HomeMy Public PortalAbout2012-01_MunicipalInsight-compressedmunicipal insight
“Keeping informed about Winter 2012
your municipal government”
Municipal Council opts
for expropria on...
On December 22, every seat was tak-
en in Council Chambers as some local
residents took the opportunity to voice
their thoughts regarding the expropria-
on of the property making up Wild
Rose Park.
Wild Rose Park was constructed in 1996
with funding from both the federal and
provincial governments. At that me,
the Municipality was a rela vely mod-
erate contributor, providing a $16,666
grant.
Since that me, issues around land -
tles, property ownership, and unclear
boundaries arose. Also, some por ons
of the Park were at risk of being divided
and sold privately. Therefore, the fu-
ture of Wild Rose Park, as it exists
now, was uncertain and the situa on
was ge ng steadily worse.
Because of the public’s interest in the
Park and the concerns around its long-
term viability, the Municipality decided
to look into what we could do to pos-
sibly improve the situa on.
A er discussing the available op ons
that included a emp ng to nego ate
the purchase of individual parcels of
land as well as inac on, we unani-
mously voted for expropria on.
What is expropria on?
Expropria on is when government
takes over private property in the in-
terest of the public. Expropria on of a
park by municipali es is allowed under
the Municipal Government Act of Nova
Sco a.
Why did we expropriate?
Wild Rose Park is established and rec-
ognized as a benefi t to the community,
Wild Rose Park: What’s in store?
as indicated by overwhelming support
from the public. We received over 550
signatures and numerous comments,
emails, and le ers in favour of preserv-
ing the Park. By taking it over, it guar-
antees that the Park will remain as is
rather than divided, or worse. It also
simplifi es nego a ons.
How does expropria on work?
First, Council determines if expropri-
a ng property is in the pubic’s inter-
est. If it is, Council makes the decision
through a mo on (resolu on). A copy
of the resolu on is fi led with the Reg-
istry of Deeds, and at that me, the
land is then owned by the Municipality.
Then, the Municipality gives the previ-
ous owners fair market value for the
property. Value is determined when
a) the previous owner and the Munici-
pality agree on a price, or if they don’t
agree, b) the U li es and Review Board
sets the value a er a hearing with both
par es.
What is our next step?
We fi led our decision with the Registry
on January 5. Now, an independent as-
sessor will determine the fair value of
the land and the Municipality will begin
nego a ons with individual property
owners. Some property will be donat-
ed. The cost for the remaining proper-
es will be taken from reserve funds
and will not aff ect the area or general
tax rate.
Where can I fi nd more informa on?
If you have ques ons, call the Adminis-
tra on Offi ce at 902-275-3554.
In the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter...
Who IS Marshal Hector? That’s ILLEGAL?!?! Municipal Resource
pg. 3 reveals a li le bit Why garbage is such a pg. 8 gives you
about our District #1 big deal in Mill Lake. a few resources
Councillor pg. 7 that might help.
Also in this issue:
EMBARKING ON AN “OLD” NEW JOURNEY
what “wind-to-energy” means (pg. 2)
BE SAFE THIS WINTER...
there’s more to winter safety than frost bite (pg. 4)
CIVIC NUMBERING: Why did you move our sign?
an explana on about communi es, their boundaries
and why they are so important to us (pg. 6)
FREE Lunch time Skate
at the Chester Rink
Thursdays
February 2, 9, 16, 23
12:30 to 1:30 pm
T
The Province is dedicated to reducing Nova Sco ans’ dependency on electricity generated by
fossil fuels. In fact, they say that 25% of our electricity must come from renewable sources (like
wind) by 2015. To help, they have created a program called “Community-based Feed-in Tariff ”,
or COMFIT for short. This is so municipali es and other non-profi t groups can commit to a plan
for cleaner energy with confi dence.
The Municipality’s Plan
Last month, the Nova Sco a Department of Energy approved the Municipality’s COMFIT appli-
ca on to proceed with a wind-to-energy project located at Kaizer Meadow. The basic idea is to
install a wind turbine (similar to the one in the picture above), capture the power generated by
the wind, and sell the clean power to Nova Sco a Power to distribute.
Construc on of the tower is scheduled to begin this Fall. Based on wind data collected over the
last two years, one of the best loca ons for our wind tower is at Kaizer Meadow. We can conve-
niently construct it on our own property where it can be monitored easily, and it’s windy enough
to generate the power expected.
How wind turns into energy
The Municipality is installing an HAWT (horizontal-axis wind turbine). Basically, an HAWT works
this way:
• wind rotates the turbine’s blades
• this causes a low-speed sha , with a gear at the
end, to spin. That gear is connected to another
smaller gear on a high-speed sha
• A magne c rotor on the high-speed sha spins
inside loops of copper wire wrapped around an
iron core
• As it spins, an electrical current is generated, and there you have it...electricity!
For informa on on the Municipality’s wind-to-energy project, stay tuned to local papers and our
website. We will post updates as the project unfolds.
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Message from
the Warden
Three years into our Council term, 2012, and
one year le in our mandate...where did the
me go?
