April 3, 2020
Hello everyone.
We began the day dealing with individual questions and comments that have come in since yesterday when we posted a picture of the Band’s sign that forbids cottagers and visitors from coming onto the Reserve.
We have now received too many comments/questions to answer in a timely way. So we have picked out the critical issues for which people want information.
The following represents what we know for sure, and in some cases what we think is happening and there are some things about which we know almost nothing.
We have done our best to get the answers you are looking for. However, we ask for your patience since it takes time for the Band Council and/or staff to consider our question and to respond with a definitive answer.
And thank you for expressing your concerns to us.
How long will the State of Emergency last?
The Band declared the State of Emergency (SOE) in concert with surrounding municipalities and the Grey-Bruce Medical Officer of Health (MOH).
The SOE is open ended.
Our assumption is that the SOE will remain in effect for some time and will only be lifted by Band Council after consultation with neighbouring municipalities, the MOH and when they feel it is safe to do so.
Will our fees be adjusted to reflect our not being allowed to go to our cottages?
Service Fees
The Band Council, in response to our request, has deferred the deadline for Service Fee payment by 60 days to June 1st. The fee amount remains unchanged.
We realize that some cottagers had already submitted their fees before we became aware of the deferral. If the SOE is not lifted until well into the summer or beyond, we would hope that Band Council would revisit this issue. In the meantime, we recommend that you submit your service fees by June 1st to avoid late fees.
Lease Fees
The Band Council has indicated that Lease fees will remain unchanged and the due date is still May 1, 2020. We do not see this changing regardless of the length of the SOE.
We are not sure if invoices for the lease fees will be sent out. These fees are the same as last year, so we are again recommending that you pay your lease fee on time to avoid late fees whether you receive an invoice or not.
E-Transfer
We have asked the Lands Management Department if they can set up an electronic banking e-transfer account. It may be a while before we get a response.
In the meantime they will continue to receive payment by cheque either through the slot in the door for locals or by mail.
Are Septic Contractors and other trades restricted from working on Band Lands?
Within the past hour we have received the following from Kirk Roote (Manager, Lands Management Department):
“No contractors are permitted to continue until the emergency situation has been lifted”
We now assume that the Band will have to revisit its expectations around completion of septic system upgrades.
We will pick this issue up again once the SOE has been lifted.
What about other trades?
Bayshore broadcasting has published a list of those who are eligible to continue on to Band Land.
- Residents and members
- Essential employees
- Emergency response personnel
- Essential inspection, maintenance and repair persons
- Canada Post employees and other carriers
- Hydro One, Bell Canada and GBTel service people
- Fuel suppliers
- Anyone with written permission of Band Council
Is Winter Patrol being extended?
SCOI and its member cottager associations are working out a voluntary extension of the Winter Patrol program for a fee.
Hopefully we will have something to share with you in the next couple of days.
A Few Final Words
On the off chance that you are still planning to go to the cottage, please understand that
Band security are stopping vehicles before they can enter Band Land.
Band Security is also checking cottages to see if there are people there without permission.
Do not go to your cottage.
The best thing we can all do is respect the Band’s wishes, help them keep their community safe and stay home.
If we do what is asked of us we will get through this sooner and get back to the cottage sooner.
Thank you again for your input and for your understanding and for your patience. As more information emerges, we will post it here as soon as we get it.
Rob McLaughlin, Secretary Treasurer, SCOI
Thank you, and well done.
Thank you Rob, and the Council for all that you are doing to keep us informed. Stay healthy
You are doing a great job of keeping people informed. Hopefully we can get there for the May 24 weekend but I am thinking this is optimistic.
Thank you for keeping everyone up to date.
Rob, a huge thank you to you and the SCOI board for keeping us informed on the situation. Keep up the great work.
A heater was placed in the crawl space of my cottage a while ago. Can I have a friend come to the cottage to turn it off?
Given that cottage access is currently prohibited, neither you nor a friend will be permitted to go to your cottage.
Our advice is to call either CanCom Security (519-379-4760) or the Band’s fire department (519-797-3366) and ask them to go and turn off your main hydro switch on the outside of your cottage by the meter.
Thanks for keeping us informed! You’re doing a great job! Stay home! Stay healthy!!
Thanks Rob and Kath. We are grateful for your help.
Dear Rob:
Nancy and I want to thank you for the wonderful job you are doing managing the newsletter, questions, concerns and complaints. Certainly you did not take on this position expecting a global pandemic and the consequences! Of course none of us anticipated what has transpired and this has created a significant (and hopefully temporary) need for everyone to change their expectations.
As a health care professional I fully support the Band’s decision to close the reserve to cottagers. The resources for proper care are limited in the Saugeen Shores/Sauble Beach area and the contagiousness of this virus can NOT be understated. We all have to do our part to reduce the transmission of this disease…. our health care workers are the most vulnerable group and we put ourselves at risk every moment we are with our patients. The possibility of transmission to our families is always in the back of our minds but….. when any of us are with our patient our focus is 100% on them. So, limiting the possibility of transmission to anyone in the Saugeen Shores/Sauble Beach area should be everyone’s priority. It protects the limited number of health care workers and the population of the area. Any one of us could go to our cottages now and inadvertently infect someone without knowing it. I personally do not want that possibility on my conscience and neither should anyone else. We are blessed to be able to lease our land and spend half the year in such a pristine area. We MUST respect the Saugeen Band who are doing nothing more than protecting their families and community.
