Haldimand & Norfolk County Mayors Deliver Donated iPads To Anson Place

In an effort to help long-term care home residents stay connected with their loved ones throughout the pandemic, Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt & Norfolk County Mayor Kristal Chopp launched an initiative to bring iPads to these homes. On Tuesday, April 28, 2020, mayors Hewitt & Chopp made their first delivery of 10 iPads, headsets and iPad cases to Anson Place in Hagersville.

iPads were received in the parking lot of Anson Place by recreation volunteer Wesley Devries. The iPads will be used by volunteers and staff to keep residents engaged and connected with family and friends.

Pictured (L to R): Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt, Anson Place recreation volunteer Wesley Devries, Norfolk County Mayor Kristal Chopp.

“We reached out to a few businesses with the idea of donating iPads and headsets to our long term care residents and was absolutely amazed at the response. What started with bringing a couple of iPads has grown to now over 60 iPads and 200 headsets,” said Mayor Hewitt. Hewitt noted that the biggest hurdle was actually acquiring the iPads due to increased demand, but the first shipment arrived and more are on the way.

Initial contributions from Empire Communities, Losani Homes, Ballantry Homes, Pattern Energy and the McKeil Family Foundation helped get the program off the ground.

“The outpouring of community support we’ve received is incredible. From making masks to donating medical supplies, PPE, iPads and everything in between, residents and businesses have truly stepped up to support one another. It’s the Haldimand way,” Hewitt added.

“Now more than ever, it’s important to keep in touch with loved ones – especially those who live in long-term care homes, who can’t see visitors in person right now,” said Norfolk County Mayor Kristal Chopp. “It brings me great joy to know these deliveries are helping to connect seniors with their families during such a difficult time.”

Mayor Hewitt is hoping to bring iPads to all long-term care residences in Haldimand & Norfolk counties. He encourages anyone who is willing to assist in securing either funds or iPads to contact him directly at mayor@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Mayor Hewitt Praises Community Support During Covid-19 Pandemic, Launches New iPad Initiative For Long Term Care Homes

Haldimand County Mayor Hewitt is praising the community for its outpouring of support during the COVID-19 pandemic. From making masks to donating medical supplies/PPE and everything in between, residents of Haldimand have come together to support one another at a time of critical need.

Long-term care homes have been hardest hit by COVID-19, and the visitation restrictions in place to keep residents safe have been difficult for these individuals and their families. In an effort to increase connectedness with loved ones, Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt has launched a new initiative to bring iPads to local long-term care homes. He has received contributions from a number of businesses within the community and is seeking further support to make this goal a reality.

“I reached out to a couple of businesses with the idea of donating iPads and headsets to our long term care residents and was absolutely amazed at the response. What started with bringing a couple of iPads has grown to now over 50 iPads and 200 headsets. I intend to start with Anson Place when they arrive but now my hope is that we will raise enough funds to purchase an iPad and headset for every long term care resident in Haldimand & Norfolk,” said Mayor Hewitt. “Sadly, our biggest problem now is securing the equipment as there are not as many available as we anticipated.”

Mayor Hewitt is encouraging anyone who is willing to assist in securing either funds or iPads to contact him directly at mayor@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Haldimand County Council Approves 2020 Tax-Supported Operating Budget

On April 21, 2020, Haldimand County Council met virtually to review and approve the 2020 Tax Supported Operating Budget. The budget results in a total levy requirement of $69,823,910, which equates to a residential tax impact of about 0.93%, or about $2.50 per month for an average residential property owner.

“The 2020 Tax-Supported Operating Budget represents a financially sustainable, responsive plan that ensures the continued delivery of essential services our communities value,” said Mayor Ken Hewitt. “When we announced the property tax payment grace period on March 19, we also directed staff to scrutinize and evaluate this budget extra carefully in light of the COVID-19 situation. All aspects of the budget have been carefully evaluated case by case to ensure they contribute to our corporate priorities, especially given the current economic climate,” he continued.

Generally, the annual Tax Supported Operating Budget pays for day to day operations of the County, including salaries, wages, utilities, insurance and services such as running arenas/programming, keeping the roads safe, maintaining locals parks and cemeteries, providing emergency services (fire, police and ambulance), collection of garbage and recyclables & related activities.