I hope the new year is one you look forward
to with op mism, recognizing the challenges
and opportuni es we face as a community, and
displaying the same willingness to face them
with us that you have in the past.
Let’s refl ect for a moment on the past year
and where we’re going in 2012 and beyond.
This past year, we have made the policy deci-
sions needed to move a number of signifi cant
projects forward.
The establishement of a municipal-wide Plan-
ning Advisory Commi ee will aid in preparing
us for inevitable development pressures and in
developing a Climate Change Adapta on Plan
What is Municipal Council?
Municipal council is the local authority gov-
erning residen al services, public infrastruc-
ture, and community development.
What is the role of Council?
Council sets policy and goals using a number
of tools, including
• Annual budget by funding certain proj-
ects and programs
• By-laws and guidelines (ex. Dog By-law)
• Resolu ons (mo ons) at mee ngs
• Municipal documents (ex. Streetscape
Plan)
What is the role of Staff ?
Staff applies the policies that Council sets.
For example, Council establishes a policy to
reduce waste by passing a mo on to imple-
ment and budget for using clear bags for
garbage. Staff implements the program on a
day-to-day basis.
OK, so what kinds of issues do Council and
staff deal with?
The Municipality is service-oriented on a lo-
cal level. Also, because we are rural and know
many of the residents, we are involved in
many local partnerships that help us provide
services to the community even be er.
Chances are, if it’s a local issue or service, we
are either involved or know who is. Call us for
any informa on you might need or visit our
website at www.chester.ca for a more com-
prehensive descrip on of what we do.
Can residents get involved?
YES. Local residents are more than welcome
to get involved with municipal government.
In fact, we encourage it. You can...
• ...come to a Council mee ng - they are
always open to the public. To make a re-
quest or speak to Council about a specifi c
issue, just book an appointment.
• ...join a municipal commi ee seeking
community representa on. Have input in
the decision-making process.
• ...vote at your municipal elec on this Oc-
tober. Or, run for Council yourself!
• ...call us at (902) 275-3554.
as well as provide recommenda ons to Council
on general land use issues.
In December, the Municipality received ap-
proval for a wind-to-energy project at Kaizer
Meadow with construc on expected to begin
early this Fall. This project will benefi t our
community by strengthening our fi nancial and
environmental sustainability.
Wild Rose Park and the wharf in Western
Shore are projects where decisions were made
late in December. Council believes that both
refl ect the will and interest of the public as well
as being fundamentally sound fi nancially.
Water supply, primarily in the Village of
Chester, has been at the table for many years.
We have taken steps to secure cri cal pieces of
land and protect others so that in the future,
when the community is ready, the pieces are in
place to allow it to move forward.
We have made strategic investments in the
Municipality. Investments which we believe will
help build capacity in our community and sup-
port local infrastructural needs.
Looking forward to next year, I an cipate
con nued, steady growth in our local economy.
The revitaliza on of the Regional Development
Authority, the shipbuilding contract, and the
stability of Bowater are encouraging signs as
we move forward.
Sustainable prosperity is a challenge for any
community. We have been equal to that chal-
lenge and will con nue to be if we work to-
gether.
On behalf of Council, thank you for your com-
mitment and support. All the best wishes,
Warden Allen Webber
Allen Webber has been Warden of the Munici-
pality of the District of Chester for the last 18
years and has represented District #4 (Chester
Basin-Chester Grant) since 1982.
WIND-TO-
ENERGY
An old technology new to the
Municipality of Chester
2visit us at www.chester.ca for updates
FINANCIAL SERVICES
MUNICIPAL
TAX
EXEMPTIONS
Do you qualify?
Do you qualify for a property tax exemp on?
You may if ALL of the following applies to you:
• The total income from all persons who have
an interest in your property (who are list-
ed as owners or co-owners) was less than
$19,000.00 in the 2011 calendar year.
• Exemp ons are only for residen al property
tax on the principle residence. Although all
owners do not have to live in the residence,
it must be a principle dwelling of one of the
owners.
• Proof of income is required. Please bring
your 2011 No ce of Assessment from Rev-
enue Canada with you.
The exemp on for the current fi scal year
(April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012) will expire
on March 31, 2012. The amount of the exemp-
on is based on total income and will be de-
termined at the Administra on Offi ce.
Please contact the Administra on Offi ce at
275-3554 to see if you qualify.
- Excerpted from Lunenburg County’s Vital Signs, a project of
the Lunenburgy County Community Fund, www. cfns.ca
Know your County...
3the tax department has a new email address: propertytax@chester.ca
“Budget season” at the Municipality of
Chester is a year round process but kicks
into high gear in January with approval
date expected in June. It seems like a long
me, but planning needs to be precise.
This is because, according to the Munici-
pal Government Act, municipali es aren’t
permi ed to budget a defi cit and any
defi cit from one year must be recovered
through the budget process in the follow-
ing year. Therefore, it’s impera ve that ev-
erything is priori zed and doublechecked.
Our fi scal year offi cially begins on April 1
and ends on March 31, but long before
April, Council and staff are planning future
projects and determining which ones are
urgent and which can wait another year.