My message, suck it up people. Look at the bigger picture and realize no one asked for this problem and all of us together can make the steps to a solution easier. We will happily pay our lease on time as it is our legal obligation and we realize that the funds are important for the Saugeen First Nation’s day to day lives
Once again Rob, thank you for the excellent job you are doing. Stay well.
REQUESTING CLARIFICATION OF THE FOLLOWING:
Are Septic Contractors and other trades restricted from working on Band Lands?
Within the past hour we have received the following from Kirk Roote (Manager, Lands Management Department):
“No contractors are permitted to continue until the emergency situation has been lifted”
We now assume that the Band will have to revisit its expectations around completion of septic system upgrades.
We will pick this issue up again once the SOE has been lifted.
DOES THIS REFER TO i) ACTUAL INSTALLATION OF NEW SEPTIC SYSTEMS, ii) A CONTRACTOR ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING A PLAN TO BE SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL, or iii) BOTH i) and ii).
IF THIS INCLUDES ii), THIS MEANS IT IS LIKELY THAT ANYONE WHO HAS NOT YET COMPLETED THIS STEP WILL BE UNLIKELY TO MEET THE CURRENT DEADLINE OF MAY 1, 2021. WILL THE BAND BE EXTENDING THIS DEADLINE OR MAKING OTHER ALLOWANCES REGARDING LEASE RENEWAL IN 2021?
If this includes ii), “picking this issue up again once the SOE has been lifted” will probably not allow enough time to meet the current deadline to have an approved plan in place.
Question. Is there any way for our cottages to be used for first responders or medical personnel that need to stay away from infecting their families?
Thank you for sharing this information. I’m hoping it will also be shared to the media. Many cottage owners have no idea what I’d going on. It would be great if the bad could contact every lease holder directly.
Is anyone trying to approach the dept of justice, indigenous services etc? Or a news station regarding the lease payment. Yes we are very worried about covid 19, but as a family with everyone out of work it is unbelievable that we are not getting a deferment nor a prorated lease adjustment. We are told to stay away and also to pay full amount, on time and without an invoice.
I have not received a service fee invoice for this season. Can someone advise the amount?
Lot 855 Bruce Rd 13
$1,000.00
Thank you for the updates Rob and for your ongoing dedication to all of us cottagers. I echo Dr. Tester on this one, and respect the wishes of the Saugeen Band. We too will pay our lease on time and in full, this pandemic is not the fault of the Band. We’re all in this together people, stay home. stay safe, support each other as much as possible.
Thank you for the hard work. You are definately going above and beyond!
We are all in this together and we’ll get through this together as well.
On top of asking what the band can do for us during this time maybe we can ask if there is anything we can do for them?
Thank you again and be well.
Please add my name to the list to receive the SCOI news….I have been getting it from a neighbor cottager.. thanx!
Please see our March 30 post.
It’s very important that we all meet our obligations so that the Band can continue to manage their affairs and keep the reserve in good order. We may not be able to visit for a while but life changed for everyone when Covid 19!spread to North America.
Let’s care for the Band and their needs. This too shall pass and we can all have the pleasure of spending some quality time in our fabulous cottage neighbourhood.
Be careful everyone.
Thank you for the the updates. I agree with this decision.
The hospital in town cannot handle a huge influx of patients and they need the supplies for their own.
Years ago my husband suddenly fell ill at the cottage , spent three weeks there where he received excellent care, but he was too ill to be repatriated to our home town hospital. It was difficult for me visiting him in town and watching him die while the rest of the family was here. Afterwards I was dealing with the funeral home who knew nothing about us. They also were wonderful, but it wasn’t ideal.
We need to stay in our own home communities in our own houses for all of us.
We have an investment in our cottage. I would like to take a road trip and show up to do a check of the property inside and out after not being there for a significant amount time.
Is there away we can notify someone about showing up for the day to do a check ourselves.
I understand about the lease payment no being reduced so I only ask to be able to do a check our property
Cottage access is not allowed while the State of Emergency is in place. See our April 4, 2020 post for your best alternative.
We are “only” seasonal members of the Sauble/Southampton/Saugeen community, but we are members nonetheless.
As community members, I think it is important to support our local front-line hospital, Saugeen Memorial in Southampton. It’s there for us when we fall off a ladder, have a stroke or heart attack, need a rabies vaccination or suffer a bad burn. It’s not a major hospital, and patients with serious conditions are transferred elsewhere after receiving preliminary treatment, but Saugeen Memorial is there for us, as well as for the year-round residents of our community.
It deserves our support. Make a donation if you can, or buy some of their lottery tickets. Help them in this difficult time.
Visit their website for more info. https://smhfoundation.ca
Hi. I may have some insurance issues if I can’t attend to my cottage at some point in May. Has this been brought up by others. I’d be interested to know if I’m the only one. Cheers
See our April 4, 2020 post.