the county has kept the administration building open to the public to perform necessary business tasks. The office utilizes a combination of staff working onsite and remotely to ensure business continuity is not jeopardized by COVID while recognizing some residents require in-person services.
• At the onset of the pandemic residents were provided with a list of essential resources and hours of operations (ie: postal services, grocery stores, hospitals, medical officer and pharmacies). The list was posted on the county website, social media, and distributed through councillor communications to division residents.
• Provided ability for urban partner municipalities to redirect recreational funding to COVID response when recreation facilities were closed in 2020.
• Council and council committee business has continued uninterrupted through electronic means.
Holmes said the pandemic has also highlighted the limitations of rural internet and broadband limitations outside urban centres.
“Mountain View County used this opportunity to lobby the federal government to expedite approval of new technologies utilizing low earth orbit satellites,” he said.
Coun. Peggy Johnson asked Holmes when in-person meeting and open houses may resume. He said the county will be following provincial guidance.
Reeve Bruce Beattie said he recently received a call from a resident regarding COVID.
“The only feedback I received was from an individual who felt that masks and the whole COVID issue was an insidious plot by the government and an infringement on human rights," said Beattie. “Other than that I haven't had any further input.”
Beattie called on residents to adhere to provincial COVID rules recommended by the chief medical officer of health.
Council received Holme’s report as information.
