The City of Duncan has closed City Hall, City Square, all parks and playing fields and its public works facility in an attempt to help flatten the COVID-19 curve.
The move, according to a notice issued by City Hall, is in coordination with the CVRD and its member municipalities: North Cowichan, Ladysmith and Lake Cowichan after provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry limited public gatherings to 50 people and urged people to continue practicing their social distancing.
To that end, city staffers will be working at an essential services level, meaning fire protection, water and sewer utilities, garbage collection, bylaw enforcement, emergency management, communications, finance, and governance will continue but there will be limitations on things like building inspections and development planning and there’ll be no public meetings.
Mayor Michelle Staples apologized for the inconvenience.
“We recognize the challenges facing our residents and business owners,” she said. “If we take preventative measures now, we can reduce the impacts of COVID-19 on our community members, particularly those who are most vulnerable.”
City staff can be reached by phone at: 250-746-6126, email at: duncan@duncan.ca or through the website (complaints and payments) www.duncan.ca for the foreseeable future.
The drop box at City Hall will continue to be monitored for payments or correspondence.
sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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