Township Implements Proactive Measures as Precaution to Limit Further Transmission of COVID-19

• The Township’s Municipal Office (8348 Wellington Road 124) will be closed to the public until further notice, however, please be advised that:

  • A minimal amount of staff are present in the building and are available via phone and e-mail to assist members of the public. However,  there will be no staff-public interactions.

The following Guelph/Eramosa recreation facilities are now open. Please see attached media release for more information.

Outdoor sports fields and baseball diamonds

Residents may use outdoor sports fields and baseball diamonds for non-team sports that allow for physical distancing. Gatherings are still required to be no more than ten people, unless they are living in the same household. This is un-coached informal play. Sports organizations need to follow the direction of their governing body and provincial legislation.

Benches, picnic tables and park shelters

Picnic tables, benches and park shelters are now open for public use, provided that physical distance of at least two metres is maintained. As these amenities are not sanitized, residents should wash or sanitize their hands thoroughly before and after use.

Skate Park

The skate park is now open for public use, provided that physical distance of at least two metres is maintained. As these amenities are not sanitized, residents should wash or sanitize their hands thoroughly before and after use.

Basketball courts

Basketball courts are now available for use immediately, with physical distancing measures in effect. Basketball courts should be used for non-team sports that permit physical distancing and gatherings of less than ten people.

Tennis courts

• Practice Physical distancing; staying 2 meters away from others. Refrain from handshakes, high-fives and fist bumps.
• Double tennis permitted, following safe distance protocols 
• Only players actively engaged in play are to be inside the fenced enclosure. Please wait outside the fenced area for your turn or in your vehicle. 
• If the courts are busy leave and return at another time.
• If others are waiting for a court, playing time is limited to one hour.
• Avoid changing ends or courts.
• Bring your own uniquely marked balls, only pick up balls that you brought for play.
• Return balls to adjacent players using your foot or racquet not your hand.
• Bring your own hand sanitizer and use it before, during and after tennis court usage.
• Bring your own water and do not share.
• Bathrooms and water fountains in Rockmosa Park are closed. Plan your visit accordingly.
• Refrain from touching your face (wiping sweat) and common elements on the tennis courts.
• Failure to comply with these rules, social distancing requirements or improper use of the courts may result in the closure of the tennis courts.
• The  Royal Distributing Athletic Centre is currently closed but will open for limited track use starting September 8, 2020. To contact RDAPC staff directly please contact 519-265-7905 ext. 2.
• The Marden Community Centre and the Rockmosa Community Centre are closed and all associated programming and rentals have been cancelled until further notice. To contact our community services staff directly about cancellations or refunds, please call 519-856-9596 ext. 113.
• The Rockmosa Older Adult Centre is closed and all Active 55+ programming has been cancelled until further notice. To contact our Parks and Recreation Administrative Assisant directly about cancellations or refunds, please call 519-856-9596 ext. 139.
• All Township play structures are open as of July 17, 2020.
• Party in the Park 2020 has been canceled.
• Grand River Conservation Authority has opened most of their parks. Please use this link for the most up to date information. https://www.grandriver.ca/en/who-we-are/covid-19.aspx

Open Air Burn Permits

• Information on how to obtain a burn permit can be found here.

Building Permits

• Effective Monday, May 19, 2020, the Building Department will resume accepting all building permit applications and issuing all building permits.. For more information, please visit the Building Department's webpage.

Dog Tag Licences

• Dog tags can be purchased online through DocuPet at https://get.docupet.com/en_CA/
• No in-person dog tag applications will be accepted at this time.

• The municipal drinking water and sanitary system will continue to be maintained.
• In-home service requests and water meter services are cancelled until further notice.
• Water and wastewater staff continue to maintain the township systems to ensure that safe efficient delivery of drinking water and collection of wastewater.  Emergency and non-emergency enquiries continue to be received during regular business hours through regular phone and email methods.  Afterhours emergencies also continue to be reported through the after-hours 519-856-9596 ext. 150 for distribution to the appropriate on-call staff.

• Residents are reminded to not flush disinfectant wipes, baby wipes or even paper towels.  Toilet paper is the only item which should be flushed.  Items such as wipes do not break down and will cause blockages in sewer mains and may clog pumps and treatment processes.

