Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Please note public meetings and hearings held under the Planning Act, RSO, 1990 (being meetings for zoning by-law amendments, minor variances, etc.) are not being scheduled at this time. Any existing scheduled public meetings and hearings are postponed until further notice.

Media Release - Perth County, West Perth, Perth East and Perth South Declare State of Emergency 

Media Release - Municipality of West Perth Delcares State of Emergency

March 26, 2020, West Perth, ON — Mayor Walter McKenzie has issued a declaration of emergency in the Municipality of West Perth as part of the Municipality’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While Perth County only has two confirmed cases by Huron Perth Public Health, we need to be proactive to manage the spread of COVID-19, so I am taking strong action ahead of additional cases. Our Emergency Operations Centre has been activated to respond to this rapidly evolving situation. Municipal services have been adjusted to ensure we are doing what we can to protect the health and safely of residents and staff as we continue to deliver essential services to the community,” said Mayor Walter McKenzie. “We need to take strong action as a community in stopping the spread of COVID-19 as these measures are not only for yourself and for your family, but for everyone.”

The Municipality is following the lead from the Province of Ontario, although many of the measures introduced by the Province on March 17 had already been in place in West Perth.

The Local State of Emergency was declared for the following reasons:

• To raise public awareness regarding the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic situation,
• To protect volunteers that may be called to assist, 
• To preserve the rights of the Municipality for future compensation should it become available; and
• To ensure the organization can quickly respond to other unforeseen events should they arise.

The Municipality of West Perth acknowledges that this is a fluid situation that we are continuously monitoring. The Municipality is committed to keeping West Perth residents informed through our dedicated webpage westperth.com/covid-19 and to provide more information about the Municipality’s response as it becomes available.

The Municipality continues to take precautions to help protect our residents and staff. We are aligning with proactive steps and recommendations from other levels of government and health authorities to ensure everyone’s safety and wellbeing.

Effective as of Wednesday March 25th and until further notice, the Municipality of West Perth will further modify the delivery of non-essential services. Critical services such as water, wastewater management, curbside waste collection, road and sidewalk maintenance and repair, winter operations, police, fire, and are still being provided.

Summary of Service Adjustments

The Mitchell Landfill will be temporarily closed to the general public effective March 25 as part of the growing efforts to reduce close contact that could spread COVID-19. The curbside garbage and recycling collection service continues as normal. Commercial and contractor account holders will still be able to access the landfill.  Appointments for unusual or emergency situations i.e. flood, fire damage, moving related situations can be assessed by emailing landfill@westperth.com or by texting 226-921-1091.

Water and Wastewater services are continuing with risk management measures to ensure that staff are managed to maintain business continuity to this critical service.

Administrative staff that are essential to the continuance of essential services and operations such as payroll, processing of payments and vital statistics, continue to be available during regular business hours by phone or email.

Residents are encouraged to continue to use online means to access municipal services. Links to all our online services are available on the Municipality of West Perth website www.westperth.com.

This is an evolving situation; we appreciate your patience as we continue to adjust our operations in a rapidly changing environment, and we will continue to update residents as new information becomes available. Subscribe to www.westperth.com/covid-19 the latest municipal information.

West Perth Chief Building Official and Building Inspector will not be conducting inspections on projects that contain an occupied dwelling (e.g. finished basement, additions, etc.). This is a temporary measure that will be in place until further notice and will be continually monitored as the COVID-19 situation evolves. The Municipality will continue to offer inspections for all other permits.

Contractors, builders, and/or homeowners are requested to practice physical distancing by staying 6 feet away off-site while staff complete the inspection.

Due to the growing concerns of the rapidly expanding Coronavirus impacts to our community, the Municipality is taking additional steps to safeguard the health and safety of our employees and community members.  Effective immediately and until further notice, the following measures have been instituted:

• Water and Wastewater services and emergency response are proceeding as usual. 
• The Municipal Office will be closed for in person transactions.  We can accept applications through the mail, via email, or through our online services.  We would like to remind all residents that many municipal services are able to be conducted online through www.westperth.com, including the payment of water and tax bills, the renewal of dog licenses, etc.
• The Library will be closed to the public and all programming will be cancelled.
• West Perth recreational facilities and halls will be closed to the public.  Staff members are available by email to answer any questions.
• The Building Department office will be closed to the public.  Staff members are available by telephone (519-348-8429) and email to answer any questions.  If you need to drop off an application or request an inspection please call ahead to discuss with the staff. 
• Board and Committee meetings have been cancelled. 

Municipal staff are available and will be conducting business during this time period by phone and/or email.

Council meetings will proceed as scheduled. For more information please contact Municipal Staff. Follow our website, Facebook and Twitter for updates.

The West Perth municipal office is closed to the public until further notice. Staff will continue to provide services by phone and email where possible.

Residents are encouraged to utilize various telephone and online options for reporting issues, making payments, and the provision of services.

• Staff Directory - directly phone or e-mail a staff member or department
• Report It- use this portal to report a concern, streetlight out, by-law infraction, water/wastewater & roads concern
• Call in a municipal Water/Waste Water concern
• Submit building permit applications electronically
• Review Property Tax & Utility Payment Options
• Call (519) 348-8429 during regular business hours (Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
• Payments and applications may be left in the after-hours drop-box located at the front door of the Municipal Office.

Council meetings will processed as scheduled. Board and Committee meetings are cancelled until further notice.  

The Mayor can call a special meeting of Council to discuss urgent business as required. 

Meeting information and schedules will be updated on our Council & Committee Calendar. 

