Coming out of provincial lockdown, the Township of Algonquin Highlands is reopening its administrative office on North Shore Road to the public, although meetings will be strictly by appointment for the time being.

The office is reopened as of Feb. 18, with a release from the township stipulating that drop-in appointments will not be accommodated.

Telephone meetings with staff are still preferred, however, if an in-person visit is absolutely necessary, the release indicates that appointments will be booked in 30-minute blocks; that face masks must be worn and brought by visitors; that visitors will be screened prior to their entry to building; and that names and contact information must be provided for contact-tracing purposes.

At the Dorset Recreation Centre, computers will reopen for public use on Feb. 22 beginning at 9 a.m., with booked appointments required. Library book drop services will resume, but the rest of the recreation centre remains closed.

The Dorset tower remains closed, however, a re-opening of the tower property is anticipated to occur on May 17. This will include access to the property, gift shop and lookout at Peek-A-Boo Rock, but the tower itself will remained closed to visitors due to social distancing and sanitization requirements that would be difficult to maintain.

Campsite reservations for the rest of the season will begin on March 29.

The release stipulates any of these plans could change based on direction from the provincial government.The township remains under a state of emergency amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

– Staff