CKL COUNCIL GETS COVID-19 UPDATE

At the May 26 meeting, CAO Ron Taylor provided City of Kawartha Lakes Council and staff with a brief overview of the municipality’s response since the State of Emergency began just over two months ago. The purpose was to give Council an outline of the current steps taken and to provide a quick glance of where we are headed with the current provincial and municipal orders in place.

“We need to continue to move forward in a slow and steady manner,” commented CAO Taylor. “One of the most critical aspects of our recovery plan is to make sure our decisions comply with all safety standards and regulations. We are working directly with community partners for advice, including the Ministry of Labour and Bargaining units, to carefully make the right decisions before taking any action.”

During his presentation, Taylor first covered the journey the municipality has taken since the pandemic began, including a list of provincial mandates and closures enforced. Due to physical distancing complications, Kawartha Lakes has decided to review all events up until August 2020 and has made the decision to cancel and or postpone the following:

  • Lindsay Milk Run

  • Concerts in the Park

  • Spring and Summer Aquatics, Fitness and Recreation programs

  • City-led summer camps

  • Canada Day gatherings and events

City Council regrets the impact the cancellation of seasonal events will have on residents’ social, physical and child care needs. The revenue loss to the municipality is expected to be approximately $3.2 million.

“It’s all a balancing act,” commented CAO Taylor. “Our first priority are the needs and safety of the public and staff, but we also have to balance our limited resources and maintain financial sustainability. In the immediate term, we need to make sure we’re not spending where we don’t need to so that we ensure we have resources to better recover in the longer term, and even into 2021.”

A more detailed report on financial recovery will be coming to the Committee of the Whole meeting on June 9.

COVID-19, Local News, City HallDeb Crossen