Mitchell Fire Department remain fully functional. We are taking precautionary measures to ensure that volunteer firefighters can attend emergencies. 

• Fire inspections will continue as normal.
• Public Education and Prevention activities have been temporarily suspended.
• The scheduled Recruitment Open House has been postponed until further notice. 

At this time all correspondance must be done by phone or e-mail. 

The Mitchell Landfill will be temporarily closed to the general public effective March 25, as part of the growing efforts to reduce close contact that could spread COVID-19. The curbside garbage and recycling collection service continues as normal.

Commercial and contractor account holders will still be able to access the landfill during normal landfill operating hours.

Appointments for unusual or emergency situations i.e. flood, fire damage, moving related situations can be assessed by emailing landfill@westperth.com or by texting 226-921-1091.

Customers booking appointments will be subject to a screening questionnaire.

The Library will be closed to the public and all programming will be cancelled.

West Perth Public Library cardholders can access free downloadable eBooks and Audiobooks from home via the DownLoad Library. Log in through the West Perth Public Library with your Library Card Number and PIN. Try the App, use an eReader, or go right to the website to read on your computer. Visit the Audio and eBooks page for directions on how to get started.

For more information visit the West Perth Public Library page. 

• West Perth Municipal Office
• Mitchell Arena & Community Centre
• West Perth Public Library
• Brodhagen Community Centre
• Dublin Community Centre
• Mitchell Friendship Centre

Refunds will be processed for any rentals that have been cancelled as a result of the closures.  

All playground equipment and play structures are closed. This closure includes the all-wheels park (skatepark). The Municipality has taken this unprecedented decision in the interest of public health to try and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Restrictive tape are now up in all parks advising residents of this decision. We ask all of our residents for your cooperation as we try and keep our community healthy and safe.

Rental Requests

We are accepting requests for future rentals but they will not be approved until our facilities have re-opened. You may request a booking through

• Submitting an online request - coming soon
• Emailing the Recreation Coordinator 

Staff will be in touch with your to discuss your request. 

Please contact the staff below for any questions:

• General Inquiries - email Ashley Neveu or call 519-348-8429 ext. 221
• Accounts receivable - email Lori O'Connell or call 519-348-8429 ext. 227
• Property taxes - email Lori O'Connell or call 519-348-8429 ext. 227
• Water/sewer -  email Dustin Early or call 519-348-8429 ext. 244

Water and wastewater services are considered an essential service and are operating as usual. Precautions have been put in place to ensure staff are protected and able to perform their operational duties. Emergency resposnse will be provided 24 hours a day. Operations have been divided amongst staff to ensure social distancing.

Water and wastewater staff will not be entering homes or businesses and will be refraining from interaction with the public whenever possible.

If you have a water or wastewater question/concern, please water@westperth.com or call 519-348-8429 ext. 236.

For after-hours emergencies related to water or wastewater, please call 519-301-1607.

Building permits will continue to be reviewed and processed. Applications can be submitted by regular mail, courier or by email to buildingadmin@westperth.com. Information on what is required to be submitted with your building permit application can be found on the Building Permit web page.

West Perth Chief Building Official and Building Inspector will not be conducting inspections on projects that contain an occupied dwelling (e.g. finished basement, additions, etc.). This is a temporary measure that will be in place until further notice and will be continually monitored as the COVID-19 situation evolves. The Municipality will continue to offer inspections for all other permits.

Contractors, builders, and/or homeowners are requested to practice physical distancing by staying 6 feet away off-site while staff complete the inspection.

Inspections may be scheduled by calling 519-348-8429 ext.230 or email buildingadmin@westperth.com. 

Planning staff and services continue to be available.

Planning Services include: 

• General inquiries from residents, real estate agents and developers will continue to be answered by phone and email planner@westperth.com or call 519-348-8429 ext. 230. 
• Acceptance of planning applications, including revisions to existing development applications and plans will be accepted by email, file share and courier (Payment can be made by cheque); and,
• Requests for letters of conformity/zoning certificates.

Please note however that public meetings and hearings held under the Planning Act, RSO, 1990 (being meetings for zoning by-law amendments, minor variances, etc.) are not being scheduled at this time. Any existing scheduled public meetings and hearings are postponed until further notice.

Please visit the Municipality’s Planning Page for more information including application forms and planning documents.

The Local Planning Act Appeal Tribunal has announced that as a result of the Province’s recent Emergency Order (Ontario Regulation 73/20), all hearing events (including written and teleconference hearings) that are scheduled between March 16 and June 30, 2020 are vacated and adjourned to a future date (to be determined).  

• Call 519-348-8429 ext. 232 to speak to a Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer.
• Report by-law enforcement issues using West Perth's Report It - Infraction Form. 

Animal Control 

Stratford Perth Human Society has announced the following essential services being provided at this time:

• Animal Control & Pound Services – responding to emergency calls only; this includes vicious/dangerous animals, rabid and injured animals (including wildlife)and at risk animals (dog running at large in a high traffic area).
• Emergency Boarding will be provided to pet owners who have entered into shelters; been hospitalized or incarcerated and have no other care for their pet.
• Emergency Medical care including emergency surgeries for Humane Society owned animals and sick and injured animals that have come to us through our Animal Control contracts.
• Emergency Surrenders – by appointment only and left up to the discretion of our Animal Care Manager, based on our capacity/available resources.
• Intake of Strays – by appointment only if brought in by the public.
• Lost & Found/Stray Viewings – initially by phone and then email using videos and/or photos and on site pick up by appointment only.
• Cremations – by appointment only

 Visit kwsphumane.ca/covid19 for updates