COVID-19 Information and Updates
As of March 23, the County of Wellington and all seven of its member municipalities have declared emergencies in accordance with the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, 1990, as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Township staff are working closely with the County of Wellington and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health to respond to the situation. As more information becomes available, the Township of Puslinch is making additional changes to slow the spread of COVID-19.
June 10, 2020 – Wellington County Supports the media release from the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit that requires customers, patrons, employees or visitors to wear a face covering while inside a commercial establishment.
June 12, 2020-County of Wellington Emergency Order 1 – Amended
June 26, 2020 – The Township of Puslinch strongly supports the Outdoor Patio Extension or Modification initiative, and are committed to reviewing these modifications and providing support to our local hospitality workers and businesses.
WDG Public Health has provided answers to frequently asked questions: https://wdgpublichealth.ca/your-health/covid-19-information-public/face-coverings-class-order-and-faqs
For additional questions, not answered on the WDG Public Health website, please call 519-822-2715 x4020
The Federal and Provincial initiatives to support businesses and individuals is summarized in this resource:
April 21, 2020 – Government Announced Support
Please see below for updates and changes:
Township Municipal Office and Recreation Facilities
The Township Municipal Office, the Puslinch Community Centre and the Optimist Recreation Centre remain closed to the public until November 9, 2020. As the date of November 9th approaches, the Township will closely evaluate the current available information and conditions. Please see the media release for specific details. Information for outdoor facilities and green spaces is below.
September 25, 2020 – Media Release
September 3, 2020 – Media Release
July 23, 2020 – Media Release
Building Services
Building Department Update
June 26, 2020 – Outdoor Patio Extension or Modification
April 7, 2020 – Building Department Process and Information Update
BUILDING PERMITS
At this time applicants can email their building permit application package to the Township. All applications must be complete. Payment by credit card over the phone will be accepted. There will be a 1.75% convenience fee added to your building permit fees.
BUILDING INSPECTIONS
Building inspections are conducted Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week.
Inspection requests will be accepted until 3:00 pm the day before for a next day inspection. Please ensure you have the permit number available when you make your request.
Inspection requests can be made by phone at 519-763-1226 x181 or by emailing the Customer Service Coordinators.
As of March 19, 2020 – Please email your request to our staff if possible. Please be advised of the protocol during the COVID-19 Pandemic:
- Please ensure that proper COVID-19 safety regulations are being followed.
- Please ensure that the full permit package is on site for the inspections.
- Inspectors will arrive at your site in their own personal vehicle instead of the Township truck.
- Inspection reports will be left on-site to notify the applicant of the inspection results.
By-law Enforcement and Property Standards
The Township will be responding only to emergency by-law enforcement and property standards complaints as they relate directly to the immediate health and safety of our community.
Campgrounds and Trailer Parks
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
April 4, 2020 Joint Ministers Letter
Wellington Duffering Guelph Public Health
Emergency Child Care
The County of Wellington is working in partnership with the Ministry of Education to support health care and other frontline workers in Guelph and Wellington by providing access to licensed child care at no cost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The list of workers eligible for emergency child care is issued by the Ministry of Education.
Eligible parents and guardians who live and/or work in the County of Wellington or City of Guelph are welcome to complete the survey for children 12 years of age and under. The survey can be accessed on the County of Wellington website.
May 26, 2020 – Emergency Chile Care – Elora
The County has approved an application from Little Angels Development Inc. Child Care Centre in Elora to provide 15 new emergency child care spaces for children up to 12 years of age.
May 14, 2020 – Emergency Child Care – Additional Spaces
On Tuesday May 19, the County will re-open its Mount Forest Child Care and Learning Centre to provide additional emergency child care spaces.
May 1, 2020 – Emergency Child Care for Health Care and Frontline Workers
The County of Wellington has entered into an agreement with the YM-YWCA of Guelph to provide emergency child care spaces at the Kensington Y Child Care Centre.
April 15, 2020 – Emergency Child Care Recruitment – The County is looking for individuals to provide temporary contracted child care in either their own home or the homes of health care workers and/or first responders.
Green Legacy Municipal Tree Day Information
April 9, 2020 Green Legacy Information
Residents who have already placed tree orders will be contacted by Green Legacy staff over the next few days and provided with further delivery information. County residents who have not yet ordered trees, will be able to place orders online at www.greenlegacy.ca until April 30, 2020. Trees are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All home deliveries will be contact-free and will have no delivery charge. County staff will begin deliveries the week of April 13, and residents will be notified prior to the delivery of their order.
Keep Well – Emergency Business Sustainability Fund
The Keep Well – Emergency Business Sustainability Fund will provide low-interest loans to Wellington County businesses to help support them during the economically challenging period brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 31, 2020-COVID-19 Emergency Business Sustainability Fund
Library Services – County of Wellington
See the above media release for information about library services.
Online Services
Inquiries from the public will be responded to by email and phone by calling (519)-763-1226 and leaving a detailed message.
You can purchase your Burn permit online. An email confirmation will be sent to you once you have completed the transaction.
You can also fill out the Dog Licence Application to purchase your dog tag(s). The tags will be entered into our system, and tags will be mailed out as soon as staff are back in the office.
