HomeMy Public PortalAbout2013-06_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressedmunicipal insight
“Keeping informed about June 2013
your municipal government”
After twenty years of perseverance, volunteers
at the Forties Community Centre are seeing the
dividends of their hard work.
Recently, the Government of Canada granted the Cen-
tre $28,000 to finish improvements to the exterior. That
was on the heels of a Community Grant from the Munici-
pality of the District of Chester for $8,000 and $10,000
from the Province’s Community Jobs and Facilities Im-
provement Fund. Upgrades included new siding for the
entire facility, new lettering on the face of the building
(shown in photograph), drainage around the perimeter,
insulation, and gutters.
Before the upgrades, volunteers had raised enough
money for siding on one exterior wall. After successful-
ly applying for a grant from the Municipality, there was
enough funds for two. Because they had secured funds
from the Municipality and from their own efforts, they
had met the criteria to apply for - and receive - money
from both the Province and the Federal Government.
But before all of this good fortune, they had their share
of hard times. When a few members of the community
got together and decided that a recreational facility was
needed in the area, they were encouraged to apply for
money from Recreation Nova Scotia - enough money to
fund the entire construction.
After a change in government and over a year of be-
ing put on “the waiting list”, and ultimately being denied,
the $175,000 grant turned into a $100,000 mortgage and
a $30,000 private loan. If the project were to be done,
they had to make it happen then; otherwise, they would
lose any other funding they had been approved for. So, in
1993, construction of the Centre began.
To say the community was supportive is a serious un-
derstatement. Until the facility was opened, up to fifty
“Where
Old Friends
Meet”
In the Municipality of the District of Chester this summer...
Take Aim at the Municipality! Tis Budget Season Why’s This Guy so Happy?
Have some interesting Understand the Municipal Could it be that he
photos from around the Budget once and for all! WON something?
Municipality? See Page 7. Pages 4 and 5. Flip to Page 7 and find out!
The Forties Community Centre (foreground), complete with new siding. The inset shows the
previous Centre that served the area for over thirty years.
Upcoming Events
June 16 Father ’s Day Roast Beef Supper
July 7 Strawberry Supper
Aug. 11 Blueberry Supper
Sept. 8 Roast Pork Supper
Oct. 14 Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner
Oct. 27 Sauerkraut Supper
Dec. 7 & 8 Christmas Festival Turkey
Dinner
All suppers are from 4:30 to 6:00 pm EXCEPT
Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Dinner,
which are held from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
and again from 2:30 to 4:30 pm.
volunteers showed up every weekend to work - and that
only covers construction and making meals to feed work-
ers. The in-kind donations were admirable as well: Bowa-
ter and Scott Paper supplied logs and trucked them to lo-
cal businessmen Murray Reeves and Eugene Elliott who
milled and planed the wood at no charge.
“We’ve been blessed with the amount of volunteers
that have helped,” said Phillip Broome, Chair of the For-
ties Community Centre since its inception. “And, we’ve
shown the Province that we can do it!”
From the in-floor heating to the “crowd friendly” en-
trance to the spacious washrooms, the Forties Commu-
nity Centre has a layout best suited for the community.
It is 100% accessible and can accommodate hundreds of
guests whether for a social event, meeting or fundraiser.
And, it’s finally paid for. In 2011 - two years ahead of
schedule - members of the community celebrated with
a “mortgage burning” party and dance. In the words of
Marsha Yeaton, Secretary and all around coordinator,
“perseverance has paid off”.
A long way since opening in May 1994 with unfinished
floors and cupboards, the Centre is now a fundamental
part of New Ross. Their suppers draw patrons from all
over the County, as well as other parts of Canada and the
United States.
Over 1,200 people were served over two days at the last
turkey supper. You can’t buy that kind of reputation. That
kind of reputation comes from the friendly and seemingly
tireless volunteers who love the Forties and the Forties
Community Centre. It also comes from the atmosphere.
People like socializing at the Centre. Like the welcome
sign says, “Where Old Friends Meet”.
But, now that the Centre’s reputation is establishd,
there is no time to rest on their laurels ac-
cording to the devoted volunteers. There’s
plenty of work yet to be done. Over the last
fifteen years, many applicances, the roof,
and the furnace have all been replaced...and
will eventually need replacing again. With a
$50,000 per year operating budget, the Cen-
tre is as busy as ever. Besides, there’s an up-
stairs that Marsha is itching to utilize...it just needs some
attention.
It’s been an impressive journey for those involved in
this success: a journey of obstacles, persistence, good-na-
tured people, and enormous dedication to a project that
a community believed in.