Council and Senior staff dra two bud-
gets: Capital and Opera onal. The Capital
Budget is basically for large expenditures,
such as infrastructure (buildings and
equipment) projects, that can be amor-
zed (cost spread out over a few or more
years). Capital expenditures are based on
public need and where Council focuses
their priori es. The Opera onal Budget
covers day-to-day expenditures.
The Municipality has a Five Year Capital
Investment Plan that is updated annually.
This is when the Municipality looks ahead
to each of the next fi ve years to deter-
MUNICIPAL BUDGET PREPARATIONS
How the Municipality is preparing for the upcoming fi scal year
mine what is expected for large capital
expenditures.
There are also several tools that we use to
determine next year’s budget in addi on
to what Council iden fi es as priori es.
• The current year’s budget. “Fore-
cas ng” is calcula ng the amount of
money spent to date and then es -
ma ng what we will spend the rest of
the year. This helps for both the future
capital and opera onal budgets.
• Projects already iden fi ed in the
5-Year Capital Investment Plan as well
as other plans, such as the Integrated
Community Sustainability Plan.
• The Province’s Budget. When the Pro-
vincial budget is approved, they com-
municate with municipali es inform-
ing them of any fi nancial downloads
or funding cuts that we should con-
sider during our budget planning.
Revenue from user fees, grants and prop-
erty taxes off sets expenditures.
QUICK GLANCE
January Capital budget prepara on
February Opera onal budget
prepara on
mid-April Provincial budget approved
May Commi ee of the Whole
reviews budgets
June Council approves budget and
fi nalizes tax rate
District 1 represents the Blandford to East
Chester area and includes part of East Ches-
ter, East River, East River Point, Deep Cove,
Blandford, Aspotogan, Bayswater, and North-
west Cove.
Marshal Hector fi rst became a Councillor for
the Municipality of the District of Chester in
2000 and was re-elected in 2004 for another
YOUR
COUNCILLOR...
EXPOSED!
District #1: Marshal Hector
SPECIAL FEATURE
term. Marshal moved to Bayswater in 1971 with
his wife, Heather. They have two children, Wen-
dy and Kirk. He became involved in the commu-
nity shortly a er that in 1972. Marshal has been
a member of the Blandford Fire Department for
38 years, having served as an Offi cer and then
Chief for over 15 years.
Marshal joined the Aspotogan Recrea on As-
socia on when it started and was a member of
the parent group on Blandford Cubs and Bea-
vers Commi ee. He was on the Commi ee to
build the Blandford Community Centre and Rec-
rea on Park, serving one term on the Board of
Directors.
Marshal opened his own business in Hubbards
in 1978, Hubbards Home Hardware. He is re-
cently enjoying re rement.
Contact Marshal by
calling him at 228-2881;
wri ng at RR 1, Hubbards NS B0J 1T0; or
emailing to mhector@chester.ca
ADDRESS CHANGES
Please remember that if your
mailing address is incorrect or
changed, please no fy the Tax
Department IMMEDIATELY ei-
ther by phone, mail, or email.
HYPOTHERMIA, WIND CHILL and FROSTBITE
Hypothermia, or low body temperature, can
be very serious and even life threatening. Warn-
ing signs include uncontrolled shivering, mem-
ory loss, disorienta on, slurred speech, and ap-
parent exhaus on. If you suspect hypothermia,
seek medical a en on immediately. Infants and
elderly people are most suscep ble.
Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss
from exposed skin caused by the combined ef-
fects of wind and cold. As the wind increases,
heat is carried away from the body at an accel-
erated rate, driving down the body tempera-
ture. Be aware that animals are also aff ected by
wind chill.
Frostbite is damage to body ssue when it is
frozen. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a
white or pale appearance in extremi es, such as
fi ngers, toes, ear lobes, or the p of your nose.
If symptoms are detected, get medical help im-
mediately.
Wear loose-fi ng, light-weight, warm cloth-
ing in several layers. Trapped air insulates. Layers
can be removed to avoid perspira on and sub-
sequent chill. Outer garments should be ghtly
woven, water repellent, and hooded. Wear a
hat; half your body heat loss can be from the
head. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs
from extreme cold. Mi ens, snug at the wrist,
are be er than gloves. Try to stay dry.
THIN ICE
Ice is fun to walk on, run and slide across and
go snowmobiling on. Unfortunately, the risks
are real and o en underes mated. If you see
someone who has fallen through the ice, DO
NOT WALK out to them as you may quickly be-
come another vic m. Instead, try to reach them
with a tree branch, rope, a shovel; anything that
you can place between you and the vic m and
have them grab onto it. Call 911 to no fy the
fi re department, who are trained in ice rescue
and will respond to the scene.
WINTER STORMS
Every year winter storms and below-zero tem-
peratures give rise to weather-related emergen-
cies. Strong winds can create blizzard condi ons
and ice storms can knock down trees, u lity
poles, and power lines.
Downed power wires should always be con-
sidered LIVE AND DANGEROUS and must be
avoided. Call 911 to no fy the fi re department
who will respond to the scene.
Avoid overexer on, such as shoveling heavy
snow, pushing a car, or walking in deep snow.
The strain from the cold and the hard labour
may cause a heart a ack. Swea ng could lead
to a chill and hypothermia.
