Plan in works for outdoor facilities...Plan in works for outdoor facilities Indoor facilities must stay closed for now, but field sports could resume Volume 48 Issue 13 WEDNESDAY,

Plan in works for outdoor facilities

Indoor facilities must stay closed for now, but field sports could resumeVolume 48 Issue 13 WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 $1.00 (.95 + GST)

Treats onthe beachHub

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Checkpoint moved south to Alberta/NWT border

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Tugboat takes surprise tour

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Health officer details easing of restrictions

Community

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"I was flabbergasted, to be honest."– School board member Pennie Pokiak was among those surprised when schools were given the go-ahead to reopen, page 9.

Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Sisters Addison Kalluak-Garneau, left, four, and Mia Kalluak-Garneau, five, roast marshmallows over a campfire during a family outing at the Hay River Beach May 15.

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Did we get it wrong?Hay River Hub is committed to getting facts

and names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in Hay River Hub, call 874-2802 and ask to speak to an editor, or email [email protected]. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can.

Northwestel customers in Hay River are now able to request the North's fastest residential Internet speeds as the company begins connecting individual customers to a new fibre-optic network.

The final stage of the project will make Hay River the first Fibre-to-the-Home com-munity North of 60.

"I am thrilled to introduce Northwestel's new Fibre Internet service to Hay River," said Northwestel president Curtis Shaw in a May 11 news release.

Residents in single-dwelling homes can submit an online request for Internet speeds up to 250 Mbps. The new Fibre Internet

packages will deliver up to 16 times faster Internet speeds and twice as much monthly usage than previously available in the com-munity.

In 2019, Northwestel began to install new Fibre-to-the-Home network equipment in Hay River to prepare more than 90 per cent of homes in the community for Fibre Internet. The work included placing buried and overhead fibre-optic cable through much of the community and attaching fibre to local homes.

Northwestel has implemented several special procedures in Hay River to ensure customer and employee safety during the Covid-19 situation.

Customers can request installation online at nwtel.ca/HayRiverFibre to minimize con-

gestion in the company's Northern call cen-tres. Northwestel will limit the number of installations completed per week. That is to ensure adequate time for proper health and safety procedures so that the work can be completed safely in a customer's home.

"We appreciate the community's patience with the extra measures we have put in place to complete installation during this special time," stated Shaw.

Only single-dwelling homes will be com-pleted in the first phase of the connection process.

Customers can expect a technician to visit to complete the installation.

Apartment buildings and businesses require a more complex installation and will be done in a later phase.

PAul [email protected]

NewsBriefs

Legislative Assemblyto resume sitting

The second session of the 19th Legislative Assembly will resume sitting on May 26.

On March 16, MLAs held their last sitting day of the budget session. They chose to sus-pend sitting due to concerns arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

An interim budget was adopted prior to the adjournment to provide funding to the govern-ment until June 30.

The budgets of several large departments remain outstanding.

According to a May 15 news release from the Legislative Assembly, the priority for the resumption of the sitting is to adopt a final 2020-2021 budget, introduce and consider legislation to respond to the Covid-19 crisis and hold the government to account for its response to the pandemic and other issues.

A number of measures will maximize the safety of MLAs and staff, including modifi-cations to seating arrangements to maintain social distancing.

The public gallery will not be open.

MACA to decide ondump fire assistance

The Department of Municipal and Com-munity Affairs (MACA) may soon be making a decision on the Town of Hay River's request for disaster assistance to help cover the costs of the landfill fire in March of last year.

"The disaster assistance is currently under consideration and the department does expect to be able to communicate with the town in the near future on this," said a spokesperson for MACA in response to a written inquiry from The Hub.

The spokesperson did not have a more specific timeline for a response.

The landfill fire cost close to $1 million with much of that expense going to environ-mental testing.

The town's insurance covered about $100,000 for direct firefighting expenses.

Refunds for threemonths of bus fees

The Hay River District Education Authority (DEA) is offering parents and guardians the opportunity to seek reimbursement for bus fees paid for April, May and June.

According to an April 21 announcement on the DEA's website, if a parent or guardian does not seek reimbursement, a credit will be applied towards next year's bus fee.

Public administratorsets teleconference

The public administrator of the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority will hold a meeting by teleconference at 11 a.m. on May 22.

The public is welcome to listen in.Anyone interested can obtain login instruc-

tions by noon on May 20 by contacting Steph-anie Biggar, the executive assistant of the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, at [email protected].