Many inspiring stories occur in the Municipality of the
District of Chester. This is definitely one of them.
Special recognition for the recent upgrades are due:
• ACOA, NS Dept of Communities, Heritage and Cul-
ture, and the Municipality of Chester for generous
funding opportunities;
• LP East River for providing the siding at a consider-
ably reduced rate;
• Murray A Reeves Forestry Ltd. for transporting the
siding for free;
• Stacey Meister for his winning bid and outstanding
work;
• Charlie Yeaton for his significant part in coordinat-
ing a project of this magnitude; and
• ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE THIS THEIR
MISSION!
The “Honour Role”, which takes up
most of one wall in the entryway, is
an extra special dedication to those
who have donated in some way to the
initial and ongoing success of the For-
ties Community Centre.
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Message from
the Warden
It’s all about connecting the dots...
Sign up for Council meeting agendas under Municipal Alerts at www.chester.ca
Just like last year, Municipal Council ap-
proved their Operating and Capital Budgets
early, but getting there wasn’t easy.
Council made a commitment to lead our
Municipality into a sustainable and prosper-
ous future, and we feel that we have estab-
lished a foundation for that with this year’s
budget.
Earlier this year, Council pledged their com-
mitment through their Strategic Plan that
concentrated on economic prosperity, im-
proved service delivery and infrastructure,
support for sustainable initiatives, and en-
hanced communications. A combination of
maximizing internal efficiencies and sound
financial investment in key projects will help
the Municipality realize many of their goals
in the short-term plus pave the way for their
long-term priorities.
Maintaining operations on less money is
challenging enough, but add a multi-million
dollar project and a multitude of progressive
goals, and Council had their work cut out for
them. With provincial property assessments
on the rise, it’s a natural assumption that
the Municipality benefits from the obvious
tax revenue. This just isn’t the case.
Yes, the Municipality will collect over
$240,000 in additional tax revenue this year
due to increased assessment, but because
You can contact the Warden by calling the Municipal Office at (902) 275-3554,
calling his home at (902) 275-2536, or emailing him awebber@chester.ca
the Province is also expecting municipalities
to pay more for services, in reality we will
only see a little more than $3,300 of that ad-
ditional revenue.
It’s projected that the Municipality will
collect $10,144,508 in property taxes this
year. Of that revenue, $6,653,783 is remit-
ted to the Province for education, protective
services, and regional housing costs. With
the remainder, Council has set a number of
long- and short-term goals.
In the short-term, Council and staff will
focus on projects related to infrastructure
improvement, such as repairing deteriorat-
ing equipment at all central sewer locations,
continuing to improve trail surfaces, and giv-
ing attention to municipal public spaces. In
addition, upgrades to infrastructure at the
Landfill site will ensure continuity of service,
including construction of a third landfill cell.
Council has also made plans to improve
municipal services by cross-training staff to
close gaps and streamline service delivery,
establishing partnerships to take part in re-
gional initiatives like compost production
and emergency measures, and completing
ISO Certification to eliminate redundancy
and increase workflow.
Council and staff will actively work to-
wards the goals that fit their mandate in the
Integrated Community Sustainability Plan as
well. Over the next year or so, the Land-Use
By-law and Planning Strategy will incorpo-
rate guidelines for future developments that
will protect vulnerable areas and help shape
the Municipality of Chester into what the
community and Council have envisioned.
They have also made economic and envi-
ronmental sustainability a long-term prior-
ity, identifying several key projects aimed
at promoting growth in the Municipality.
The biggest project, of course, is the large-
scale wind-to-energy development at the
Kaizer Meadow site, which is scheduled for
completion in October. This project will ben-
efit our community by strengthening our
financial and environmental sustainability.
The revenue will lessen our dependence on
property taxes as the only means to support
growth and development of our community
and its long-term sustainability.
The budget also provides for opportunities
in economic development in hopes of pro-
moting the Municipality and working with
existing businesses.
This edition of municipal insight will pro-
vide detailed budget information as well as
a variety of information on general govern-
ment services and community initiatives.
Council thanks you for your support in
building towards a sustainable and prosper-
ous future.
Have a great summer, all the best.
EVENING MEETING SCHEDULE WINDS DOWN
Usually, Council meets on the second and last Thursdays of each month at 8:45
a.m., but since January, they held their last meeting of the month in the evening.
This was on a trial basis and dependent on the public’s interest level. Initially, atten-
dance was outstanding. Thanks to all who came out! Do you think evening meet-
ings are a good idea? A bad idea? Don’t care one way or another? Give us your
opinion by taking our online poll at our website www.chester.ca.
