High Country residents who’ve been stockpiling their recyclables while waiting for the recycling centre to reopen can unload their collections this month.
The Oilfields Recycling Centre, which temporarily closed March 26 due to health and safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, is one of two Turner Valley services slated to open to the public on June 15. The Turner Valley Municipal Campground, which typically opens the Victoria Day long weekend, is also on the list to open.
“It’s important to try to get back to as much normalcy as possible while being as safe as possible and following all of the provincial recommendations and restrictions,” said Todd Sharpe, Turner Valley chief administrative officer. “We know that recycling is important to our community and we’re happy to resume that service. We’re ironing out the safety precautions and following all the best practices and guidelines from the province."
Sharpe said steps will be in place to manage traffic patterns and flow while ensuring the safety of staff who are receiving materials.
“It will be a blend of what our facility allows us to do and following the guidelines and recommendations the Province issued, as well as industry guidelines,” he said. “We’re appreciative of the patience residents have shown from the Foothills County, Black Diamond and Turner Valley under difficult circumstances and we’re reopening in a manner that’s safe and as timely as possible.”
The Town is moving ahead with reducing the facility’s hours of operation to Thursday, Friday and Saturday as was planned for 2020 before the centre’s closure, said Sharpe. He said the hours have not yet been determined.
To make reopening easy on staff, all of whom were hired back after being laid off two months ago, Sharpe is asking citizens to bring their materials to the centre gradually.
“We’re asking that in order to manage the volumes that might be coming in, if people have been stockpiling to come in gradually rather than everyone rushing in the first day for the respect and safety of our staff,” he said.
Sharpe said the $6 monthly recycling fee will resume on Turner Valley residents’ next utility bill.
To prepare for the opening of the campground, administration is also implementing some operational changes.
Sharpe said the washroom facilities will be closed and all camping units must be self-contained, with tents and tent trailers prohibited. He expects about a dozen of the 18 sites will open to comply with physical distancing protocols.
The campground will operate on a first-come, first-served basis with a self-serve kiosk on site where campers will make their payments in cash, he said.
“One of the reasons we’re going to the first-come, first-served self-service is our pool staff monitored our bookings so with the pool remaining closed (at this time) we don’t have that service. We also won’t be taking reservations and there will be no group bookings.”
Sharpe said the Town is advertising for an attendant to camp on the grounds until the Labour Day long weekend and be responsible for minor maintenance and monitoring for compliance and safety. This includes sanitizing campsites between users, ensuring firewood is supplied and ensuring visitors are maintaining the two metre physical distancing regulations.
“We will offer free camping and a small stipend for the work they do, which will be about 10 hours a week,” he said.
While the Town is able to move ahead on opening some facilities, the Dr. Lander Memorial Swimming Pool and Lions Spray Park remain closed until the Province announces otherwise, said Sharpe.
He told council at its June 11 meeting that provincial restrictions have not lifted in a matter that would allow the outdoor pool to open, and that current provincial relaunch guidelines puts pools at stage three for opening, with no date released at this time.
“Immediately upon the restrictions changing we’ll have a decision from council on what they would like to do,” he said. “The actual setup of the pool, barring any setbacks, takes about a week while staff orientation, training and fitness testing, etc., takes closer to three weeks.”
While Sharpe said the Town is striving for some normalcy in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, administration recommended cancelling the annual Discovery Days festival.
Sharpe told council that current restrictions prevent the town from hosting Discovery Days and that it takes up to 12 weeks to plan, which would push the event into September if restrictions were to lift before summer.
Council agreed to cancel the event.
Coun. Jonathan Gordon suggested the Town host a simpler event like a music festival when mass gathering restrictions are lifted.
Coun. Jamie Wilkie said he would also like to see a public event planned when regulations permit it.
“It would be great to have something positive to look forward to,” he said.
Sharpe said until there’s more clarity from the Province, he’s unable to determine what type of public event the Town can host and to what scale.
“We know it changes weekly,” he said. “The minute we have clarity around what we can do for gatherings we’ll see what council wants to do.”
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