If a disaster happens in your community, it
may take emergency workers some me to get
to you as they help those in desperate need
fi rst. Be prepared to take care of yourself and
your family for a minimum of 72 hours. Take a
few simple steps today, and you can be be er
prepared to face a range of emergencies – any-
me, anywhere.
There is a handy guide and checklist available
to help you to take care of yourself and your
loved ones during an emergency. Please visit
h p://emo.gov.ns.ca/content/prepare-kit for
assistance.
WINTER TRAVEL
Be prepared before the storm strikes. Have
your vehicle fully checked and winterized be-
fore the winter season begins. Always plan your
travel and check the latest weather reports to
avoid the storm.
It’s wise to have an emergency kit in your car
including a car phone, fl ashlight, fi rst-aid sup-
plies, extra clothes/blanket, cat li er or sand for
trac on, jumper cables, knife, and high-calorie
non perishable food.
If you get caught in a winter storm it is recom
mended that you stay in your car or truck. Dis-
orienta on occurs quickly in wind-driven snow
and cold. Run the motor about ten minutes each
hour for heat ensuring that you open the win-
dow a li le for fresh air to avoid carbon monox-
ide poisoning. Exercise from me to me by vig-
orously moving arms, legs, fi ngers, and toes to
keep blood circula ng and to keep warm. Make
yourself visible to rescuers, by perhaps tying a
colored cloth (preferably red) to your antenna
or door.
FIREPLACES, FURNACES and SPACE HEATERS
Keep fi re where it belongs - in the fi replace!
Have your chimney cleaned and inspected an-
nually for damage and obstruc ons. Store
cooled ashes in a ghtly sealed metal container.
Only burn materials appropriate for a fi replace,
never burn trash or other such scrap materials.
An annual cleaning and inspec on is recom-
mended for your furnace as well. Keep com-
bus bles at least three feet away from space
heaters. Ensure that the unit has a thermostat
control mechanism and a switch that automa -
cally shuts off the power if the heater falls over.
Locate the heater on a level surface away from
foot traffi c. Be especially careful to keep chil-
dren and pets away from the heater.
CHECK ON A NEIGHBOR
It’s always a good idea to take a few moments to
check in with your neighbours, especially the el-
derly, during winter months. It doesn’t take long
to make sure they have everything they need
and they are not in any kind of diffi culty. It helps
just knowing someone is out there.
For more informa on on winter health and
safety issues please visit our Fire and Emergency
Services website at www.chester.ca
On behalf of our volunteer members of the fi re
and emergency services, have a happy, prosper-
ous, and safe New Year.
PUBLIC INTEREST
4subscribe to municipal alerts at www.chester.ca
Heritage Day is a na onal day of recogni on for Canadian architectural heritage and historic places. The Heritage
Canada Founda on (HCF) encourages communi es across the country to plan ac vi es celebra ng this year’s
theme: The Heritage of Power Genera on.
Power genera on has played a signifi cant role in the economic and poli cal life of Canada since the late 19th cen-
tury, which is refl ected in an impressive legacy of unique and purpose-built historic structures across the country.
From early coal-fi red electric generators that illuminated city streets and wind mills that powered prairie farms, to
later hydroelectric genera ng plants, dams and sub-sta ons that transformed industry, power-related structures
are an important part of the Canadian landscape.
Canada is the world’s second-largest producer of hydroelectricity, and our per capita power consump on is among the highest in the world. The
2012 Heritage Day theme celebrates the past, but also looks ahead as our a en on turns to reducing energy and using new sources of clean en-
ergy. Heritage conserva on supports these new priori es, with emphasis on using and retrofi ng historic buildings, and respec ng the inherent
energy-saving design features present in many older buildings. Link history with a sustainable future, and start planning February 20 Heritage Day
ac vi es now.
The Heritage Canada Founda on is a na onal registered charity dedicated to the preserva on of Canada’s historic places. For more informa on,
go to www.heritagecanada.org **adapted from the Heritage Canada Founda on website, www.heritagecanada.org
HAVE A FUN (AND SAFE) WINTER
With the colder months of the year now upon us, the seven fi re departments in the Municipality have a few
safety ps for you and your family. Fire preven on and safety is our mission, make it yours as well!
Heritage
Day February 20,
2012
SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Municipality of Chester Recrea on &
Parks Department is seeking applica ons
from students who would like to be part of
our summer staff team. We need students
to organize special events and plan summer
recrea on programs. If you are crea ve,
outgoing, energe c and enjoy working with
youth and the public, submit your resume to:
Municipality of Chester
Recrea on & Parks Department
ATTN: Jody Conrad
151 King Street PO Box 582
Chester NS B0J 1J0
Email: jconrad@chester.ca
Phone: 275-2712
Fax: 275-3630
Deadline to apply for University Posi ons is
Friday, March 16. Deadline to apply for High
School posi ons is Friday, April 27.
Only those applicants selected for an inter-
view will be contacted.
Upcoming events with the Municipality and some of our recrea on partners:
• 7th Annual Nova Sco a Cycling Summit on Saturday, May 5 at the Mahone Bay Centre. Details to follow.