Remaining meetings
• Thursday, June 13 at 8:45 a.m.
• Thursday, June 27 at 6:00 p.m.
2
Naughty or Nice...?Highlights from the 2013/14
MUNICIPAL BUDGET
Complete budget details are on pages 4 and 5
of the newsletter. Below are a few statistics and
items that may interest you.
• The residential tax rate increased by 2¢. It is
now 64¢/$100 of assessment, which is one of
the lowest on the South Shore (Bridgewater is
$1.65 and Municipality of Lunenburg is 81¢)
• The commercial tax rate decreased by 1¢,
making it $1.53/$100 of assessment
• Area rates remain the same
• CPI increase for “All Items for NS” by 2.0%
• The operating budget is $22,436,963.00, in-
cluding capital expenditures
• An increase in assessment value will create an
additional $243,481 in revenue
• An increase in the annual amount we must
pay to the Province will use 97.2% of the ad-
ditional revenue generated from the increase
Council made customer satisfaction one of
their primary goals in their Strategic Plan ear-
lier this year. To measure how we are doing, and
to make sure we give the public an opportunity
for feedback, we posted a form on our website
where people can register a complaint or leave
us a compliment. It’s called “Report a Complaint
or Compliment” and is on the right side of our
homepage.
Well, you might be interested to know that we
received two compliments and two complaints!
In every municipal insight, we will report the
compliments and complaints we receive every
two months. We will also let you know of any
corrective actions we are taking to resolve the
issue or, if we are unable to resolve it.
It’s been two months since we posted our complaints/compliments report form
online at www.chester.ca. How are we doing?
First...the compliments! Both of our compli-
ments are for the Recreation Department; one
for the helpful and happy staff, and a “thank
you” for the opportunity given through our
P.R.O. Kids program.
Now for the complaints...
The first complaint was about speeding on a
municipal road. The Public Works Department
is currently investigating potential options for
deterring speed on that particular road either
physically or educationally.
Our second complaint was about an unsightly
premise. As usual, we visited the property but
discovered that it didn’t meet our criteria as an
actual unsightly premise (ie, not visible from
road, distant from neighbours, etc.).
STRATEGIC PLAN
3Copies of by-laws and policies are available at the Municipal Office or online at www.chester.ca
THECAO
REPORT
OBJECTIVE: This By-Law determines that rate of the Deed Transfer Tax.
DESCRIPTION: A “deed transfer tax” is applied when a property is sold
and the deed is recorded to the new buyer. It is based on a percentage
of the value of the property transferred.
Deed Transfer Tax By-Law
PROPOSED CHANGES: There is only one amendment proposed to the
Deed Transfer Tax By-Law #137: to amend the amount of deed transfer
tax from 1% to 1.5%, effective July 1, 2013.
Better By-Laws? you tell us...
Last month, Municipal Council gave First Reading to amendments proposed to the Deed Transfer Tax By-Law #137 as well as the Regional Emergency
Measure By-Law. They also passed Final Notice for the Tax Exemption for Charitable, Non-Profit Organizations, Municipal Water Utilities, and Licensed
Days By-Law #74. What does that mean...?
“First Reading” means that Council has approved an amendment and is letting the public know that they are considering changes to or introducing
a new by-law. There is a deadline to submit written comments to the Municipal Clerk. After comments are received by Council two things can happen:
1. The comments are favourable and the by-law moves to “Second Reading”, which is a second chance for the public to give input. After the Second
Reading, Final Notice is given and then the amended by-law is approved.
2. The comments are unfavourable and Council can decide to leave the by-law as it was or make different changes.
The Second Reading for both of these draft by-laws is scheduled for June 13 at 8:45 a.m. If you wish to provide a submission with regard to the by-
law amendments, contact the Municipal Clerk at (902) 275-3554 or click here for email. The deadline for submissions is June 12 by 4:30 p.m.
OBJECTIVE: To commit all of the municipal units included in the Region-
al Emergency Measures (REM) agreement to delivering joint and mutual
aid during an emergency. The units involved are the Municipalities of the
Districts of Chester and Lunenburg, and the Towns of Bridgewater and
Mahone Bay.
DESCRIPTION: Basically, this whole By-Law defines the responsibilities
of Councils, the REM Coordinator, REM Committees, and others involved
during an emergency. Responsibilities include:
• establishing and maintaining a regional organization to coordinate
emergency measures among the units;
• development and implemention of municipal and regional emergen-
cy management plans; and
• hierarchy and decision-making during an emergency.
