Council votes to reopen several services across Chatham-Kent

Municipality of Chatham-Kent Council voted in favour of reopening several services across the community.

Council approved the following recommendations from staff during their electronic meeting held on Monday, July 20, 2020:

– Opening of Library curbside pick-up on August 4 at the Blenheim and Dresden branches of the Chatham-Kent Public Library.

– Opening of splash pads and playground equipment ASAP with physical distancing.

– Opening of recreation halls and meeting rooms with physical distancing and limited to 50 people.

– Opening of one arena by mid-August with physical distancing, with the option to expand openings based on demand.

– Opening of the John D. Bradley Convention Centre to groups of 50 people while following provincial regulations for physical distancing.

The move reduces the previous savings attached to these closures by a total of $140,000.

“Other services were analyzed and no changes are currently recommended,” said Gord Quinton, Chatham-Kent’s chief financial officer and treasurer, in a report.

“This report is written through a financial lens and therefore focuses on the cost implications of re-opening services and facilities.”

Staff had been recommending to specifically open the Blenheim Arena by mid-August. However, Quinton requested an amendment to the original recommendations, allowing staff to select any one of Chatham-Kent’s arenas to open, based on demand.

“The executive management team will continue to monitor the re-openings associated with Stage 3 and will adjust services after September 1 where practical,” Quinton said in his report.

To read our previous coverage on this story, click here.

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