Council chambers at Lethbridge City Hall. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

City of Lethbridge outlines what Wednesday’s State of Local Emergency means

Mar 19, 2020 | 3:11 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Officials with the City of Lethbridge are providing more details about their State of Local Emergency (SOLE).

It was issued Wednesday afternoon.

Lethbridge Fire & Emergency Services Chief Marc Rathwell explains that this does not necessarily mean that the COVID-19 situation has changed drastically.

Instead, it allows the city to more effectively manage the pandemic, for example, through the use of special orders in accordance with the Emergency Management Act (EMA).

“This could be around getting facilities that we need and equipment that we need. Some of those resources might be people. That’s the main reason around that resourcing piece. We needed to, not just enhance, but help in our local way, supporting the AHS directorate.”

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Rathwell says that someone who is homeless and is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 might not have anywhere to go to self-isolate. If they use the Lethbridge Shelter and Resource Centre, they would still be in close contact with others.

The EMA could allow them to utilize facilities such as a community centre or a hotel room to temporarily keep them in isolation.

He adds that staff at the shelter, which are provincially mandated by Alberta Health Services (AHS), are regularly posting notices to inform their users about the COVID-19 situation and speaking to them about it, as some might not have access to most news outlets.

The SOLE gives the city a better capability to coordinate with other levels of government and its partners such as grade schools and post-secondary schools, AHS, and others.

Interim City Manager Jody Meli says they are also looking to bolster resources to their 311 phone service.

The line has been inundated with calls in recent days regarding city services, so some staff members are being shifted to that program temporarily.

It was announced on Wednesday that Lethbridge City Hall, the Visitor Centre, fire halls, the Lethbridge Police Service station, and the Lethbridge Animal Shelter are either closing or limiting public access.

Meli asks residents to phone 311 or these facilities directly if you have urgent business that needs to be attended to.

Mayor Chris Spearman told media that the city is working on solutions to help residents and business owners who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Government of Alberta’s aid package that was announced Wednesday, residential, farm, and small commercial customers, regardless of their service provider, can defer electricity and natural gas bill payments for 90 days.

Spearman says there have been discussions about a similar program for deferring city utilities and property tax payments, but that would be a council decision that has not yet been made.

In order to help local businesses that are “hurting pretty bad”, Economic Development Lethbridge is working on assembling YQL Economic Recovery Task Force that will come up with “practical solutions”.

Anyone who wants to be part of this proposed task force is asked to reach out to Economic Development Lethbridge.