Regional Emergency Measures By-Law
PROPOSED CHANGES: By approving this By-Law, it will completely
replace the current Emergency Measures By-Law. After approval by
all affected municipal units, it will be forwarded to the Minister for
Provincial approval as well.
Amendments to this By-Law passed final notice of Council, and will be
applied effective this fiscal year (Aprli 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014).
Tax Exemption for Charitable, Non-Profit
Organizations, Municipal Water utilities,
and Licensed Day Cares By-Law
BY-LAWS & POLICIES
Once a month, our Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) reports our progress on various
projects to Council. Since Council adopted a Strategic Plan, many of our actions are
now focused on achieving those goals. Below are a few of the highlights from Erin’s
last report, and what we’re doing as a Municipality.
Strengthen and support environmental,
cultural and social resources
• With Council’s direction, we will imple-
ment the actions in the Integrated Com-
munity Sustainability Plan (ICSP) that fall
within our mandate.
• We continue to have a great lineup of rec-
reational opportunties for all.
• Our Cut ‘n’ Run was held June 2 with re-
cord attendance!
• At the Landfill, we will minimize the
amount of waste exposed to rain, creating
less leachate.
Ensure sufficient infrastructure is available
to best serve our residents and businesses
• We will decommission Mill Cove Water
Utility by the end of the summer.
• New Federal Wastewater System Regula-
tions came into effect January 2013. We
are completing testing required to comply.
Continually improve public satisfaction
with municipal services
• Municipal properties are cleaned up for
public use, including sidewalks.
• We have developed a new records man-
agement system, and are starting to mi-
grate files. On the same note, we are in
the process of developing several new
internal processes, such as handling com-
plaints and electronic invoice approval.
Promote conditions conducive to fostering
economic prosperity
• Council has engaged a consultant to iden-
tify all of the potential options available
for the Municipality to best develop eco-
nomic opportunities for existing and fu-
ture citizens.
Continually reinforce the positive image of
the Municipality through leadership in
public engagement and communication
• You can now register complaints and com-
pliments on our website (www.chester.ca)
• Our job descriptions and salary band in-
formation is available online.
• A Communications and Engagement Plan
has been drafted.
Maintain a high level of fiscal responsibility
• Tax Sale was successful with all properties
sold except two.
• Council will review municipally-owned
properties to determine which pieces to
develop and which to sell.
MUNICIPAL BUDGET 2013/14
4Questions??? Call (902) 275-3554
MUNICIPAL
BUDGET
Is it possible for a budget
to be exciting?
We think so.
Initially, the Budget can appear to be complex, but once you get past the jargon, it begins to make sense. In
these next two pages, we will explain the Municipal Budget (and the jargon) so it’s more understandable.
You will know exactly how much money we get, how much we spend, and what we spend it on.
The Municipality receives almost half of its
revenue (around 45%) from property tax-
es. Property taxes are calculated by divid-
ing your total assessment by 100 and then
multiplying the remainder by the rate. This
year, the rate on residential property is 66¢
The remaining 55% of revenue is from area
rates and other sources.
Area Rates are charged for certain infra-
structure and services that are specific to
an area. For example, if you have access
to central sewer, you are charged a certain
amount on your property taxes to pay for it.
Some area rates are flat fees (same charge
whether your assessment increases or de-
creases) and some are tied to percentage
(so much per $100 of your assessment).
Tax Based on Business Revenue applies to
certain businesses where their revenue is
used as a base for taxes rather than prop-
erty assessment. Usually, these businesses
Property Taxes from
Assessable Property,
$10,144,508.00
Area Rates (sewer, fire,
waste, etc), $2,584,169.00
Tax based on Business
Revenue, $120,576.00
Deed Transfers and Change
in Use Taxes, $684,070.00
Government Grants in Lieu
of Taxes, $150,193.00
Solid Waste & Disposal
Fees, $3,972,670.00
Services to Other
Agencies, $165,691.00
Revenue from Own Sources
(fees, etc.), $847,891.00
Transfers from Prov/Fed
Governments, $933,645.00
Transfers from
Own Funds,
$2,833,550.00
Revenue
Total Revenue
$22,436,963
The graphs on these pages attempt to
compliment the budget, not replace it.
provide a service and have different kinds
of infrastructure rather than buildings and
parcels of land. For example, Aliant is one
of the businesses that pays their taxes ac-
cording to their sales. In addition to several
small buildings, they have poles and wires
that stretch across the Municipality.
Deed Transfers are currently 1% of the
sale purchase price of a property once the
deed is registered.