Multi-unit buildings to be connected later

Houses first up for new fibre network

NNSL file photo

Work began last year in Hay River on a Northwestel project called Fibre-to-the-Home, as evidenced by these cables waiting to be installed in September. Customers in single-dwelling homes can now request to be connected to the new system.

NNSL file photo

MLAs will return to the legislature May 26.

New CEO appointedfor Smith's Landing

Thebacha/Fort SmithGlenn Bourke of Fort Smith has been

appointed the chief executive officer of Smith's Landing First Nation (SLFN).

The appointment, announced in a news release on May 14, became effective on May 11.

Bourke has 20 years of experience in government, including roles as a property management officer, financial and budget analyst, facilities maintenance manager and campus director at Aurora College.

"I had an exciting and positive career with the GNWT," he stated in the news release.

"With that behind me, I am pleased to be provided the opportunity to work with the Smith's Landing First Nation and to lend my experience to the issues and the business of the SLFN."

The chief and council of SLFN wel-comed the appointment.

"Mr. Bourke brings several years of management and administrative leadership that will help our council to achieve our mandate and deliver programs and servi-ces to our members," stated Chief Gerry Cheezie.

"We look forward to working with Glenn as we work to build a stronger nation for all of our people."

SLFN has reserve land in northern Alberta, just south of Fort Smith and many of its members live in the community.

Community gardenoffers reservations

Thebacha/Fort SmithResidents of Fort Smith are being invit-

ed to reserve plots in the community gar-den at Mission Historic Park.

They can reserve a garden plot or a raised bed.

The community garden is an annual initiative of the Town of Fort Smith and the GNWT.

Spring clean-uptime in Fort Smith

Thebacha/Fort SmithThe annual residential spring clean-up

is going ahead in Fort Smith.The clean-up was scheduled to begin on

May 19 and will run to May 30.The initiative is presented each year by

the Town of Fort Smith.

ArouND THE SOUTH SLAVe Paul Bickford is the reporter for The Hub. Send your ideas to: [email protected].


what are we to make of the recent revelation that schools in the NwT could reopen this spring, only to see that hastily backtracked by the territor-ial government?

To be quite honest, we're not sure what to make of it.

At the very least, there seems to be a failure to communicate, either within the GNwT or by the territorial govern-ment with outside groups, i.e. schools.

To summarize, Dr. Kami Kandola, the NwT's chief public health officer, announced on May 12 that schools could reopen as part of phase one of the emerging wisely strategy to ease Covid-19 restrictions. And to be clear, she didn't say that they should reopen, just that they could.

That still came as a surprise to educators in the NwT, since logistic-ally it was all but impossible for many schools to reopen before the end of this school year. After the mid-March announcement that they were closed for the rest of the school year, some had begun renovations. For others, their teachers are still in the south. And all schools would have to plan changes and get them approved by Kandola's office.

After a subsequent teleconference on May 13 between education, Culture and employment Minister R.J. simpson and the 10 chairs of regional education authorities, it was announced on May 14 that all schools will remain closed.

This episode could be filed under the category of the well-worn axiom 'no harm, no foul.' After all, there were no real negative impacts to the schools, the students, the parents, or teachers and principals.

It was a two-day strange episode that reached its inevitable conclusion.

so, in the overall Covid-19 story in the NwT, it might warrant a paragraph when the history books are written.

However, right now it is more import-ant than that.

It has to raise questions about whether the rest of the reopening plan from Covid-19 has been really thought out, if something as signifi-cant as restarting schools

wasn't. Most importantly, the people in the educational system weren't prop-erly consulted.

In this age of cellphones and emails, how could it be that pertinent informa-tion – that it is an illogical idea to even suggest reopening schools this late in the school year – didn't reach the right people? Or more disturbingly, did our decision-makers not think it was important to ask for input?

Of course, every organization screws up once in a while and that goes for

government as much as anything else. This misjudgement on school reopen-ings might be as simple as that.

There's also the possibility of chess blindness. Players – even great players – get focused on a strategy and miss something obvious. something like that could have happened here.

There should be no shame in mak-ing a mistake.

But the problem with politicians and bureaucrats is that admitting a mis-take is something to be avoided at all costs. It is almost never done. Call it the Trump factor.

so we may never know the real rea-son that reopening schools was sug-gested, only to be so roundly rejected when educators found out about it.

That's too bad, because an honest accounting of what happened might prevent something similar occurring once again in the future and that is important in this Covid-19 crisis.

