April 14, 2020
COVID-19 Reeve’s Video Message #1
Good afternoon. My name is Jerry Wittstock, Reeve of Kneehill County. Today I would like to talk to you about COVID-19, and what the County is doing to maintain services during this pandemic. It has certainly changed the way the world is working.
At today’s [April 14, 2020] meeting, Council voted to allow deferment of utility bill payments until June of 2020, to offer some relief during the COVID-19 response. Residents and businesses won’t be disconnected for unpaid garbage, water or sewer bills during this period, and can choose to pay their bills at a later time without being charged interest, or otherwise penalized until July 1, 2020.
Staff and administration continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation daily and continue to take every precaution to ensure the health and safety of our staff and residents. While we’re working to maintain most County services, residents may experience disruptions to certain services, or a change in the delivery of some services, which can’t be helped.
Most of our office staff are working remotely, and with the office closed to the public, a good portion of our services have moved online. If you need assistance with anything, call the office at 403-443-5541. Staff are here answering phones and are available to assist or direct you however you need.
No matter what happens, Kneehill County has Business Continuity processes and protocols in place to ensure that essential services will take priority. Road, fire and fire services and water will not be disrupted. And we still intend to safely undertake capital projects in an effort to maintain our infrastructure and foster economic activity in our area.
Rest assured, we at Kneehill County are still hard at work, and we are working for you.
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 are on the rise throughout the Province. Let these numbers be a sober reminder of the actions we must all continue to take to help flatten the curve and limit the spread of the virus in our communities.
I’d like to thank everyone for continuing to doing their part. For self-isolating when you’re sick, for working remotely, for staying at home as much as possible, for practicing physical distancing and minimizing trips out of the house.This is the best way to keep you, your family, your neighbours, and our community safe.
Thank you to the emergency services and healthcare workers for their hours of dedication, our frontline and municipal workers, truck drivers, all of our essential businesses and their employees who put themselves at risk every day to make sure we are all taken care of and have access to the things we need, like healthcare, groceries, mail, and other essentials.
Let’s follow and lead by their example, and continue to show compassion and care for each other during these extraordinary circumstances.
We know this is a stressful and difficult time for everyone, and we will get through this, together. But maybe just a little further apart.
Stay safe everyone.
Thank you,
Jerry Wittstock