A Grant in Lieu of Taxes is money received
from other levels of government instead of
property taxes.
Solid Waste and Disposal Fees are charged
to commercial users of the Landfill as well
as fees from our partners (ex. Valley Waste
Management) and residents whose waste
exceeds the free limit.
Services to Other Agencies is the amount
we charge other municipal units for servic-
es we provide to them, such as planning,
building, and animal control services.
Revenue from Own Sources is made up of
fees we receive for applications, recreation
programs, sewer connection deposits, etc.
Transfers from Provincial and Federal
Governments are essentially grants. For
example, summer student employment,
Gas Tax, and recycling program grants.
Transfers from Own Funds is kind of like
transferring money from our savings ac-
count to our chequing account. If we have
extra money leftover at the end of the year,
we put it into “reserves”, or our savings ac-
count. If we have a deficit at the end of the
year or a capital project that costs a sub-
stantial amount of money, we sometimes
use reserves to pay for it.
5Complete Municipal Budget documents are online at www.chester.ca
MUNICIPAL BUDGET 2013-14
We can only pay for general expenses from revenue generated from
property taxes. To the left shows a graph indicating which expenses
are allocated to property tax revenue.
Mandated Payments is, by far, the largest operating expense we
have. These are payments to the Province for education, policing
and corrective services, regional housing, libraries, roads and as-
sessments. Every Municipality must pay these.
Departmental Services include the slices for Community Develop-
ment, Recreation, Financial, Administrative/Information, and Public
Works. Expenses include salaries, administrative costs (phones, fax,
copiers, computers, stationery, power, etc.), the Town Crier, profes-
sional services required (auditing, surveying, engineering, etc.), and
taxation services (bills, processing payments, tax certificates, etc.).
Grants to Organizations and Services Partners include all grants
that we provide to non-profit community groups. Also included in
this slice are Bluenose Coast and Regional Economic Development.
The money we give them is used to strengthen our communities.
Council and Committees expenses include salaries, administrative,
and payment to community representatives for attending meetings.
Municipal Property/Transportation expenses include money spent
for maintaining wharves, boat launches, sidewalks, municipal roads,
parks, and all other properties owned by the Municipality.
Protective Services expenses are legal fees, animal control, emer-
gency measures, by-law enforcement and Fire Services Coordinator.
Wind Power Operating, this is how much it will cost to prepare for
construction of the wind turbine.
PLANNED CAPITAL PROJECTS
Considering Council has approved a balanced
budget, kept area rates the same, and lowered
the commercial tax rate, there are some pretty
impressive projects in the works.
• Upgrade Chester Connection Trail;
• Improve the road at Kaizer Meadow;
• Build an additional tower for expelling treat-
ed water at Kaizer Meadow;
• Construct our COMFIT wind turbine site;
• Carbon monoxide monitor and firefighter
scene rehab shelter for fire services;
• Upgrade Chester Sewer Plant;
• Decommission Mill Cove Water Plant;
• Construct a new cell at Kaizer Meadow;
• Upgrade public spaces, like Freda’s Beach
and Anvil Park;
• Prepare for future compost processing, in
partnership with other municipal units;
• Repair manholes and replace pipe; and
• Equipment and vehicle upgrades.
Mandatory Payments to
Province, $6,389,533.00
Municipal Property, $219,905.00
Public Works, $217,850.00
Protective Services, $195,270.00
Area Rate Services/Projects,
$2,660,565.00
Municipal Fire Services,
$179,663.00 Community
Development,
$837,254.00
Administrative/Information
Services, $824,334.00 Financial Services, $1,080,263.00
Council/Committee, $220,894.00
Grants to Organizations,
$240,000.00
Transportation Services,
$250,734.00
Capital Projects, $3,073,050.00
Solid Waste Collection/Landfill
Operations, $4,314,247.00
Wind Tower, $6,593.00
Recreation, $719,969.00 Reserves, $1,006,839.00 Expenditures
Total Expenditures
$22,436,963
Solid Waste Collection,
$1,258,302.00
Recycling, $54,777.00 Landfill Operations,
$2,645,906.00
Eco-Park, $35,262.00 Landfill Closure,
$320,000.00
Reserves (future projects),
$206,953.00 Landfill Operating Expenses
Because of partnerships and the ability to operate efficiently,
Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre covers
their own expenses - and still manages to be a landfill with
some of the lowest tipping fees in Nova Scotia.
Revenue, through area rates for residential collection and
tipping fees from contractors, for this year is projected to be
$4,521,200.