Other permit and license applications are also available online
Outdoor Recreational Facilities
July 2020 – Bookings for our baseball diamonds and soccer fields will commence July 3, 2020 with Special Terms and Conditions due to COVID-19 as outlined below:
1. It is the renter’s responsibility to ensure all federal, provincial and local public health unit requirements are followed (i.e. – maintaining physical distancing of 2 metres).
2. The renter must adhere to the guidelines of the Provincial Sport Association that governs their applicable sport in order to safely return to play.
3. All washrooms and change rooms will remain closed.
4. No seating will be provided on site, bleachers and benches are closed.
5. Renters are required to disinfect all Township supplied equipment after each use.
Failure to comply with all federal, provincial, and local health unit requirements may result in the Township being directed to close these outdoor sports fields.
Failure to comply with all federal, provincial, and local health unit requirements may result in the Township being directed to close these outdoor sports fields.
Effective May 21, outdoor sports facilities and multi-use fields including baseball diamonds, and soccer fields are re-opened to allow use by the public in accordance with the physical separation directives issued by the Province.
May 21, 2020 – Media Release – COVID-19
Parks, Trails and Greenspaces are also open to allow use by the public in accordance with the physical separation directives issued by the Province.
Playgrounds remain closed.
Planning Services
The Township will now accept planning applications both digitally and in hard copy format. Please contact admin@puslinch.ca for more information.
Property Tax Information
April 21 – Property Tax Update
If you can, please pay your property tax installments when they are due on April 30. If you need to delay payment, the Township will not charge penalty on the April 30th instalment until July 1, 2020. Post dated cheques will continue to be deposited on the applicable date.
Pre-Authorized Payment withdrawals will continue as scheduled. If you would like to review your pre-authorized tax payments please contact us.
Property Tax Information
On March 24, 2020 the County of Wellington circulated a media release regarding financial relief to residents and businesses from COVID-19. Taxes can be paid through financial institutions via internet or telephone banking. The Township offers pre-authorized payment plans, you can fill out the application and submit by email with a void cheque. Additionally, there is a secure 24/7 mail drop box at the Township Municipal Office.
April 30, 2020 – Tax Relief for Low Income Seniors and Low Income Persons with Disabilities
Public Works
Public works continues to maintain the road and drainage networks. Emergency and non-emergency public works inquiries can be made through email or phone at 519-763-1226 ext. 6 – please leave a detailed message. Staff are available to respond as needed. After hours emergencies can continue to be reported through the after-hours line at 519-763-1226 ext 6 for distribution to the appropriate on-call staff.
Solid Waste Services
All County Waste Facilities and Re-Use Centres are closed to the public until further notice.
Beginning May 26, all County waste facilities will re-open and resume regular business hours. All Reuse Centres and textile bins will remain closed until further notice. Regular business hours for the Aberfoyle Waste Facility are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 8am-4pm.
There are currently no changes to the County of Wellington’s curbside collection services. At this time, the County is continuing the User Pay Bag programme, asking that residents use County-issued garbage bags. The user pay bags distributor list and details on curbside collection can be found on the County’s Website
May 12, 2020 – Waste Facilities to re-open May 26
April 2, 2020 – Garbage Bag Temporary Home Delivery – The County is offering online or phone in ordering options for temporary home delivery service of user pay garbage bags.
March 25, 2020-Solid Waste Services
March 20, 2020-Waste Disposal During COVID
April 21, 2020 – A note about Garbage Bags in Local Stores:
Every store carries the bags in different locations. Typically they are located on the shelf with the other garbage bags but some retailers display them on an end unit and some keep the bags behind the cash or in another secure location. Please ask store staff if you can’t find them. The County is doing their best to ensure there are garbage bags available at the stores that they deal with.
Yard Waste Collection
On April 14th the Solid Waste Services Committee approved an interim measure to facilitate curbside collection of leaf and yard waste in 56 designated urban areas.
Tools and Information for Local Business during COVID-19
The Township has compiled a list of Government resources to support your business as we work through this challenging period together.
April 9, 2020 Township of Puslinch Shares Tools to Assist Local Businesses
COVID-19 Tools and Information for Local Business during COVID-19
Waterloo Wellington Older Adult Strategy (WWOAS)
Local healthcare and community support groups have launched an older adult campaign to help those over 70 stay safe and well during COVID-19 and beyond.
Well Water Testing
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health will be conducting well water testing as normal. Empty water sampling bottles are available at participating Public Health locations. For more information, please visit www.wdgpublichealth.ca/your-home/well-water-testing
Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health
June 10, 2020 – Commercial Establishments
New information about face coverings in commercial establishments
Ongoing – Food Premises and Events Updates
April 9, 2020 – Media Release-Avoid Gatherings This Weekend
Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health is encouraging residents to avoid family or faith gatherings in person over the holiday weekend. Please read the Media Release.
For additional information on COVID-19 please visit Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health’s Information for the Public – Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage or call the COVID-19 WDGPH Call Centre at 1-800-265-7293 ext 7006 .
**Last updated September 4, 2020 at 09:50 am