• On March 24, 2020 the County of Wellington  circulated a media release regarding financial relief to residents and businesses from COVID-19.
• There is a secure 24/7 mail drop box at the Township Municipal Office, located at 8348 Wellington Road 124 and during regular business hours, the vestibule will be open for members of the public to drop off tax or water bill payments but there will be no interactions between staff and the public at this time.
• The Water Billing  and Tax Departments would like to remind residents that the Township does offer the option of receiving your bills through email billing.  
  • If you wish to receive your water bill through email,  please click here for more information. 
  • If you wish to receive your tax bill through email, please click here for more information.
• We would also like to remind residents that the Township offers online banking and pre-authorized payment as additional options for water bill and tax payments:
  • 1)      Online Banking - please go to your financial institution’s online banking app or website and sign in.  In the search bar you will enter Guelph/Eramosa and proceed with set up.
  • 2)      Pre-authorized Payment Plan – click here and complete the PAP Enrollment Form for and forward to: 
    • Water Department: kskinnerosmond@get.on.ca. You will be advised through email when your PAP set up has been completed.
    • Tax Department: lvanalstine@get.on.ca. You will be advised through email when your PAP set up has been completed.

In order to help residents and businesses who find themselves facing financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic, penalties and interest on 2020 property tax and water/sewer payments will be waived for 60 days as follows: 

Water/Sewer Payments - By-law 17/2020

The Township of Guelph/Eramosa will waive penalty and interest and non-sufficient fund charges for returned payments  for 60 days on 2020 water/sewer payments due March 31, 2020. (April and May 2020)

Tax Installments - By-law 18/2020

Tax installments due on May 31, 2020.

Penalty and interest for non-payment of 2020 tax instalments and non-sufficient fund charges for returned payments will be waived for 60 days from the May 31, 2020 installment due date. (June and July 2020)

• The Township of Guelph/Eramosa is currently holding all Council meetings electronically through teleconference until further notice. Information about meetings, agendas and minutes can be found here.
• All Committee of the Whole meetings have been cancelled until further notice.

• The Planning Department will continue to provide service and accept/process applications, but please note that processing and response times may be affected during this time.

• Beginning May 26, all County waste facilities will be re-opening with their regular operating hours. Reuse Centres and textile bins will remain closed at all sites until further notice. Visit the County of Wellington's website for more information.

• The County of Wellington is offering yard-waste collection and here is what you need to know:

  • Materials must be placed at the curb by 7:00 am on the Monday of your scheduled collection week. The scheduled collection weeks for Guelph/Eramosa are April 27 and May 18. It may take a few days to collect each area; however, collection crews will not be re-visiting any streets.

  • Leaves and yard waste must be placed in Kraft paper yard waste bags, or suitable re-usable containers clearly identified as yard waste. Materials placed out loose or in plastic bags will not be collected.

  • Each bag, reusable container, or bundle must not exceed 18.2 kg (40 lbs).

  • Small sticks must be bundled and be no longer than 90 cm (3’) in length. Large branches, trunks and stumps will not be collected.

  • For residents in rural areas, please store your materials on your property until waste facilities are re-opened.

  • Remember, if you have any questions, please contact the County of Wellington.

• Important information from Wellington County regarding User Pay Garbage Bags: Our staff are making deliveries to our retailers to ensure that User Pay bag inventory remains available. The County is also offering a temporary home delivery service for User Pay garbage bags. Orders can be placed and processed online at www.wellington.ca/wasteinfo. Residents unable to access this service online can call 519.837.2601 and arrangements will be made.  
• The County of Wellington issued the media release on March 25, 2020 regarding Waste Disposal During COVID-19.
• The County of Wellington issued this media release on March 20, 2020 regarding Waste Disposal During COVID-19.

• By Order of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, our cemeteries are open for interments. For information regarding interments, please contact the Legislative and Licensing Coordinator. 
• The 2020 Rockwood Cemetery Annual Service of Remembrance scheduled for Wednesday June 17^th, 2020 has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Staff will reevaluate the situation mid-summer and make a determination if a late summer or early fall service is feasible for 2020. Township staff understand this is an important service to member of our community who are dealing with lose, the 2021 service is scheduled for Wednesday June 16^th.

• Public works continues to maintain the road and drainage networks.  Emergency and non-emergency public works inquires can be made through regular phone and email methods.  Staff are available to respond as needed.  Afterhours emergencies also continue to be reported through the after-hours at 519-856-9596 ext. 150 for distribution to the appropriate on-call staff.

• 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. No inspections within a dwelling unit will take place at this time.