Fire Services,
$1,634,413.00
Private Road Maintenance,
$74,100.00
Streetlights, $142,692.00
Sewer Services,
$809,360.00
Expenditures from
Area Rate Revenue
Area rate revenue is only used for a specific service/
infrastructure cost and nothing else. Fire Services is
given directly to the commission representing your
district. They, in turn, use that money to fund fire de-
partments and other things. Other area rates include
streetlights, private roads, operation of central sewer
systems, and the fire hydrants in Mill Cove.
* excludes area rates charged
for waste collection
Council and Committees,
$220,894.00
Administrative/Information
Services, $824,334.00
Financial Services, $1,080,263.00
Municipal
Property/Transportation,
$470,639.00
Public Works Services,
$217,850.00
Protective Services - Municipal
(incl. Fire), $374,933.00
Mandated Payments to the
Province, $6,389,533.00
Community Development,
$837,254.00
Recreation Services, $719,969.00
Grants to Organizations,
$240,000.00
Wind Power Operating,
$6,593.00
General Expenses from
Operating Revenue
Only one black bag per collection: the rest are clear
We will only take one black garbage bag per
collection. Anything over that will be rejected.
Please use clear bags for all garbage over the
one black bag limit.
Know your limit...
Per collection, each household can put out SIX
bags of garbage (one black, five clear), TEN
bags of recyclables (each bundle of cardboard is
equal to one bag), and ONE green cart.
Collector can’t collect aerosols
Through past experiences, out collector can no
longer collect aerosol cans at the curb. They are
still recyclable, but because of the hazard, can
not go in the recyclable materials bag. You can
bring them with your other hazardous material
to the Household Hazardous Waste site at Kaizer
Meadow Environmental Management Centre.
PROPERTY SERVICES
6
Kaizer Meadow
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm
Saturday 8am – 12pm
Sunday Closed
Changes in collection routes, equipment break-
downs and new drivers are all factors as to what
time your waste is collected.
If you are accustomed to seeing the collection
truck at a specific time, please do not assume
that this is your pick up time each collection day.
To be safe, your waste needs to be at the curb
for 8 a.m. on your collection day. Otherwise,
you might be missed and the trucks will not re-
turn to collect waste that was put out too late.
Also, collectors travel along one side of the road
to collect waste and then switch to the other
side. They are not permitted to cross the road
from where they are collecting. It is a hazard.
Some other advice...
Keep recyclables separate from paper
Paper goes to a different location than plastics
and metals for processing. People working on
the conveyor belt in the recycling plant do not
have time to re-sort or remove the paper.
the 2013 Waste Collection Calendar is available at www.chester.ca or drop in to the Municipal Office to pick one up
SEWER CLEANING... in your area this summer
WASTE ‘n TIME
CIVIC ADDRESSING
in Public Places
Businesses and service providers, such as
hotels, restaurants and churches have a re-
sponsibility to the public to post civic numbers.
When a 911 call is made, emergency respond-
ers most often rely on a map to find their way.
These maps only show points (dots) for civic
numbers and lines for roads and community
boundaries. There are no names of identifica-
tion of buildings on these maps.
The local community may know where a
business is and its name, but others may not.
Sometimes, even employees do not know
the civic number of the business where they
The Municipality will clean the central sewer
systems in Chester and Western Shore shortly.
We’ve answered a few of the more common
questions below, but if you have further inqui-
ries, please call Public Works at (902) 275-1312
IF you are serviced by central sewer.
What are sewers?
Underground pipes that carry wastewater from homes
and businesses to treatment plants where it is treated and
then released to the ocean. Everything you pour down
the drain or flush down the toilet goes into the sewer.
Why are sewers cleaned?
The cleaning and inspection of the sewers keeps the sew-
er system operating efficiently by:
• Helping prevent blockages and backups
• Removing built-up debris, such as tree roots,
grease, grit and sand
• Determining the condition of the sewer so we can
repair or replace sewers as necessary
How long does it take to clean the sewers on
each street?
It usually takes about one day to clean the sewer on each
block. However, some sewers can take longer, depending
on their size and condition.
How do you clean the sewers?
We use a high-pressured nozzle to flush water down the
sewer. Dirt and debris are sucked through a manhole by a
large vacuum truck and taken to the Landfill.
Do I need to do anything before you clean the
sewers on my street?
