Loyalist Township Council addresses multiple COVID-19-related issues

At its most recent meeting on Monday, Apr. 27, 2020, Loyalist Township Council addressed a number of issues in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

From waste collection and open air burning, to financial assistance plans and a free meal service through Lionhearts Inc., Council discussed and debated a variety of different topics that will impact Township residents during the pandemic. The following items were discussed and finalized:

Bag Tag Exemption Extended

Council extended the one untagged bag of garbage, per week, exemption until the Loyalist Township State of Emergency is lifted. Residents can continue to dispose of 1 garbage bag weekly without a bag tag. Each bag beyond the first will require a bag tag. If residents have bag tags and do not require the assistance from this program, the municipality encourages them to continue to apply bag tags to all garbage bags. This exemption will not apply to bags taken directly to the Violet Landfill site. If you’re sick: place ANY item that has come into contact with your mouth, nose or eyes into the garbage – even if they are recyclable. If you’re not sick, we encourage residents to continue to practice waste reduction by utilizing their blue and grey boxes.

Special Events Moratorium

In order to align with the Federal and Provincial response to the COVID19 pandemic, Loyalist Township continues to suspend all events at municipal facilities, in Township parks and in other public areas. Council will re-evaluate events once the current Provincial and Federal restrictions on large gatherings has been lifted or revised. This moratorium is to reduce opportunities for the virus to spread through personal contact and proximity at gatherings and is consistent with the Township’s pandemic response.

Discounted Rate for Dog Tags Extended

The discounted price for dog tags ($15 per tag) has been extended through the remainder of 2020 to provide additional financial relief to residents.

?Dog tag licences remain available at local retailers that are delivering essential services.

Visit the Animal Licensing page for more information or contact the Township office at 613-386-7351.

Open Air Burning Bylaw Updated

Council repealed the existing 2015 Open Air Burning Bylaw and adopted a new Bylaw for Open Air Burning. The new bylaw addresses changes to the types of available wood burning appliances has led to questions and recommendations from area residents. This along with the need to allow our rural residents the ability to dispose of brush for the maintenance of their properties as well as farm properties in a safe and environmentally friendly way.

Please note: This by-law will not come into effect until after the Total Burn Ban is lifted.

Financial Relief Measures

To date, Council has authorized extra time for taxpayers and ratepayers to pay amounts due in the short term without penalty or interest. In addition, Council has waived NSF fees for Pre-authorized Payments that are NSF in the short term.

As part of recent support offered by the Province of Ontario, the County of L&A social services department has been provided with emergency funding for residents who need short term assistance with utility bills or rent. At this point, no funding has been provided or offered at the municipal level to directly offset tax or utility bills in support of those who are temporarily in need due to the pandemic.

For more information on the Social Services Relief Fund, contact Prince Edward Lennox & Addington Social Services at 1-866-354-0957.

Council Waives Community Hall Rental Fees for Lion Hearts Meals-To-Go Program

Council agreed to waive the rental fee of the Amherstview Community Hall on a month-by-month basis for Lionhearts Inc. Lionhearts Meals To-Go provides a variety of resources throughout our community. In response to COVID-19, Lionhearts have been stationed at various locations throughout KFL&A providing everyone who stops by with some great take-home meal options including grab-and-go snacks, fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh bread and pastries, hot chocolate as well as a point of entry (listening ear) to access other required emergency services.

Lionhearts will begin distributing Meals-To-Go from the Amherstview Community Hall on Saturday, May 2 from 5 to 6 p.m. and will continue Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 5 to 6 p.m. For more information on Lionhearts, visit https://lionhearts.ca/covid-19-street-project/.

Upcoming Meetings

Council will continue to meet electronically according to the standard schedule for regular Council meetings. The public is currently unable to attend Council meetings due to provincial restrictions on public gatherings. If a member of the public wishes to make a deputation on items on the Council agenda, they should submit their comments in writing to the Clerk at [email protected]. These comments will be read at the Council meeting as part of the public participation agenda item.

The public can watch this meeting live via the Loyalist Township’s YouTube channel.

Electronic Committee of Adjustment meetings will commence in June. This will allow for an extended notification period to provide opportunity for residents to provide feedback.

For more information from Loyalist Township on its response to COVID-19, click here.