Does the left hand know?

eDITORIAl

HubOpiniOnHistorical Quote

"I think people really marry far too much. It is such a lottery after all and for a poor woman a very doubtful happiness."

– Queen Victoria

How important is it for outdoor recreational facilities to reopen?

You Said It! Shirley Gutierrez:

"It is very important. I run a day home, so it's good to take the kids to a different set-ting. We can take them into the backyard, but it's good to take them out walking and bring them to the parks and things like that."

Sonny MacDonald:"Very important for people. you know they can be locked up in their houses from day-break to nightfall. you're not really getting anything done. you're twiddling your fingers."

lisa Billings:"I personally think it's a good idea, obviously, if it's safe. Because I have a little one and it's nice to be able to take him out and do different things."

Pastor Samuel Acey:"I think it's very important, because people still are looking to have some resem-blance of socialization in their life and outdoors seems to be safer than indoors in regards to all of these regula-tions."

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Hay River's Ecole Boreale is among the NWT schools – all of them – that will remain closed for the rest of the school year.

Northern News Services


The GNWT has begun the process of eas-ing Covid-19 restrictions with the release of a multi-phased plan called Emerging Wisely.

"This plan is a roadmap to an open society," said Dr. Kami Kandola, during a May 12 tele-conference announcing the strategy.

Kandola said she and her team assessed an "incredible" number of activities in the NWT with the goal of protecting people and the health system.

She explained the activities were considered on how much risk they pose and how that risk could be reduced as much as possible, while bringing some freedom and stability back to people's lives.

The plan's phase one, which will be imple-mented in mid-to-late May, will include many changes.

"There will be a new recommended model for indoor visiting, which limits your contact to a select group of friends or family," said Kan-dola. "We're calling it the friendship circle."

Each household can welcome up to five people who don't live there – but only members of that select group – with a maximum of 10 people including household members allowed inside a residence at any time.

Physical distancing of at least two metres also has to be maintained as much as possible.

Kandola noted that personal outdoor get-togethers of up to 25 people will be allowed with physical distancing and other measures in place.

Some outdoor mass gatherings like farmers' markets will be allowed with strict limits.

Kandola also said elementary, middle and high schools would be able to reopen, but that idea was quickly scuttled as impractical by the education sector.

Outdoor activities, like beach volleyball, soc-cer, golf and gun ranges, will be allowed, along with day-use areas and cook shelters in territorial parks. Community gatherings, like libraries and indoor fields, will also be permitted.

Some businesses can reopen with limita-tions, including tourism operators to service local residents, museums, art galleries, shuttle buses, bottle depots and gyms and fitness cen-tres just for personal training or outdoor classes.

Kandola also noted people will be able to book appointments with chiropractors, regis-tered massage therapists, naturopathic doctors, opticians, counsellors and other health provid-ers. She added people will be able to get their hair and nails done, noting that is the most common question she hears.

"For this to work and to keep each other safe, we cannot let up on the core public health principles," said Kandola, listing washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces, main-

taining physical distance and staying home when sick.

"What time they get implemented really depends on the ability for the businesses, the organizers, whoever implements the activity to do the risk assessment, to restructure their

workflows and the businesses to meet these enhanced measures," she said.

Emerging Wisely also contains three later phases, ending with the easing of all restric-tions when an effective vaccine or treatment for Covid-19 is available at some unknown future date.

"There may be times when we consider stepping back into more restrictive measures, such as clustered outbreaks or breakdown in contact tracing or breaching in compliance leading to wide community spread," Kandola cautioned.

Premier Caroline Cochrane participated in the teleconference announcing the easing of restrictions.

"It's important to remember that the threat of Covid-19 is not gone and, unfortunately, it won't be gone for quite some time," said Coch-rane in a news release.

"Covid-19 is still spreading in Canada and could still threaten the Northwest Territories. Relaxing our public health limits means taking a calculated but manageable risk for our terri-tory. We will mitigate this risk by keeping our border controls strong and by increasing our testing capacity so we can respond to any new cases quickly and effectively."

Travel restrictions at the border, self-iso-lation for returning travellers and testing for Covid-19 will remain until the pandemic is over.

GNWT releases plan foreasing Covid restrictions

NNSL file photo

On May 12, Dr. Kami Kandola, the NWT's chief public health officer, released Emerging Wisely, a multi-phased strategy to ease Covid-19 restrictions in the territory.