Yes. Occasionally during cleaning and inspection, air pres-
sure in the sewer can cause water to splash out through
toilets, sinks and drains. Take the following precautions to
prevent water damage in your home:
• Close the lid on all toilet bowls when not in use
• Plug the drains in all sinks and bathtubs
• Remove bathroom floor mats
• Place an old towel around the base of toilets
• If you have a float plug in your floor drain or a back-
water valve installed in your house, ensure that it is
free of debris and operating properly
• Wrap the cover of your basement floor drains with
plastic (i.e., a freezer bag). Place something heavy
over the floor drains to keep the covers in place.
You may put things back as they were when the equip-
ment moves off your street.
Will I notice anything after the sewer cleaning?
Sometimes the sewer cleaning and inspection leaves an
odour in the home. If so, run some water down the sink
and bathtub drains, flush the toilets, pour a pail of water
into each basement floor drain and open the windows.
After a short time, the odour will disappear.
Can I use the toilets and my water while you
are cleaning the sewer on my block?
Yes. However, be careful as air pressure in the sewer dur-
ing the cleaning and inspection can sometimes cause
water to splash out through toilets, sinks and drains. Re-
member to close the lids on all toilet bowls and insert
drain plugs in all sinks and bathtubs when not in use.
How will I know when you are cleaning the
sewers on my street?
In most cases, we will deliver a notice one or two days
before we clean the sewers on your street. If we need to
clean the sewer quickly because of a blockage, we won’t
have time to let you know in advance. We will however,
leave you a letter letting you know we cleaned the sewer.
When do you clean and inspect the sewers?
We have two types of programs:
1. Cleaning where there are persistent problems and
doing emergency work to clear blockages; and
2. Cleaning and inspecting sewers in selected areas,
usually between March and November. We under-
stand that the equipment is noisy and may disturb
some residents, but it cannot be avoided and we ap-
preciate your patience.
Ways you can protect your home against sewer
backup
The sewer cleaning and inspection program is one of the
steps we take to reduce the risk of sewer backup. There
are steps you can take to protect your home against base-
ment flooding, including:
• Install a backwater valve and sump pit drainage
system
• Check and maintain your backwater valve and
sump pit drainage system regularly
• Improve drainage around your house
thank you
work. Employers need to make sure everyone
is aware of the civic address.
Also, landlords must let their tenants know
the correct civic address to use in an emergen-
cy. Someone renting a cottage by the ocean
or lake, and not from the area, may not know
how to describe the way to the cottage. A civ-
ic number must be posted and should be dis-
played in a very visible place near a telephone.
Please make sure that everyone who comes
through your door is as safe as possible. Ask
yourself, “is there a liability factor here?” Find
out from your insurance company!
We also have some advice for traveling and
public safety. When driving in your commu-
nity or even vacationing away from home,
please take a good look at your surroundings.
Be aware of road names and the communities
that you drive through. Watch for landmarks
such as churches, parks, shops, or exit signs
and note their names and civic numbers. If
you should have a roadside emergency, you
can confidently identify your location when
calling 911 for help.
Our concern is for visitors and residents alike
who enjoy our beaches and parks but are not
necessarily familiar with the community they
are in or which road they are on.
With cooperation from the Departments of
Natural Resources, Fisheries and Oceans, and
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
(TIR), we have posted civic numbers at beach-
es, parks and wharves. TIR also has numbered
markers along Highway 103 at every kilome-
ter. This can help in roadside emergencies.
Three (chee)Rs for Ms. Moule’s class!
Julia Moule and two students from her Grade 1-2 class
(Gold River-Western Shore Elementary) are all smiles at
the Region 6 Awards Banquet in April. Ms. Moule and
her class entered the Resource Recovery Fund Board’s
(RRFB) NS Recycles Day Contest and won first place in
our region. Her class received a recycling kit (held by
Robert Myra, Councillor for District 5) and the school it-
self received $500. The activity was a colouring contest.
COMMUNITY INTEREST
7submit to our online photo gallery at www.chester.ca! Email communications@chester.ca
Wednesday,
June 12
Registration for Lido
Pool Swim Lessons
Chester Area Middle School, 6-8pm.
Lessons start June 24 (3 wks). 275-3465.
Friday, June 14 AGM Hubbards Community Waterfront Asso-
ciation, 7:30pm at Hubbards Fire Hall.
Saturday, June 15
Breakfast District #1 Community Centre, Bland-
ford, 9-11am. Last breakfast til October!
Country Jamboree Little Red School, Canaan, 7-10pm.
Sunday, June 16
Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm.
Voices of Spring
Concert
Chester Brass and the South Chorale at
St. Stephen’s Church, Chester at 3pm.
Father’s Day Supper Forties Community Centre, New Ross,
4:30pm (doors open at 4pm).