• 3rd Annual Coach & Player Development Soccer & Sport Symposium from February 3 to 12 at HB Studio Field
House in Bridgewater. Check the winter edi on of Explore Life for complete details on a variety of topics. In-
struc on in components of programs such as High Five, run jump throw, NSSAF, and NCCP.
• Cut ‘n’ Run is happening again on Sunday, June 3, 2012.
Get your sneakers ready!
The demands placed on instructors,
coaches, and leaders is increasing.
Through a grant program, the Municipal-
ity of Chester currently helps individu-
als increase their leadership skills, such
as coach training and cer fi ca on. To
sustain new and ongoing ac vi es, the
need exists to train future leaders.
We are making plans to enhance our
current grant program and are seek-
ing interested individuals and groups
involved in the areas of physical ac v-
ity, sport, recrea on, volunteerism, and
leadership to join us.
The ARC Model is a long-term ini a ve
intended to support training needs in
the community. The Recrea on & Parks
Department will apply for provincial
funding which would, in turn, be used
to lessen the fi nancial burden of those
wan ng to become involved.
RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
5You can register online for Recrea on programming at www.chester.ca
Every April, events are held to raise awareness of the
importance of volunteerism in our communi es. We
are asking community groups to nominate one volun-
teer whom they feel contributes extensively to their
organiza on. All nominees will be recognized at our
local ceremony and one individual will be selected to
represent the Municipality at the Provincial Volunteer
Awards.
The deadline to submit your nomina on to the Munici-
pality of Chester Recrea on & Parks Department is Fri-
day, February 10, 2012. All volunteer forms are avail-
able on the municipal website (www.chester.ca) or call
275-3490 and make arrangements to receive the forms.
Recrea on Survey
Recrea on and Parks has partnered with the Nova
Sco a Department of Health and Wellnes to con-
duct a survey through Ispos-Reid. The 10-minute
telephone survey will provide valuable informa-
on about physical ac vity in our area using the
answers of 300 randomly selected residents.
We will hopefully learn the average level of physi-
cal ac vity, iden fy barriers to par cipa on, and
determine what services the Municipality may
provide to increase physical ac vity rates. Sur-
veys will be conducted from February 1 to 13.
Get outdoors and be ac ve this winter!
Discover cool ps and ideas for
having fun in the outdoors this
winter by checking out our
Winter Edi on of Explore Life.
You’ll fi nd informa on on our
Card Lake Snow Trek, Graves Island Snowshoe
and Chili Supper, Snowshoeing at Ross Farm,
Cro Road Outdoor Rink, Wilderness Survival
Program, and Becoming an Outdoors Woman
(BOW) Workshop.
For more great ideas on how to Take the Roof
Off Winter, visit www.taketheroofoff winter.ca
This coordinated approach will result in
the community being well posi oned to
support new and ongoing ac vi es into
the future.
Non-profi t organiza ons or individuals
within the Municipality can apply under
this program. Costs eligible for funding
include registra on fees for workshops
or conferences that will strengthen and
develop skills for coaches, instructors,
leaders and volunteers. Addi onally,
honourariums suppor ng individual or
organiza onal mentors will also be con-
sidered.
If you are interested in becoming in-
volved or want more details, please con-
tact the Recrea on & Parks Department
at 275-3490.
The ARC Model: Achieving Recrea on
Champions
Civic numbers MUST be posted
The Municipality’s Address By-Law #139 states
that, “all owners of a building(s) must post the
assigned civic number for that building(s).”
There are over 100 new blue and white refl ec-
ve civic number plates wai ng to be picked up
in the Planning Department. These plates have
been ordered and paid for, and as happy as we
are that they’ve at least been ordered, they are
s ll NOT POSTED!
For one reason or another, the owners of these
civic number plates haven’t picked them up yet.
They may have forgo en that one was ordered.
Or, some mes when a plate is ordered during
the Building Permit process, the owner doesn’t
realize it. Or, the owner has been unable to pick
it up for various other reasons.
If you suspect you have a civic number plate at
the Planning Department, you can:
1. Call us at 902-275-2599 to confi rm that we
s ll have it.
2. If you are unable to pick it up, we will ask
your Councillor to deliver it to you (thank
you, Councillors, for off ering).
3. If you are in Chester, please drop by the
Planning Department to pick it up.
4. POST YOUR NUMBER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
If you are not sure what your civic number is,
please contact us at the Planning Department at
902-275-2599.
You can also call us to order number plates for
$10.00 (pre-paid). To have it mailed, please add
an extra $2.00 for postage.
Western Shore are included within Sched-
ule “A”).
That means, you can’t park in posted areas
of Western Shore and Chester an hour a er a
storm starts un l two hours a er it ends.
Also, the Municipal Government Act says,
“snow cannot be plowed across any streets
or onto public sidewalks. Snow shall be
stored on the property being cleared or
hauled away and dumped in an approved
loca on.”
In addi on, we want to remind motorists that
in accordance with the Motor Vehicle Act,
PROPERTY SERVICES
6ques ons about sidewalk snow plowing? Call 902-275-1312
A brief history...