Kandola calls strategy a roadmap to open societyPAul [email protected]

Wednesday, May 20, 2020 ▼ 7www.hayriverhub.comwww.hayriverhub.com6 ▼ Wednesday, May 20, 2020


The Town of Hay River will likely decide this week on how it plans to reopen out-door recreational facilities.

That would be a result of Emerging Wisely, the GNWT's multi-phased strat-egy released last week on how to ease restrictions com-bating Covid-19.

The first phase of the GNWT's plan will include allowing mass gatherings outdoors – with capacity lim-its and other restrictions – for recreational facilities, out-door fields, farmer's markets, campgrounds, golf courses, beaches, boat launches and playgrounds.

"I think it gives a good framework for us to be able to bring recreation opportun-ities and healthy and active living options for the com-munity," said Stephane Mil-lette, the recreation director with the town.

"And I think right now is a time when residents are going to need and appreci-ate those services that much more."

Speaking on May 15, Mil-lette said the GNWT strategy would have a big impact on outdoor recreational facilities in the community.

"As of right now, we're still studying the document so we can come up with an action plan," he said, noting he has been trying to figure

out the impact in consulta-tion with the town's senior management, recreation staff and sports groups.

Millette would not go into any detail on what might be in the town's action plan, not-ing he was to present it to town council at its online meeting on May 19.

People can watch that presentation on YouTube.

Millette said he will hope-fully be able to communi-cate the action plan to the public after the presentation, depending on council's reac-tion and if any adjustments are required.

It's going to be a whileIn general, the recreation

director noted that reopening outdoor recreational facilities will not mean a return to nor-malcy before Covid-19.

"It's going to be a while before it's business as usual," he said.

Millette said outdoor rec-reational facilities will only be allowed to reopen if they meet the requirements in Emerging Safely, like social distancing and limitations on the maximum number of people.

Many of the conditions for reopening are not really up to the town's recreation department, he noted.

"We prepare the facilities, but we need user groups and community partners who use them to confirm that they can make the necessary

adaptations to use them."Some of those adapta-

tions will be suggested by the national and territorial organ-izations for various sports.

"The rec department's role is going to be to work with those local sport organ-izations to try to help so that our facilities can meet the requirements and meet the accommodations that they'll need to make if they want to go forward with their sport," he said.

Millette believes it is like-ly that softball/slopitch can return under the guidelines of Emerging Wisely, not-ing that the national organ-izations will have to provide modified rules.

"And if the local sport group thinks that they can operate under those rules, the ball diamonds will be avail-able," he said.

"We're already planning for an increased level of ser-vice at the ball diamonds. Emerging Wisely does allow for softball to return under phase one."

Indoor recreational facili-ties in Hay River will remain closed.

Emerging Wisely targets reopening such indoor facili-ties in its phase two in mid-to-late June, including swim-ming pools for instruction certification.

Pools would reopen to the public in phase three of Emerging Wisely at a time to be determined.

Softball could return this summer

Town to sort out what facilities can reopen



Stephane Millette, the Town of Hay River's recreation director, was scheduled to present a plan to council on May 19 on reopening outdoor recreational facilities after the GNWT eased its Covid-19 restrictions. Millette is pictured last week in the closed Tri-Service Playground, one of the facilities to be affected by the plan.

HubspORTs


The education sector in Hay River and the South Slave was caught off guard on May 12 when it was announced that schools could reopen from their Covid-19 closures – an idea that was rejected after just two days.

"I wasn't aware of the government's plan until I watched it on Cabin Radio," said Pennie Pokiak. "I was flabbergasted, to be honest."

Pokiak represents the Hay River District Education Author-ity (DEA) on the South Slave Divisional Education Council (SSDEC), the region's school board.

"All I can say is I never got to be part of the conversation about this," she said, "so our local DEA wasn't brought in on these conversations."

While announcing easing of Covid-19 restrictions in a document called Emerging Wisely, Dr. Kami Kandola, the NWT's chief public health officer, noted that elementary, middle and high schools could reopen with changes, despite the GNWT having announced in mid-March that they would be closed for the rest of the school year.

That recent announcement put people in quite a predica-ment, said Pokiak.

"Obviously, parents want their kids to go back to school and some parents don't want their kids to go back to school if they think the environment is unsafe. So I don't know what mix is out there of who would have sent their kids back and who wouldn't have, but it's kind of like dangling a carrot in front of people's noses and then not being able to follow through."

