Community Services Status Guide

THE HINTON MUNICIPAL LIBRARY

The Library will resume services in phases under the guidance of directives provided by the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health. In order to be able to meet the mission of the Library and to provide services to the community, the Library will follow the Mandatory Safety Standards for Workplaces as established by the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Closed to the Public
The Hinton Municipal Library building will be closed to the public until further notice to ensure the health and safety of our patrons & staff.

Modified Hours
During the closure, library staff will be available Monday - Friday from 10:00 am - 5:30 pm to answer phone calls, and monitor chat, emails & social media and offer curbside services.

Increased Staffing Level
Staffing levels have been increased to 90%. Curbside Pickup Patrons can now place new holds for curbside pickup. Patrons will only be able to order items from the Hinton Municipal Library’s collection, not from other libraries.

Patrons must contact Library Staff directly via phone, chat, email, or social media.

REOPENING

Phase 1
Creating a relaunch plan that fits with the guidelines and recommendations of the Local and Provincial Health Authorities.

The Library Board permitted curbside services at the beginning of June for items already on hold, and later opened to all residents of Hinton the opportunity to place new orders.

Phase 2
The Library may be open to the public in July with limited access and services. More information will be posted on our social media channels. The Library will expand operating hours (10:00am – 5:30pm), with no weekends over the summer. In phase 2, the Library may allow patrons access to the following services:

In-person services may include curbside service and delivery, and in lobby pickups by appointment only.
Exam proctoring by appointment only.
Using public computers for scheduled limited amounts of time by appointments only.

Phase 3
Based on improving pandemic conditions as reported by the Provincial
Government, the Library may expand building access, allowing more patrons into the library and beginning in-person programming on a small scale.

The Library may allow patrons to access the following services:

Requesting materials
from the stacks at the service desk.
Using public computers for scheduled limited amounts of time.
Printing and laminating services provided by appointment.
Exam proctoring provided by appointment only.

Phase 4
Based on improving pandemic conditions as reported by the Provincial Government, the Library may expand to the new normal of full services. With consultation of the Library Board, the number of hours of operations and the rate of occupancy may increase, possibly to include weekends.

The Library may allow patrons to access the following services:

Open the building to allow for browsing in the stacks.
Meeting room use.
In-person programs.

Visit Hinton.ca/LibraryReopening to find the whole plan download.

FCSS AND TRANSPORTATION

Programs and staffing remain reduced by 60%, but we are still available to assist you!

Our phone line is open Monday to Friday 8am-4pm.
Our staff are supporting the community by booking appointments and registering for upcoming programs over the phone, as well as arranging drop off and pick ups related to specific programs. FCSS Staff continue to support our citizens with over the phone weekly wellness calls.

FCSS Building tentatively open for partial hours starting the week of July 6 and full opening on August 4

Please call the Front Desk at 780-6036 for program/service support.

Needing a little extra support at home?
Our Home Support program is running normal business hours during COVID with extra precautions in place of course at an affordable price ranging from $8/hour to $25/hour depending on your income level.
The program offers:

Light housekeeping service
Support for seniors, persons with disabilities and families in need of temporary support
Unable to complete household tasks due to physical/mental/emotional difficulties

The program has capacity to take on a few more clients. New clients are becoming a weekly occurrence so try not to hold off too long if this service interests you!

REGIONAL ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION
World Elder Abuse Awareness day was held last week, June 15th. Elder Abuse is becoming more prevalent as our population ages and with that brings a dire need for awareness and education in communities. Our Regional Elder Abuse Coordinator has not slowed down during COVID and it unfortunately does not look like things will any time soon.

THE FACTS & NUMBERS (for May 2020)

Four calls regarding Dementia Support and referral
Zero home visits due to COVID
18 agency interactions or collaboration
One new elder abuse referral
Two ongoing cases, one brought to resolution, other before the court with protection order in place
12 provincial participants for the monthly Elder Abuse Round Table Discussion Group
27 check in calls with seniors and/or caregivers in Hinton/Edson and Yellowhead County

We continue to make Abuse Prevention a priority. For more information on this program please call FCSS; Regional Elder Abuse Coordinator 780-223-8009.

HINTON KIDS FOR SUCCESS RELAUNCH
Are your kids ready for summertime adventures? Are you in need of reliable, licensed care? Look no further! We identified a need in the community for summer childcare, so Hinton Kids for Success has reopened to provide all-day care throughout summer. Additional safety precautions have been implemented during COVID-19 to keep families safe. Learn more and register online!

CAREGIVER SUPPORT
Raising a family is hard work. Learn about tools, resources, and techniques to help you become the best caregiver you can be with support from our Caregiver Education Coordinator. Whether you’re looking for some help managing your toddler’s tantrums, some tips for supporting your teen’s mental health, or wanting to build connections with other parents, we can help! Sessions have been moved to phone and online platforms for now during COVID-19. Learn more and register for supports online!

YOUTH CENTRE
The Hinton Youth Centre is currently closed due to COVID-19, but we are looking forward to reopening with the start of the new school year in fall!

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HUB
Interagency Newsflash
Many agency, non-profit, businesses share their information through this portal. Subscribing to this newsflash allows you to keep your finger on the pulse in the community as well as share your own agency/group happenings.
Tentatively mark your calendar for the next Interagency meeting… September 17.