The 2020 Tax-Supported Operating Budget highlights several investments in service delivery and community vibrancy, including enhanced support/resources for community partnership projects, facilities/parks maintenance and technology-related services that improve customer experience.

Additionally, the budget outlines the creation of a new Climate Change and Emergency Response Provisions fund to address the financial impacts of these events (e.g: flooding, pandemics) and ensure the County is prepared to respond.

“By taking a strategic, long-range financial planning approach, the County is well-positioned to deliver high-quality, affordable services now and in the future,” added Hewitt.

Haldimand’s Chief Administrative Officer Craig Manley notes that the budget was developed to meet community needs while minimizing the overall impact on taxpayers. “While there are some new initiatives and budget lines introduced to meet increased or emergent needs, we’ve been able to offset those costs by holding the line on other items.”

On average, a residential property owner can expect their annual property taxes to be allocated as follows:

More information on County budgets and budget processes is available on the County website via HaldimandCounty.ca/financials/budgets.

Council meetings, budget review to be held virtually

On Tuesday, April 21, Haldimand County Council will review the 2020 Tax-Supported Operating Budget. In order to practice physical distancing, both Council members and senior staff will be participating in the meeting remotely. Some other time-sensitive reports are also included on Tuesday’s agenda along with updates related to the pandemic. The meeting will live streamed via HaldimandCounty.ca/livestream.

Tuesday, April 21 Council Schedule

9:15am to 9:30am – Special Council Meeting
A meeting to amend the procedural by-law to authorize the holding of meetings with electronic participation during the emergency.

9:30am to 4:30pm* – Committee of the Whole
A meeting to consider the 2020 Tax Supported Operating Budget and time-sensitive matters.
* Please note that this time is approximate and may change based on the duration of agenda item discussions.

Immediately following Committee of the Whole – Special Council Meeting
This meeting will be held immediately following the Committee of the Whole meeting to ratify recommendations from the meeting.

As facilities are closed to the public, delegations will not be able to attend in person, however, they can submit comments regarding agenda items to clerk@haldimandcounty.on.ca prior to the meeting.

To watch Council meetings live, individuals may visit HaldimandCounty.ca/livestream. Select the appropriate meeting from the calendar, then open its agenda. The live video will appear in the right-hand corner of the agenda.

More information and a copy of the draft 2020 Tax-Supported Operating Budget is available at HaldimandCounty.ca/financials/budgets. Agendas for the April 21 meetings are also available on the County website.

9th annual Mayor’s Charity Gala postponed due to COVID-19

The 9th Annual Mayor’s Charity Gala originally scheduled for Friday, May 22 at Monthill Golf & Country Club (4925 Highway 6 S, Caledonia) has been rescheduled for Friday, November 6 due to COVID-19.

The 2020 gala, featuring live entertainment by Dave Wilcox, is the 9th annual event put on by Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt. Each year, new local charities are chosen as recipients of the proceeds.

All tickets purchased for the May 22 event will be honored on November 6. Individuals who would like to purchase a ticket or request further information may contact Donna Chausse at dchausse@haldimandcounty.on.ca or 905-318-5932 ext. 6102. Tickets are $150 each.

Haldimand County Provides Update On Broadband Internet Project, Launches Public Survey

Haldimand County’s Broadband Internet Project is moving ahead. Currently, individual consultations are being facilitated with the 3 pre-qualified internet service providers (ISPs) – KWIC Internet, Metroloop Inc. & Xplornet. In conjunction with this consultation process, a public survey has been launched to collect resident feedback on technical, financial and service-related aspects of internet service.

The Broadband Internet Project was initiated in 2019 after Haldimand County Council formally adopted 8 corporate priorities for the 2018-2022 term – one of these being facilitating the delivery of high-speed, reliable internet service to all Haldimand County residents.

With assistance from a third party Technical Consultant, staff have prepared a draft Project Agreement (PA) and Negotiated Request for Proposal Agreement (NRFP) outlining all technical and financial project requirements including: 1) the technical feasibility of proposed service deployment, 2) service deployment timelines and 3) a comprehensive cost analysis. These components are of critical importance and will guide evaluations of all pre-qualified internet service providers (ISPs) moving forward.

