By Chad Ingram

The Township of Algonquin Highlands will introduce a digital paymentsystem at its Maple Lake and Oxtongue Lake landfills as well as theDorset transfer station.

Councillors approved that purchase duringtheir May 21 meeting which was held with councillors participatingremotely via online conferencing platform Zoom.
“Definitely throughthis COVID pandemic we’ve really noticed some shortfalls in acceptingcash at our sites and not having a digital payment system set up” said public works director Adam Thorn. “ … It helps us to do directdigital payment it also helps us track sales with recording and willdecrease staff time for changing those receipts from paper toelectronic.”

Thorn said he’d like to see the system enacted as soonas possible at the Maple Lake landfill work out any bugs and thenimplement it at the two other sites.
“This is a terrific idea weare somewhat in the stone age regarding our ability to make onlinetransactions and has been pointed out we’ve learned the need to be alittle more flexible in that regard” said Mayor Carol Moffatt ascouncil approved the purchase.
The system costs $3100 plus taxes with ongoing operating costs of $1900 per year.