FREEDOM EXPRESS SERVICE
There were several factors the Town of Hinton considered before the Freedom Express service was temporarily cancelled. The first one was the safety and well being of the passengers. With the uncertainty of COVID -19, we chose not to put the passengers (many of who are already at high risk and vulnerable) into a higher risk / increased exposure environment. The second factor was that there are other transportation services available in the community: Neighborlink, and our Public Transit System. We also considered the demand for service; it has been extremely low as all community and agency programming has been cancelled, and destinations/outings have been significantly reduced. The Freedom Express will remain temporarily out of service for the next little while as we prepare proper safe work practices and guidelines to relaunch the service back into the community safely.

PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM
Ridership continues to increase from the original 50% reduced ridership when COVID-19 first impacted our service! We are currently running this service at 50% capacity; For your safety, every second seat has been taken out of service. All passengers and bus driver’s safety and wellbeing remain priority and with that, extra precautions continue to be put in place. We are highly encouraging passengers to wear masks to help us prevent the spread of COVID-19. We thank you for riding our Public Transit System!

RECREATION CENTRE

Remains Closed To The Public (March 13-2020)
Support/contact Available Now Daily Monday – Friday From 8pm - 3pm
780-865-4412 Or 780-865-6028

Town Of Hinton Is Working On Implementing The Guidelines Made Public in the Provincial Announcements On June 09, 2020. We Will Announce Re-opening Of Facilities And Start-up Of Various Services In Civicsends, Through Facebook, And In Coming Editions Of Comserv.

STAFFING (less than 50% capacity)

Parks, Recreation and Culture staffing level has been increased with the return of all leadership staff, as well as increased hours for some members in the Customer Service area to initiate the re-start of services - We are still maintaining reduced service levels with less than 50% staffing capacity.

PASSES WILL BE EXTENDED UPON OPENING
Information will follow and arrangements will be made at time of relaunch. At this time there is no interchange use of facilities and/or passes with neighboring communities

ARENAS
(ice available tentative date: late August)
Annual maintenance and necessary repairs are underway in preparation of re-opening. We are planning to have the floor available in the second half of July for drop-in activities that we can allow under provincial restrictions, such as Pickle Ball. Ice making and start up of ice season activities are anticipated to take place in late August

Requirements for reopening include:

Staffing return to bring capacity to regular levels, training, refrigeration start-up and ice making takes a minimum of 3 weeks before first use of one sheet only.
Bringing in our Arena/Parks Staff to start up the indoor ice season will have an impact on the level of our outdoor Parks services
Phased-in usage with restrictions for both public use and ice user group programming should be expected

POOL
(pool opening tentative date: mid August)
Annual Pool shutdown work activities scheduled for September 2020 are taking place now (no regular fall shutdown required) The maintenance department is now finishing off the main pool tile grouting – redo of the main basin seam / hot tub pipe testing / refurbishing of boilers and filter systems.
The Aquatic Supervisor is working on implementing the newly released Alberta Health Services, Lifesaving Society and Town of Hinton safety regulations for re-opening our pool facility

Requirements for reopening include:

Staff return to bring capacity to regular levels, training, basin fill (water balancing) takes up to 3 weeks after shutdown work is completed
Drop-in program with phased-in usage and restrictions to be expected, with likely lane swim as the first activity to take place in August.

COURTS/OTHER INDOOR FACILITIES
(bookings and facility use available tentative date: mid July)

Requirements for reopening include:

Phased-in opening of the Recreation Centre with COVID-19 guidelines (cleaning, restrictions, and measures to avoid spreading) is being implemented with Courts and meeting room use as first amenities available in the second half of July.
Bouldering Wall remains closed for now until we can identify and implement safety procedures.
Break Away, ATM and vending machines remain unavailable till further notice.

COMMUNITY EVENTS
Temporarily no Event Coordination support
All Town delivered events are cancelled until at least July 31st. No community delivered events support is available at this time.
For equipment rentals please call 780-865-4412 or 780-865-6028.

June 30 Fireworks cancelled
July 1 Canada Day activities cancelled (Pancake Breakfast/Parade/Fohn Festival)
Community driven events may be available; check out local media for updates and activities

SEASONAL AND DELAYED OPENING OF:

The Rotary Play and Spray Park opened last weekend, June 20th. Come for a fun splash and please mind that:
- The washrooms and change rooms are now open effective today, Friday June 26 - 7 days a week from 10am to 6pm
- Sun safety is important so please take adequate precautions
- Learn more at Hinton.ca/SprayPark
Town-owned and operated outhouses will be open for use effective Saturday June 27.
Town-owned and operated washrooms with running water will open in July.
Athabasca Riverfront Park - no anticipated re-opening date available
All Outdoor Tennis and Pickle Ball courts at Gerard Redmond and Harry Collinge High School are open and ready for use. Pickle Ball lines are being painted with support of volunteers.

Community Services Status Guide

View the CivicSend here. Download the PDF here. Subscribe here.

ComServ is the Community Services Status Guide, a new product of Community Services and Strategic Services at the Town of Hinton to provide an all encompassing update on our Pandemic Status.