The public survey is intended to gather feedback on community needs and what is important in terms of high-speed internet access. The survey asks residents to provide information about their current internet service, including average monthly cost, data limits, reliability and customer service satisfaction.
Residents are encouraged to have their latest bill or service contract on hand to answer some of the questions in greater detail.

Residents who do not currently have internet access may request a physical copy by calling 905-318-5932. Staff will send copies via mail and residents may return completed surveys to the Haldimand County Administration Building in person (via the secure drop box located on the Chippewa St. side of the Administration Building) or mail.

Community feedback collected from the survey will be used to inform & finalize the Project Agreement & Negotiated Request For Proposal documents, which will be issued to the successful proponent in late May. The survey will remain open until April 17.

For more information on the Broadband Internet Project, visit HaldimandCounty.ca/broadband/. To access the survey directly, visit surveymonkey.com/r/HCbroadband/.

Haldimand County Permits Seasonal Campgrounds And Trailer Parks To Open Early Under Exceptional Circumstances

Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt has issued an order permitting seasonal trailer parks to open earlier than usual. Under the same order, travel trailers or mobile homes on residential properties may be opened and occupied for purposes of self-isolation, in accordance with directives from the Medical Officer of Health. These temporary allowances have been made to accommodate residents returning to Haldimand after wintering abroad who have had to return earlier than expected and self-isolate for 14 days.

Normally, seasonal campgrounds and trailer parks are permitted to open from April 15 to October 31. Limitations on times of occupancy are a zoning by-law matter, & seasonal restrictions are related to health & safety concerns (adequate heating, and the functionality of communal water & sanitation systems). Given the mild weather, opening seasonal trailer parks early is not a significant concern. Legislatively, campgrounds & trailer parks are obliged to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Health Promotion and Protection Act & the Fire Protection and Prevention Act.

As long as these provincial requirements are met by site operators, campgrounds & parks may be opened early this year. Site operators will need to decide whether they are able to provide all necessary services & comply with all provincial legislation.

Furthermore, any resident who is required to self-isolate will be permitted to occupy an attached or detached secondary suite (e.g: motor home, travel trailer) on their residential property, regardless of zoning. Normally, use of such facilities would not be permitted under municipal zoning but will be as an interim measure.

“We were contacted by a number of residents stuck abroad and seasonal sites requesting flexibility under these exceptional circumstances,” said Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt. “This order allows residents to access their trailers or mobile homes in order to self-isolate & prevent community transmission,” he added.

As per the written order, these special allowances will expire once the State of Emergency is lifted.

Haldimand, Norfolk counties declare emergencies

On Tuesday, March 24, both Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt & Norfolk County Mayor Kristal Chopp declared emergencies for their respective communities.

Declaring an emergency allows municipalities to swiftly take action on activities that are violating public health officials’ orders. Declaring an emergency also allows municipalities to tap into provincial resources & emergency funding that would not otherwise be available.

“While I have been in close communication with Mayor Chopp, declaring an emergency will allow both Haldimand & Norfolk counties to make quicker decisions, support our health team in a more expeditious manner and implement additional measures to protect the health & well-being of our communities,” said Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt. “We’ll continue to do everything in our power to stop the spread of COVID-19, and I ask that residents do their part as well. Stay home, stay safe and look out for one another,” Hewitt added.

“Staff in both counties, as well as with the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, are working around the clock to keep our communities safe and healthy during this pandemic,” said Kristal Chopp, Mayor of Norfolk County. “Mayor Hewitt and I are in constant communication with each other and our shared Medical Officer of Health to ensure decision-making is timely and serves the best interests of Haldimand and Norfolk.  I will continue to act as board chair and both Mayor Hewitt and I will strive to ensure you are fully updated as well as all necessary steps are being taken to protect our respective communities.”

For local information about the COVID-19 pandemic – including facility closures, program cancellations, meeting postponement & visitation restriction information – visit HaldimandCounty.ca/covid-19/ or NorfolkCounty.ca/covid-19.

For up-to-date public health information, including frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and daily updated from the Medical Officer of Health, visit the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit’s website.