1987-88
Responding to requests
from the Fire Depart-
ments, the Lunenburg
County District Plan-
ning Commission (now
the Chester Municipal
Planning Department)
assigned civic address-
es to every house and
business in Lunenburg
County.
early 1990's
The Province of Nova
Sco a completed a
province-wide civic ad-
dress system project,
including assigning civic numbers, collec ng
road names (with the help of fi re departments),
and establishing community names and their
boundaries.
1998
The Municipal Government Act mandated that
each municipality be responsible for maintain-
ing the E911 Civic Address System.
2000/2001
The Province of Nova Sco a built the Nova Sco a
Civic Address File (NSCAF). This web-based civic
addressing system uses computerized mapping
that allows primary users (such as municipali-
es and First Na ons) to manage civic address
informa on online for E911 stakeholders, such
as the Emergency Management Offi ce (EMO),
fi re departments, RCMP and Emergency Health
Services (EHS). Its primary func on is to support
E911 emergency response ac vi es.
EMO, Department of Transporta on and Infra-
structure Renewal (TIR) and Service Nova Sco-
a and Municipal Rela ons (SNSMR) staff con-
tributed to the NSCAF. Municipali es and First
Na ons were instrumental in helping build and
maintain the NSCAF. This program is managed
CIVIC NUMBERING is everyone’s concern
in Amherst by the Nova Sco a Geoma c Centre.
The Municipality of Chester updates this site
regularly, and this task is taken very seriously.
2010
The Municipality of Chester offi cially approved
the 1991/92 community boundaries that we
have used for the past 20 years and con nue to
use today. Since a community name is a big part
of everyone’s civic address it was decided that
community signs in the Municipality be checked
to make sure that they were posted and in the
right place. We also made sure that the correct
names were used.
2011
TIR posted community signs using informa on
given to them from the Municipality.
In the “civic address world”, Chester Municipal-
ity is known for being well ahead of other mu-
nicipali es when it comes to how many civic
numbers are posted, how well our road signs
are posted (private and public), and that we of-
fer to order blue and white refl ec ve civic num-
ber plates. We NOW lay claim to making sure all
community signs are posted in our Municipality.
CONGRATULATIONS, CHESTER MUNICPALITY!!
“no person shall willfully park or leave
standing a vehicle, a ended or una ended,
on a street or part thereof which interferes
or obstructs snow removal during or a er a
snow storm, or in any way obstructs winter
maintenance, i.e. sal ng. Such vehicles will
be towed away at the owners’ expense.”
In other words, your vehicle will be towed if,
at any me, you block any part of the street
that is ge ng plowed or salted.
Call the Department of Transporta on in Infra-
structure Renewal at 275-3221 for info.
Remember to use your full civic
address when making an Emer-
gency 911 call:
• your CIVIC NUMBER
• your ROAD NAME
• your COMMUNITY NAME
From December 15 to March 31, there is a
winter parking ban in eff ect in parts of Ches-
ter Village and Western Shore. There are signs
posted in the areas where the ban applies.
The Provincial Winter Parking Regula ons
reads as follows:
“no owner, driver or person having control
or custody of any vehicle shall during the
period from one hour a er any snow storm
has commenced to two hours a er such
snow storm has stopped, park the vehicle
if it is una ended by a person authorized to
move and capable of opera ng the same,
upon any highway or street of the commu-
ni es listed on Schedule “A” (Chester and
WINTER PARKING in the Village
Blue Bags
Kaizer Meadow has recently received many
phone calls ques oning the use of blue bags for
recycling. We encourage the use of blue
bags for your recyclables. However, be
sure that you place your PAPER materials
into a separate CLEAR or GROCERY bag.
Also, all recyclable containers, cans, etc. must be
CLEAN. Otherwise, your dirty recyclables could
contaminate an en re load of recyclables.
Green Carts
Green carts are not meant for storing garbage
bags in...they are meant for the disposal of
organic material. If there is any garbage or
other contaminants that are not organic,
your cart will not be collected.
You can put food waste, dirty paper (like
paper cups), and yard waste in your green cart.
Check the waste collec on calendar or call us at
275-2330 if you’re unsure what to put in.
Clear Bags
We can now report that we are at a 96 % suc-
cess rate since implemen ng the Clear Bags for
Garbage Program last October.
Congratula ons to the residents and
businesses of the Municipality of the
District of Chester! Keep up the great work!
The cost of curbside garbage collec on in
the Municipality is approximately $119
per household per year. This cost includes the
collec on of household garbage, organics and
recyclables, as well as four special collec ons
each year, not to men on the fact that residents
may deposit organics, recyclables and up to
1,500 lb of household waste at the Kaizer Mead-
ow Landfi ll site, free of charge. I am sure you
will agree with me that, in the great scheme of
things, $119 is surprisingly li le to pay.
In addi on to the curbside collec on ser-
vice, we also provide a number of garbage com-
pounds at loca ons where curbside collec on
is problema c. One of these compounds is lo-
cated at Mill Lake in Hubbards. Let’s elaborate.
The Mill Lake garbage compound was built
in 2003 to replace a number of communal gar-
bage bins. It consists of a large, fenced-in area
with two locked gates, and houses two storage
sheds: one for garbage and one for recyclables.
