Ingersoll BIA Request for Sidewalk Sale Denied

Tuesday, 14 July 2020 10:55

Basically saying it is too soon, Ingersoll Council has denied a request from the local BIA to close Thames Street for a sidewalk sale in early August.

INGERSOLL - Basically saying it is too soon, Ingersoll Council has denied a request from the local BIA to close Thames Street for a sidewalk sale in early August.

During the debate one councillor referred to it as the health vs. economics debate. Some members of council said that store owners would be responsible when it came to following advice from the Board of Health, while others worried that trying to follow all of the protocols would be impossible, even with the province moving to stage three on Friday, which allows for larger crowds outside.

Mayor Ted Comiskey says it is a balancing act.

"How uneducated are we in this whole pandemic situation. COVID-19 is mystery, even to the medical field, so how do you expect municipalities to react to it. We react to the direction that the ministries give us, the health ministry and the political direction. We have on one hand, saying let's get things moving because the economy and the dollars are there and then we have on the other hand, the cautiousness that we must take into account with the health situation, because it is there, it is in front of us."

Comiskey says he doesn't think this pandemic is going away anytime soon.

"This isn't going away, they don't even know if this is first wave, let alone second wave or even third wave on where things are going. Dollars and cents right now plays a big effect on the future of municipalities certainly, but does it out weigh the effect it will have on the health of our citizens. We are blessed right now in Oxford County, that today we might not have COVID-19, but don't kid yourself it is not going to stay that way."

Comiskey is worried that a second outbreak will spread further and faster than the original onset and people will see a jump in COVID cases in Oxford County.

(Article submitted by retired reporter and Heart FM volunteer Brian Donlevy)