Thompson city council unanimously approved a resolution to close city playground structures at their April 13 meeting.
The decision was made as a result of the city’s insurance provider informing the city that if they weren’t closed the insurance policy would not apply to the playground structures, said city manager Anthony McInnis.
“The playgrounds themselves will be open but the playground structures would be closed,” he said, adding that the reason the decision came to council was due to the provincial Municipal Relation department’s interpretation of the Municipal Act
“It’s not only the city of Thompson,” said McInnis. "This is being done by virtually every municipality that’s part of the AMM [Association of Manitoba Municipallities], which represents all municipalities in the province, for the same reasons."
Coun. Jeff Fountain asked how the closures would be enforced.
“Once we’ve closed the park, what efforts are we going to be able to go through to ensure that they’re not being used and if we aren’t diligent with that are we putting our insurance at risk?” he said.
“My understanding is what we have to do is placard the facilities and possibly put up some sort of barricade,” said McInnis. “We’re still working on what is exactly required. My understanding is there won’t be active policing of it though if it is noticed or there is a report we can then go and enforce that but it basically becomes a use at your own risk because the city has posted that it’s not to be used and is closed.”
Other outdoor city recreation facilities like the Millennium Trail and the off-leash dog park remain open
Earlier in the same meeting, Mayor Colleen Smook outlined some of the city’s actions taken with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic in response to an email inquiry from a city resident.
“The water treatment plant, we currently have rotating shifts and social distancing implemented among our water treatment operators,” Smook said. “One of our directors is also a certified water treatment plant operator and he is self-isolating to help ensure that he’s available in an emergency. We’re currently updating our existing emergency plans to ensure the plant continues operating if staff levels become more of an issue. Water treatment continues as normal and COVID-19 has not been detected in any municipal water supply."
The mayor also said that some actions taken by Northern Manitoba First Nations to limit access to their communities can not be replicated by the City of Thompson because municipalities and First Nations are governed by different legislation.
“We can not block access to Thompson,” she said. “First Nations communities are governed by the Indian Act. They have different powers and rules than we do. We cannot block access on the highway as that’s provincial land and we don’t have the authority.”
Smook also said that the city has no more information about positive tests for the novel coronavirus in the Northern Regional Health Authority area than the general public does.
“Whether there is a case in Thompson or there isn’t we shouldn’t behave as if there isn’t,” said the mayor. “People should be taking the same critical precautions to keep themselves and our community safe.”
Those precautions include staying home as much as possible, washing hands frequently and staying at least six feet away from other people when in public places.