Curtis Brown, superintendent of the SSDEC in Fort Smith, did not get much warning of the announcement that schools could reopen.

"We didn't find out about the announcement and what would be included in the announcement until the morning of," he said, referring to Kandola's May 12 news conference.

Brown said, when he later discussed the announcement with the chair of the SSDEC and chairs of most DEAs in the South Slave, all were a bit shocked.

The superintendent explained that reopening schools would mean numerous logistical concerns, such as creating a plan, getting it approved by the GNWT and implementing changes.

And he noted some schools have already packed up for the summer because of the closure decision in mid-March.

Other schools, like Paul William Kaeser (PWK) High School and Joseph Burr Tyrrell (JBT) Elementary School in Fort Smith, are undergoing renovations.

"The front doors are off PWK and JBT and there's plywood all across the entranceways," Brown noted.

During a teleconference on May 13, Education, Culture and Employment Minister RJ Simpson discussed the reopening issue with the 10 chairs of the regional education authorities.

Speaking to The Hub the following day, Simpson said there was unanimous agreement the schools should remain closed for the rest of the school year.

"Everyone was on the same page," he said. "A lot of them had the same concerns even though all of the regions are so different and there's such differences between communities."

Simpson said the education leaders noted that, logistically, it would be very difficult to bring students back and implement the recommendations in the Emerging Wisely plan.

"Schools were closed (in March) for the rest of the school year and so actions were taken based on that," he said. "Some schools are being renovated right now and they can't have students back. There are still concerns from local govern-ments about Covid and mass gatherings. So there's resistance to open schools from some local governments and from a lot of parents, as well."

In addition, Simpson noted many teachers are not currently available.

"There's maybe around 100 teachers who aren't even in the territory," he said. "Some communities have no teachers in them and no principals. So there'd be no opportunity for them to open schools."

When asked if there was a lack of information sharing before Kandola's announcement, Simpson replied, "The plan to reopen the territory is Dr. Kandola's plan and the delivery of education belongs to the education bodies. So Dr. Kandola recommended reopening schools based on her medical experi-ence and the research she's done and her assessment of how safe it would be. But that doesn't mean that operationally it could actually be done and that's the case in this situation here."

The minister noted that Kandola's directions on what will be required to reopen the schools will be useful in September.

On May 13, Kandola was asked about the surprise that

greeted her announcement that schools could reopen.She noted there is enough evidence and data to show that

children aged 19 and under are at lower risk from Covid-19 and that, from a public health point of view, schools can be

permitted to reopen."We just provide the parameters," Kandola added. "We

provide the risk assessment and the final decision is with an education authority."

Announcement schools could reopen greeted withsurprise, followed by decision to keep them closed

'I was flabbergasted'PAul [email protected]


Hay River's Princess Alexandra School – like all others in the NWT – will remain closed for the rest of the school year, despite some confusion created by the May 12 release of a plan to ease Covid-19 restrictions.


A tugboat was grounded off the Hay River Beach on May 11 after becoming unsecured from the nearby Marine Trans-portation Services shipyard.

The vessel – the 45-metre-long Edgar Kototak – was retrieved the next day.

A spokesperson for the Department of Infrastructure explained the vessel became unsecured as shipyard workers were repositioning the tug so they could clear out ice.

"While this is a routine operation, the boat unexpectedly became unsecured and drifted about 200 metres away from

shore," said Greg Hanna, who provided written responses to questions from The Hub.

"Marine Transportation Services (MTS) staff were immedi-ately aware of the incident and monitored the situation while the vessel was adrift to ensure that the boat, the public and the environment were not at risk at any time."

Wasn't out for very longThe vessel was retrieved in the early afternoon of

May 12 and is now securely docked at the MTS yard, he added. "During this incident, the vessel did not sustain any damage."

Hanna noted that an incident report will be completed to

identify measures that should be taken to prevent similar inci-dents from occurring in the future.

While the Edgar Kototak was aground, it became a bit of an attraction for Hay River residents who went to the beach to look at the vessel and take photos.

On May 11, MTS workers could be seen going back and forth to the vessel in small open boats. They appeared to be securing the tug with lines from the shore.

It also appeared that the vessel was not too severely grounded.

It was roughly parallel to the beach. However, at one point on May 11, it moved in place and its bow pointed into Great Slave Lake, before it returned to its original position.

