County of Barrhead municipal office reopens to public

BARRHEAD-The County of Barrhead municipal office and the public works facility doors are once again open to the public.

Councillors decided to accept the recommendation from county manager Debbie Oyarzun during their June 16 meeting. The meeting, ironically enough, was the eighth meeting councillors conducted via teleconference.

Nor did it come to a surprise to councillors as Oyarzun, who also serves as the municipality's director of emergency management (DEM) said during their June 2 meeting that they would soon be able to reopen.

The municipality locked its doors to the public on March 18. In certain instances, by appointment, accommodations were made.

She said in addition to keeping track of the daily coronavirus infection rates throughout the province, she and deputy DEM Kyle Meunier participated in regular briefings from the Provincial Operations Centre (POC).

Oyarzun added long before the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Alberta on March 5, the POC was active, noting it was elevated to Level 2 in late January to support Alberta Health Services. On March 14, its status had been elevated to Level 3 and three days later to Level 4, the highest level. Oyarzun and Meunier participated in POC and other Alberta Emergency Management Association (AEMA) and AHS briefings March 10, seven days before the province declared a State of Public Health Emergency.

It was during this time that the administration drafted a business continuity plan to ensure core services if staff contracted the virus or had to self-isolate.

"Fortunately we didn't have a lot of the staff that had to isolate," she said, noting as of the meeting only two county employees needed to go into isolation. "Not due to COVID but because they were experiencing symptoms."

It should be noted that Barrhead to date has only had two confirmed cases of COVID-19 and that they have recovered.

Oyarzun said in addition to instituting a business continuity and a "fit for work plan" administration worked hard to transition the way they deliver services.

"How do we have people still apply for dust control or pay their taxes if they can't come into the office? We really did have to transition how, in many cases, we did business," she said.

Municipal COVID-19 relaunch plan

As part of the plan, transparent shields have been installed at the front reception centre of the municipal office. Due to the layout of the public works foyer, this wasn't possible. Instead, a physical barrier was installed to ensure two-metre physical distancing.

Hand sanitation stations have also been installed along with appropriate signage to remind patrons not to enter if they are feeling ill and/or are experiencing symptoms. A maximum of four visitors will be allowed in the foyer of the municipal office at any time, that number shrinks to two at the public works building. Placement of floor stickers have also been placed to help visitors keep appropriate distancing and a rigorous cleaning regime instituted. It should be noted that the public is restricted to the entrance area. To accommodate the added time and effort the office hours have been reduced by 30 minutes, with both buildings open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The public washrooms are open, but signs have been posted saying they are "use at your own risk."

Although the office is open Oyarzun said they will still encourage to conduct their business via the telephone or online.

To test their plan, she noted from June 8 to 11, they had a soft opening at the municipal office where they would let residents in who knocked on the door. Over the four days, staff served 60 people in-person.

"It is interesting that the majority could have done their business online. Only two had no other option than the office," she said.

Council meetings

Plans are in the works to see if it is feasible to resume in-person council meetings, but the big sticking point remains the two-metre physical distancing requirement.

Rarely, if ever, do regular council meetings have more than 15 people. More often than not, there are never any more than 11 people in council chambers at any given moment. Alberta's chief medical officer Deena Hinshaw stated at a recent municipal town hall telephone conference that, similar to the provincial government, municipalities could have council and committee meetings that exceed 15 people.

"As long as two-metre physical distancing can be maintained between participants," she said.

But due to the physical size of the room it would be difficult to maintain the required distancing.

The real problem Oyarzun said is what happens if there is anyone in the public gallery.

Coun. Darrell Troock suggested they could make arrangements for the public to watch via the Internet as they are doing now.

Oyarzun said it would be difficult without expensive technology upgrades.

Coun. Bill Lane suggested that she ask what the Town of Barrhead is doing as their council as chambers are not much larger and they have continued to hold in-person meetings.

Oyarzun said the town's chamber is a fair bit larger, but that she would make the inquiry.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com

TOWNandCOUNTRY

COVID-19 UPDATE: Follow our COVID-19 special section for the latest local and national news on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as resources, FAQs and more.