The compound serves approximately 155 resi-
dences around Dauphinee Mill Lake. These are
mostly seasonal, but there are also some year-
round residents. Each resident authorized to
use the compound is issued a special key to ac-
cess the locked area. The compound has weekly
waste collec on, fi ve special pickups during the
summer, plus a number of addi onal collec ons
provided by Public Works staff . As the residents
in this area pay no extra fees or taxes for these
addi onal services, you can see that this repre-
sents excep onal value for money.
Because of the loca on and nature of the
garbage compound, the regula ons governing
its use diff er from those for regular curbside col-
lec on. Detailed informa on is posted on the
compound, but in summary; normal waste may
be deposited in the compound at any me, so
long as it is placed inside the storage shed so
that the local wildlife cannot tear open the bags.
Special collec on items may be placed in the
compound a week prior to special pickup, rather
than 24 hours beforehand, and the date of the
next pickup is always posted on the compound
weeks in advance. There are also some rules
specifi c to the compound: regular waste must
be placed inside the storage sheds; not le in
the compound itself, outside the compound, or
thrown over the fence. All in all, these are pre y
reasonable regula ons.
However, and it’s a BIG “however”, this is
a By-Law Enforcement ar cle, so I am sure you
will have guessed by now that all is not fi ne and
dandy at Mill Lake!
Abuse of the compound during 2010 and
2011 has been quite astonishing. Garbage bags
have been tossed over the fence or just inside
the compound, leaving the fl oor thick in waste
once the wildlife has torn open the bags. Items
have been dumped outside and just inside the
gate, blocking access into the compound. And,
special collec on items have accumulated in
the compound on an almost daily basis. There
were even instances of vehicle body panels,
gas tanks and other auto parts being dropped
off , and rumour has it that a loaded rifl e was
dumped there some me ago!
The net result of this abuse is that we have
had to carry out a number of addi onal clean-
ups at the compound. At one point, the com-
pound was so bad that we had to use a front-
end loader to clear the accumula on of crud.
Also, having to wade through four inches of
ro ng food, shellfi sh and garbage to reach the
storage building is neither pleasant nor healthy.
Local residents are plagued by crows and other
wildlife drawn to the site at the prospect of a
free meal.
Also of concern is the cost associated with
these addi onal cleanups. It costs approximate-
ly $250 to send a garbage truck to carry out
these unscheduled cleanups, not to men on
the costs of ren ng machinery, addi onal dis-
posal fees and Municipal staff wages. This extra
cost is ul mately shouldered by the tax payer.
In an eff ort to stamp out the abuse, the
Municipality has installed a sophis cated CCTV
system that records the comings and goings at
the compound. It may come as no surprise that
since the installa on in September, and up un l
the fi rst week of December, the Municipality has
recorded 60 instances of illegal dumping at the
compound. These include garbage bags thrown
over the fence, hazardous items and special col-
lec on items being dumped, and even a the .
To date, we have been educa ng off enders.
People caught dumping have had the waste col-
lec on and disposal regula ons explained to
them, and have been given the opportunity to
remove the items from the compound. Only a
very small number of cases have lead to fi nes.
I am pleased to report that the abuse of
the compound has reduced considerably, how-
ever, there are s ll some persistent off enders
out there. Only this week I watched one gentle-
man dump enough household furniture into
the compound to furnish a small co age. The
amount of construc on and demoli on waste
that is dumped also remains a concern.
We will con nue in our a empts to educate
residents, but will also issue a fi ne to everyone
we catch abusing the compound. So please, if
you use the Mill Lake garbage compound and
don’t want to see yourself on the next install-
ment of the Municipality’s version of Candid
Camera, observe the posted regula ons.
Call me at 277-1589 about solid waste regu-
la ons. Or, contact Kaizer Meadow at 275-2330.
Dave Bre ell
By-law Enforcement Offi cer
PROPERTY SERVICES
7the 2012 Waste Collec on Calendar is available at www.chester.ca or drop into the Municipal Offi ce to pick one up
SORTING GARBAGE: it’s not a WASTE
+ =
It’s only garbage...right?
Taking a closer look at illegal dumping and the
consequences for everyone
A carpet of ro ng
garbage covers
the fl oor of the
Mill Lake garbage
compound (le )
To contact us about this newsle er...
