(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By paNOW Staff

Reopening

P.A. City Hall opens Monday; update on city facilities expected soon

Jun 19, 2020 | 2:13 PM

Beginning Monday, the front counter at Prince Albert City Hall will reopen for bill payments and other regular transactions, and there’s some news on the reopening of facilities.

City Hall has been closed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Director of community services, Jody Boulet, told paNOW the timing was right to reopen it, with the recent switch to monthly utility billing and property taxes due at the beginning of July.

“It’s good to have that in-person interaction for people that need it and prefer it,” he said.

Temperature checks will be performed at the door and a limited amount of people will be permitted in the foyer at a time to ensure space for physical distancing.

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Whenever possible, residents are asked to continue to use online payment options or the secure drop box located at the west entrance.

With the opening of City Hall, bus passes will return to regular rates.

Sports fields open next week, announcement on Kinsmen Water Park and spray parks expected shortly

Boulet explained some outdoor sports fields will open next week, but must be booked in advance.

“Bookings will be contained specifically to practices within a team or scrimmages within a team,” he said.

The province has not yet announced when games between teams can resume.

Earlier this week, the province gave the go-ahead for outdoor pools and spray parks to reopen on Monday, and Boulet said his department is currently in the process of evaluating the feasibility of opening those facilities in Prince Albert.

“Kinsmen Water Park is getting a really close look right now to see what options there could be to invite the public back under the guidelines,” he said. “Same with our spray parks.”

Boulet explained city adminstration will prepare a report with options and recommendations for the potential reopening of the water park and spray parks, along with the financial implications. The final decision on when and if they reopen will be up to council, he said.

“[Because of the pandemic] we can’t rely on our previous budget that was passed back in late 2019 any longer,” he said. “So we rework the budget for each area, present that to council so that they have all the facts and then make decisions based on all the other priorities the City has right now.”

Boulet thanked sports associations for their work in developing rules for the safe return to play for their participants.

“We’re all in it together and thinking it through to that detail that each of them has done,” he said. “[That’s] going to allow us to get back our sports returning as soon as possible.”

Little Red River Park

Meanwhile Little Red River Park remains closed. In a press release the City said the park is in good condition, but wet conditions require that the core area of the park stay closed to vehicle traffic.

The park is still accessible through the upper flats in the east and the north parking lot in the west.

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panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow