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Chapleau Council's approved a tender for upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant.
Mayor Michael Levesque explains the work stems from government regulations.
Mayor Levesque notes the cost will be higher than expected.
Provincial regulations require the changes to be in place before the next season.
Wawa Municipal Council's holding a lunchtime special meeting.
There are four items on the agenda: resolutions approving the submission of funding applications for sidewalk repairs, and for electronic sign and marina washrooms; a resolution to write-off taxes and vest property at 135 Mills Drive; and a by-law to sell that municipal land to HWY 17 HOTEL INC.
The meeting's broadcast on the Muncipality's YouTube channel, at 12 noon.
Time is running out to place a bid in the Rotary Club of Wawa's first ever "Rotary Online Auction".
Launched Monday, the online auction is set to end tomorrow night - and Club President Liz Talian-Clarke encourages everyone to check out the items available and place a bid, noting funds raised support many community initiatives and programs.
Talian-Clarke reminds you can bid often or even set up automatic bids to a certain amount - and no credit card is needed, with the club instead taking cash or cheque - people simply need to register.
The Rotary Online Auction ends at 11 pm Saturday, with winners to be emailed so they can pick up items on Sunday.
More COVID-19 cases have been reported in the region.
Figures on the Public Health Sudbury and Districts website shows a total of 228 cases - with 15 active - while the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reported seven in the Thunder Bay area yesterday and today, bringing the health unit's total to 254, 67 of which are active, including two in hospital.
Algoma Public Health has reported a total of 60 - three of which are active - while three of the 106 cases reported by the Porcupine Health Unit are active, including one outside its region.
Chapleau Council's approved a pair of new accessible parking spots downtown.
Mayor Michael Levesque says Council's approved the proposed locations.
Mayor Levesque says signs will go up for the spots soon, with lines to be painted when they can, likely after the snow's gone.
Wawa Municipal Council's holding a special meeting at the end of the week.
The Municipality says there are four items on the agenda, resolutions approving the submission of funding applications for sidewalk repairs and electronic sign and marina washrooms, as well as a resolution to write-off taxes and vest property at 135 Mills Drive, with a subsequent by-law to sell that municipal land to HWY 17 HOTEL INC.
The meeting will be broadcast on the Muncipality's YouTube channel, at 12 noon Friday.
Chapleau's looking into ways to bring more doctors to town.
While the issue was brought up last month, Town Council received a presentation from Chapleau Health Services in this week's meeting, with Mayor Michael Levesque explaining the focus is on recruiting at least two doctors.
Levesque says the presentation was meant to apprise Council of the situation, and ongoing efforts.
Mayor Levesque acknowledges some issues bringing doctors to the North - and keeping them - suggesting efforts will also seek to address that problem while being "realistic" about the difficulty getting people to stay.
More COVID-19 cases have been reported in the region.
Algoma Public Health is reporting two new cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area, both stemming from international travel - that brings its total since the pandemic began to 60, three of which are currently "active".
A case has also been confirmed in Marathon.
While the Thunder Bay District Health Unit will only say a recent case was confirmed in an unspecified "district community" - which could include Marathon - a statement from the Marathon Family Health Team confirms the first positive case in that community - it's unclear how they were exposed, though the health unit's conducting contact tracing.
This comes as the health unit's reported its second COVID-19 death - CBC News reports the deceased was a patient at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
The health unit currently has 82 "active" cases.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts - meanwhile - has declared outbreaks at the Extendicare Falconbridge and Extendicare York long-term care homes in Greater Sudbury - it says two workers tested positive, one from each facility.
The health unit's actually showing five new cases - four in Greater Sudbury and one in an unspecified Sudbury District community - though it's unclear how any were exposed.
That leaves it with fourteen "active" cases.
Both Public Health Sudbury and Districts and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit are in the yellow "protect" category of Ontario's tiered restrictions framework, while Algoma's in the green "prevent" category, the lowest level.
Chapleau Council's commending the recent response to equipment failure that led to a drinking water advisory in the town last week.
Noting "a number of organizations and individuals" were involved, Mayor Michael Levesque highlights their "efforts, diligence, and commitment".
Levesque also thanks Chapleau Valu-Mart for being quick to respond - placing a special order for bottled water, to meet increased demand - and commends Township staff - public works, civic centre, and firefighters - for their work and coordination of the response.
As for the cause, Mayor Levesque explains it was equipment failure at the Water Treatment Plant.
Mayor Levesque says a public statement was issued less than an hour after the problem was reported to the Township office, and the problem's now fixed.
The advisory was lifted Saturday.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's confirmed fourteen more COVID-19 cases, one in an unspecified "district community", the others in the Thunder Bay area - it's unclear how two were exposed, while the others stem from close contact with a known case.
This comes as the health unit's warning of low risk exposure at a Bath and Body Works in Thunder Bay, and revising its travel recommendations, urging residents "avoid all non-essential travel outside of Northwestern Ontario", and - if they do go - stay home and avoid interacting with those outside your household for fourteen days upon returning - especially from high-risk areas - monitor for symptoms, and - if any develop - self-isolate and get tested.
That health unit - which entered the yellow "protect" category of Ontario's tiered restrictions framework yesterday - has reported 247 cases, 82 of which are currently "active".
Public Health Sudbury and Districts - which is also in the yellow "protect" category - currently has ten "active" cases, while Algoma Public Health has only one and the Porcupine Health Unit has three, one outside its region.
More cases have been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 219th case - a Greater Sudbury resident whose exposure is still under investigation - that leaves the health unit with eleven "active" cases.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's confirmed fifteen more cases in the Thunder Bay area - all stemming from close contact with a known case - bringing its total to 233, 78 of which are "active".
That region joined the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts - among others - in the yellow "protect" category of Ontario's tiered restriction framework this morning.
Algoma Public Health - which last reported its 58th case a week ago - only has one "active", while the Porcupine Health Unit has four active, one outside its region.
Chapleau Council's set to discuss physician recruitment and upgrades to the waste water treatment plant in a regular meeting tonight.
Included on the agenda is a presentation from Chapleau Health Services about physician recruitment, along with resolutions to: award the tender for the Waste Water Treatment Plant Dechlorination and Chlorination upgrades; approve locations for accessible parking downtown; and approve the 2021 schedule of fees.
Council will also consider a "Committee of Adjustment" item - a minor variance application on Lansdowne Street South - and will receive an update on the drinking water advisory, which was lifted Saturday.
There's also a single "in-camera" item, relating to negotiations for operation and maintenance of the water and waste water facilities.
Aside from the "in-camera" portion, the public can listen in on tonight's meeting by calling 1-800-974-5902, entering conference ID 5116623 - the meeting starts at 6:30.
More cases have been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 212th case, which is located in Greater Sudbury and stems from close contact with a previously confirmed case - combined with three more "resolved" cases, that leaves the health unit with 22 "active".
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting another seven cases in the Thunder Bay area - one stemming from travel, the others from close contact with a known case - bringing its total to 207, 65 of which are "active".
Algoma Public Health's reporting two more recoveries - leaving it with only one "active" case - while the Porcupine Health Unit has four "active", one outside its region.
More cases were confirmed in the region over the weekend.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported two more late Friday - bringing its total to 214 - though it also recorded nine more "resolved" cases over the weekend, bringing its "active" cases down to thirteen.
The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's confirmed its 106th case - like the 105th, located in Timmins - leaving it with four "active".
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit reported eleven more cases in the Thunder Bay area - eight from close contact with a known case, the others are unknown - that brings its total to 218, 69 of which are "active", with a facility-wide outbreak declared at a Thunder Bay long-term care home.
As of this morning, that region has now joined the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts - among others - in the yellow "protect" category of Ontario's tiered restriction framework.
Algoma Public Health currently has one "active" case out of the 58 it has reported.
Rotary Club of Wawa is taking its annual Radio Auction online amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Club President Liz Talian-Clarke explains the club is holding its first ever Rotary Online Auction after cancelling the spring event due to the pandemic - after a number of items had already been donated.
Talian-Clarke notes it's quite simple: just go to the site and sign up.
Talian-Clarke adds you can bid often or even set up automatic bids to a certain amount, expressing hope that the change to a multi-day event will help raise more money.
The Rotary Online Auction starts today, continuing until 11 pm Saturday.
Some good news for Chapleau residents: the town's drinking water advisory is over.
Issued Wednesday night - after the distribution system lost pressure because of equipment failure at the Water Treatment Plant - the advisory was lifted Saturday, with Public Health Sudbury and Districts Health Protection Division Manager Burgess Hawkins explaining "the bacteriological quality of the water supply has been tested with no adverse results being reported".
He adds "residents in the affected areas may notice chlorine odours and discoloured water", recommending those who do run cold water faucets for five minutes or until the water runs clear, run water softeners through a regeneration cycle, drain and refill water heaters, and remove and rinse faucet screens.
The Township is reminding citizens should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours, adding that emergency preparedness information is available at its website or the Civic Centre.
Chapleau residents are being warned against consuming the water - but there is an option to get some usable water.
While the Township says a drinking water advisory remains in effect, it has received permission to distribute potable water to residents who attend the Water Treatment Plant with their own containers, with supervised watering stations open from 8 am to 6 pm today, and from 9 am to noon tomorrow - residents are reminded to adhere to public health guidelines for COVID-19.
The advisory was issued Wednesday night, after the distribution system lost pressure because of equipment failure at the plant - pressure's since been restored, but Public Health Sudbury and Districts warns the loss "created conditions that compromised the safety of the drinking water".
It won't be lifted until after testing of two water samples taken 24 hours apart - the health unit will then review the results and decide whether to lift the advisory.
Until then, residents are reminded not to use the water for human consumption, such as: brushing teeth; washing uncooked fruits and vegetables; cooking; drinking; or making juice, infant formula, or ice - not even if it's boiled first, as that still may not make it safe for drinking.
The water can be used for laundry or bathing, but not small children who could swallow it.
The Township of Chapleau remains under a water advisory after problems at the water treatment plant last night - but residents are being offered a way to get water.
The Township says it has received permission to distribute potable water to residents who attend the Water Treatment Plant with their own containers, with supervised watering stations open until 8 o'clock tonight, from 8 am to 6 pm tomorrow, and from 9 am to noon on Saturday - residents are reminded to adhere to public health guidelines for COVID-19.
The advisory was issued last night, after the distribution system lost pressure because of equipment failure at the plan - while pressure's since been restored, Public Health Sudbury and Districts warns the loss "created conditions that compromised the safety of the drinking water", advising against using the water for human consumption until testing indicates it's safe.
According to the Township, a flushing program was performed last night, with results showing the discolouration was minimal and chlorine residual levels were within the acceptable range, but the advisory can't be lifted until testing of two water samples taken 24 hours apart - the health unit will then review the results and decide whether to lift the advisory.
Until then, residents are reminded not to the water for: brushing teeth; washing uncooked fruits and vegetables; cooking; drinking; or making juice, infant formula, or ice - not even if it's boiled first, as that still may not make it safe for drinking.
The water can still be used for laundry or bathing, but not for small children who could swallow it.
Several more cases have been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 211th case, which is located in Greater Sudbury and stems from close contact with a previously confirmed case - that leaves it with 22 "active" cases.
The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's confirmed its 105th case - which is located in Timmins, and is still under investigation - leaving it with three "active", while the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting eleven more - all in the Thunder Bay area, stemming from close contact with a known case - bringing its total to 200, 58 of which are "active".
Algoma Public Health - which last reports a case on Sunday - has three "active".
The Township of Chapleau remains under a water advisory after problems at the water treatment plant last night.
While the Township says the distribution system lost pressure because of equipment failure at the plant, it notes pressure's since been restored, though a drinking water advisory's in effect until further notice, as Public Health Sudbury and Districts warns the loss of pressure "created conditions that compromised the safety of the drinking water", advising against using the water for human consumption until testing indicates it's safe.
That means residents should not use the water for such as brushing teeth, washing uncooked fruits and vegetables, cooking, drinking, or making juice, infant formula, or ice - not even if it's boiled first, as that still may not make it safe for drinking - though the water can still be used for laundry or bathing, but not for small children who could swallow it.
The Township flushed the water mains last night, as the loss of pressure caused sediment in the water mains to be "agitated", resulting in discolouration, though it adds this may need to be repeated, depending on water sample test results.