Haldimand County Council acts to reduce charges during public health emergency

The COVID-19 emergency and the unprecedented efforts of all levels of government, businesses and citizens to respond to it are having real impacts on Haldimand County residents and businesses in terms of income, employment, quality of life and convenience. In an effort to reduce the financial burden and inconvenience imposed on Haldimand residents and businesses as a result of implementing the directions of public health officials to try to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Haldimand County has put in place measures to mitigate service fees and charges.

Effective immediately and on a go forward basis, Haldimand County Council has directed that for those unable to meet the March 31 and May 29 tax installment deadlines, the County will waive the penalty charge associated with late payment.  As such citizens and businesses have increased flexibility to defer the payment of property taxes until August 1, 2020 without penalty.

 

Statement from the Mayor & Council – March 19, 2020

In these unprecedented times people come together, governments come together, countries come together. The efforts that have been seen from leaders, from the business community, to the countless donations and help from the very many unselfish people around us is a true testament that when pushed, we roll up our sleeves and find ways to help each other back to the lives we all deserve to enjoy.

COVID-19 is having a real impact on the lives of Canadians beyond health related matters.  It is affecting incomes, employment and quality of life.  In response we are seeing higher level governments putting together substantial monetary packages to help lessen the burden on citizens and businesses that are following the advice of health officials.  We eagerly await announcements on how that money will reach those in need. The long-term economic and social impacts that COVID-19 will have on our daily lives is still difficult to determine, however, all financial supports announced to date have been to only address the immediate massive hole in our local economies. I have never seen governments move as fast as they have in the past two weeks and in such a non-partisan fashion to ensure necessary supports will be provided.

In an effort to play an active role in helping our County citizens and business that are facing  economic challenges given these unprecedented circumstances, Council and I have directed staff to waive the interest costs and any fees attached to the next two property tax instalments, March 31 and May 29.  Haldimand County property owners can pay their taxes at their own discretion up until August 1st without penalty.  We hope that this will provide you with the flexibility to manage your day to day to finances and afford you the time you may require.

In Haldimand, we will soon be finalizing our tax-supported operating budget. Council has directed staff to carefully review the 2020 budget so that is sensitive and responsive to these strange times we are living in.  Over the past several years, staff have worked diligently to ensure our financial position is strong and ready for unforeseen challenges. For this reason, we are ready to respond.

I want to assure you that both staff and Council have been working to protect your interests, to ensure that the quality services you are accustomed to continue, and that our frontline EMS staff are fully equipped with all the resources needed to meet your needs.

I would like to take this time to acknowledge those within the Haldimand-Norfolk Health & Social Services, the H-N Health Unit and our first responders for their leadership in helping Council manage our response to the COVID-19 virus. On behalf of the County and Council, we sincerely thank you for being there in times of need, never more so demonstrated than today.

 

Mayor Ken Hewitt

Haldimand County Council

Stewart Patterson

John Metcalfe

Dan Lawrence

Tony Dalimonte

Rob Shirton

Bernie Corbett

 

Statement From Haldimand County Council Regarding Highway 6 Bypass Blockade

Haldimand County Council is very frustrated and concerned about the ongoing blockade on the Highway 6 bypass in Caledonia. The blockade – which is going into its third week – is detrimentally impacting Caledonia and resulting in adverse impacts to the local economy, traffic disruptions and residents’ quality of life.

The continuation of this blockade, while others across the country are being dismantled, is unacceptable. The County is doing everything in its power to mitigate the impacts of the blockade on communities and residents.

“The little information that has come from the Ford government is misleading and causing more anxiety amongst our residents. I encourage all to contact their local MPP and press for immediate action,” said Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt.

While the blockade is on provincial lands and outside of Haldimand County’s jurisdiction or direct control, Council is demanding that the Province of Ontario, as the agency responsible for oversight of the Ontario Provincial Police, require its police force to enforce the law and facilitate removal of the blockade. Haldimand County also encourages the federal government to deal with systemic issues that are leading to these reoccurring, disruptive events.

Both levels of senior government have a responsibility to address this unacceptable blockade and to ensure that the County and Caledonia do not continue to be burdened by collateral damage from inaction.

Haldimand County has worked hard to develop a good relationship with its First Nations neighbours and believes it is in the interest of all to expedite a resolution that will put an end to the blockade. Council and staff will continue to advocate on behalf of its citizens and call on the Province and Ontario Provincial Police to remedy the situation at hand.