call: 902-275-3554 ext. 1202
email: communica ons@chester.ca
by le er: Municipality of Chester
c/o municipal insight
151 King Street
P O Box 369
Chester NS B0J 1J0
RESOURCES
If you have ques ons about… call this Department at... this number
Animal Control (Dogs) Animal Control Offi cer 277-0017
Boat Launches Recrea on & Parks Department 275-3490
Building Permits/Inspec ons Building/Fire Inspec on Dept 275-3080
By-Laws By-Law Enforcement Offi cer 277-1589
Compos ng Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-1312/275-2330
Council Mee ngs Administra on/Tax Department 275-3554
Derelict Vehicle Program Public Works Department 275-1312
Fire Inspec ons Building/Fire Inspec on Dept 275-3080
Islands (use of)Recrea on & Parks Department 275-3490
Kaizer Meadow Solid Waste Department 275-2330
Municipal Sewer Public Works Department 275-1312
A er Hours Emergencies 1-888-664-6998
Parks/Trails Recrea on & Parks Department 275-3490
Planning Areas Planning Department 275-2599
Public Works (Municipal) Public Works Department 275-1312
Recycling Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-1312/275-2330
Taxes Administra on/Tax Dept 275-3554
Waste Collec on Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-1312/275-2330
Wharves Public Works Department 275-1312
Zoning Planning Department 275-2599
Other ways to contact us:
fax mail email
902-275-4771 151 King Street administra on@chester.ca publicworks@chester.ca
P O Box 369 building@chester.ca recrea on@chester.ca
Chester NS B0J 1J0 planning@chester.ca info@KaizerMeadow.ca
Municipal Districts and Councillors
#1 Part of East Chester, East River, Blandford
Marshal Hector 228-2881
#2 Hubbards, Fox Point, Mill Cove
Floyd Sha ord 857-9817
#3 Village of Chester and part of Old Trunk #3
Brad Armstrong 275-3121
#4 Chester Basin, Chester Grant, Lower Grant
Allen Webber 275-2536
#5 Mar n’s Point, Western Shore, Gold River
Robert Myra 627-2470
#6 Seff ernsville, New Ross, For es, Leville
Cheryl Sco 689-2535
#7 Windsor Road, Robinson’s Corner, Sherwood
Sharon Church-Cornelius 275-2281
Provincial Contacts
Department of
Environment ...................................................543-4685
Labour .............................................................543-0665
Natural Resources ...........................................634-7555
Public Health ...................................................543-0850
Transporta on (Bridgewater) .........................543-8169
Transporta on (Marrio ’s Cove) ....................275-3221
Property Valua on Services (Assessments) ... 1-800-380-7775
MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse ..........................1-877-740-3378
........................................................................857-3378
MP Gerald Keddy ............................................1-888-816-4446
........................................................................527-5655
Everything looks diff erent under a so , white blanket of snow. Here, Cose e
Howle captures the serenity of an early morning snowfall before everyone
arrives at work for the day.
If you have an interes ng picture of a person, place or thing in the Municipality of
the District of Chester, and would like to publicize it, please submit a digital copy to
communica ons@chester.ca and you could see it in the next newsle er or posted
in our photo gallery online at our website, www.chester.ca
Call 275-3554, ext. 1202 if you have any ques ons.
Helpful Municipal Documents
The Municipality distributes several documents to help residents become familiar with some of the services we of-
fer. They can be found online or be picked up at the Administra on Building. Below is a list of what some of those
resources are and where they can be found.
Waste Collec on Calendar
This annual calendar
has many useful waste
reduc on ps and a
comprehensive collec-
on schedule. It’s deliv-
ered through the mail
or can be found on our
website under “Resources/Document Library”.
Municipal By-laws
We have a complete lis ng of municipal by-laws
available at the Administra on Offi ce as well as
online. If you have ques ons, please call us at
275-3554. Currently, Council is reviewing their
by-laws and policies. They welcome your input.
Please contact us.
Explore Life
This is a guide to recrea onal
programming the Municipal-
ity with informa ve ar cles
throughout. It’s delivered by
mail and can be found online
by clicking on “Recrea on”
under “Departments”.
Municipal Budget
The annual budget is an elaborate planning tool
for municipal government and the upcoming fi s-
cal year. Staff and Council are currently undertak-
ing this process and will work on it for months.
A er approval, the budget and suppor ng docu-
ments are posted online. Also look for highlights
in the summer edi on of this newsle er.
Council Mee ngs and Minutes
Council mee ngs are open to the public, and
we always welcome par cipa on. If you can’t
a end, there are a couple of ways you can ac-
cess the proceedings. First, minutes are posted
online a er they have been approved. A quick
link is found at the bo om of our home page.
Second, if the minutes are too formal, we also
provide a summary and the link is found adja-
cent the minutes link on our front page.
municipal insight Newsle ers
Past copies of municipal insight can be found
on our website under “Resources/Document
Library” or email communica ons@chester.
ca and we can forward you a digital copy. For
paper copies, call 902-275-3554, ext. 1202.
Planning Documents
The Municipality has a number of planning doc-
uments, such as the Integrated Community Sus-
tainability Plan and the Highway #3 Streetscape
Plan. You can become involved, or just be aware
of what may be happening in the community’s
future. All of these documents are of course on-
line, but they can also be picked up or viewed at
the Planning Department or the Administra on
Building.
Streetscape Plan ICSP Planning Strategy Maps
Submitted by:
Ekistics Planning & Design
1 Starr Lane,
Dartmouth, NS, B2Y-4V7
ph: 902.461.2525
www.ekistics.net
in association with:
ABLE Engineering
Planning Vision and
Streetscape Design for
Highway 3 at Chester Village
Municipality of the District of Chester
January 2011
FINAL REPORT
Integrated Community
Sustainability Plan
Prepared for: The Municipality of the District of Chester
May 2009
Prepared by: Institute for Planning and Design
Suite 1711, 1969 Upper Water Street
Halifax NS B3J 3R7
Adopted by Council on June 25, 2009 (2009-289/306)
Chester Municipality
Charts its Course