Tugboat grounds off beach

Vessel became unsecured from shipyard May 11


The tugboat Edgar Kototak became unsecured on May 11 and drifted about 200 metres away from the Marine Transportation Services' shipyard in Hay River. It grounded off the Hay River Beach and remained there until being retrieved the following day and returned to the shipyard.



The Covid-19 checkpoint on Highway 1 has been relocated from Enterprise to the NWT/Alberta bor-der.

The move took place on May 14.The checkpoint had been set up

since late March at Enterprise, about 82 km north of the border. It is the first NWT community that highway travellers enter when driving from Alberta.

Speaking on May 13, Ivan Rus-sell, director of public safety with the Department of Municipal and Com-munity Affairs (MACA), said the move had been under consideration

for some time."This is primarily to address con-

cerns that people had in wanting to access the area," he said of the region south of Enterprise. "As the Emer-ging Wisely plan comes to imple-mentation and many people want to get more outside and enjoy our lovely weather, there's a great deal of inter-est in the cabins and campgrounds and falls in that area. So it's allowing much easier access for residents to go to that area."

Plus, he noted there was concern among some NWT residents that people from Alberta have been com-ing north and using the area.

Russell explained there were operational factors that had to be

considered before the move to the border was made.

"It does add a three-hour roundtrip to anyone who may go and work at the border checkpoint," he said, using the driving time for Hay River. "So we have to make sure that there's accommodations available and all the supporting facilities like food, showers, washroom facilities and so on are available to anyone who's working there."

The MACA official noted the workers do 12-hour shifts.

"So after 12 hours, you can't turn around and drive for an hour and a half," he said. "So they must be accommodated at that location."

The workers will be using a facil-

ity at the border that can host six people.

The checkpoint, which will oper-ate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, has been set up in front of the 60th Parallel Visitor Information Centre.

Vehicles travelling northward are directed off Highway 1 into the cen-tre's parking area, where they go through the checkpoint.

Travellers heading south can drive right past the checkpoint, since they are then in Alberta and won't be able to return to the NWT until meeting Covid-19 restrictions.

When it was in Enterprise, travel-lers heading south had to go through the checkpoint. Some of them were not leaving the NWT, but were visit-

ing places like Alexandra Falls.Craig McMaster, deputy mayor

of the Hamlet of Enterprise, said he never heard any complaints from residents while the checkpoint was in their community.

"It's better at the border," he said, "but I think everybody in the com-munity understood it was necessary to have it where we had it for as long as we had it."

Still, McMaster said residents won't miss the flashing lights in the community.

When the checkpoint was first established in Enterprise, MACA noted the location was more sustain-able than the border and offered more support for workers.

Covid-19 checkpoint moved fromEnterprise to NWT/Alberta border

Northerners wanted more access to area south of Enterprise

The GNWT's check-point to control entry into the territory as a defence against Covid-19 was moved from Enterprise to the NWT/Alberta border on May 14.




The Town of Hay River is giving residents a break – and most likely more relief – on property taxes this year.

The town will delay sending out property tax notices, according to Judy Goucher, the senior administrative offi-cer with the municipal government.

The tax notices normally go out at the end of May.

"This year, they'll be going out at the end of July at the earliest, which means the early payment discount would apply at the end of August and final payment would be due at the end of September," said Goucher.

"So we're pushing it back a couple of

months at least."

Two reasons givenFirst, the town is taking that approach

because it doesn't have the final assess-ment roll, Goucher explained.

"We were to have our Board of Revision meeting in March and it got cancelled because of Covid, so we're waiting on the final assessment rolls so we can set final mill rates."

Plus, she noted it also gives people a couple of extra months to plan for the property taxes coming out and it will relieve some of the financial stress dur-ing this time of Covid-19.

"It gives people less pressure in terms of they're not going to be sitting with a bill that they get in the mail, knowing

that it's due at a certain date and they're not going to be ready to pay it," she said.

She added that in a couple of months hopefully most people will be back at work, businesses will be back up and running and people won't be feeling the pressure of paying late.

Goucher noted that town council is also considering keeping residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural mill rates unchanged from 2019.

"There's no final decision until we get a final certified assessment roll, but they're absolutely seriously looking at that as a way to help people through dif-ficult economic times," she said.

"So even though they budgeted for an increase, those classes of property tax will not receive an increase this year."


Property tax notices pushed to July: SAO

Mill rates may stay the same

Documents

Plan in works for outdoor facilities...Plan in works for outdoor facilities Indoor facilities must stay closed for now, but field sports could resume Volume 48 Issue 13 WEDNESDAY,