Tuesday, June 18 Co-ed Baseball Regis-
tration
Ages 5-8, 6:00-7:30pm. Ages 9-13, 7:00-
8:30pm. Both are $30/11 weeks.
Friday, June 21 to
Saturday, June 22
Chester Municipal
Relay for Life
Chester Area Middle School from 7pm
on Friday to 7am on Saturday. 275-5720
or 275-3263.
Saturday, June 22
Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am
Quilt Show & Tea
District #1 Community Centre, Bland-
ford, 1:30-4:30pm. Call 228-2425 or
visit Blandford & Area Historical Society
on Facebook.
Supper
Forties Community Centre, New Ross,
4-6pm. Proceeds for St. Augustine’s
Anglican and Forties United Baptist
Churches.
Sunday, June 23 Chester Basin Legion
Bowling Tournament
Pajo’s (formerly Lunenburg Bowling Al-
ley), 10am-2pm. Proceeds for Jerry and
Mabel Sieffert Memorial Award fund.
225-6069 or 279-1525.
Monday, June 24 Meeting
Basin Gardeners Association at Aenon
Baptist Church, 7pm. Guest speaker
presenting “Renovating an existing gar-
den for easier maintenance”. 273-2000.
Sunday, June 30 Chinese Auction
Western Shore & Area Improvement
Building, 2pm (doors open at 9am).
Proceeds for Bursary and Buiding Funds
of Norwood Lods #135, New Ross.
Monday, July 1 17th Annual Chicken
BBQ
Western Shore & Area Improvement As-
sociation Hall, 11am-2pm. Proceeds for
maintenance of Wild Rose Park.
Friday, July 5 Summer Potluck Sup-
per
Hubbards & Area Fire Hall, 5-7pm.
Proceeds for St. Mark’s and St. Luke’s
Anglican Churches.
Saturday, July 6 Roast Beef Supper St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Martin’s
Point, from 4-6pm
Saturday, July 13 Mackerel Snappers
Picnic
Graves Island Provincial Park, 12-6pm.
Raindate is Sunday, July 14. Proceeds
for East Chester Recreation Association.
275-4070.
Saturday, July 20 Chester Garden Tour
11am-4pm. Hosted by Chester Mu-
nicipal Chamber of Commerce. Tickets
include a picnic lunch. Special desti-
nation: Niki Jabbour. Email Admin@
ChesterAreaNS.ca Tickets limited!
Sunday, August 4 Annual Lobster Supper Bonny Lea Farm, 4-7pm. Entertainment
and raffle. 275-5622.
Every Saturday Farmers Market Hubbards Barn, 8am-noon.
To have your event advertised in this newsletter, on our website’s event calendar,
and in our events listing in the Progress Bulletin, please call the Recreation and Parks
Department at (902) 275-3490 or email Recreation@chester. ca
Waste not...
Enjoy some of our public spaces:
• Trail systems and skate park
• Municipal gazebos and Library
• Parks and playground
• Islands and beaches
Call 275-3490 for a copy of our
Recreation Map & Guide
Hang around...A-boat time...
Remember to be responsible
with your waste while visiting
public spaces or picnicking.
Don’t litter, use recycling options
when available, and don’t illegal-
ly dump household garbage.
During boating season, we offer:
• Free pump out services (call
275-1312 for an appointment)
• Access to municipal wharves,
floats and launches
• Sorting guides for waste
Call 275-1312 for limitations
We want your photos.
We need photos that best represent the Municipality of
the District of Chester.
If your photo is chosen, it will be used in a publicity folder used to
promote our area. It may even be on the front cover!
Categories include: Landscape, Events, Recreational, and Miscellaneous
Submissions can incorporate all four seasons, but must be high
resolution digital (min 600dpi) and emailed to
communications@chester.ca
No limit to submissions! DEADLINE June 30.
A partnership of the Municipality of the District of Chester
and the Chester Municipal Chamber of Commerce
Pass it on.
Enjoy it.
Read it.
In your mailbox Thursday, June 6.
QR Code: Download a QR Reader app on your mobile device (eg.
iPhone). Hold it over the code while your device scans it, and it will
open our website directly.
Twitter: Search for @chestermun or @ChesterRecParks in your Twit-
ter account. Follow us and get regular updates and notifications about
municipal issues.
Facebook: Visit www.facebook.com/ChesterMunicipality and learn
about events and stories happening in the Municipality. If you have
something to share, message us!
To contact us about this newsletter...
call: 902-275-3555 ext. 1202 email: communications@chester.ca
mail: Municipality of Chester
c/o municipal insight
151 King Street, PO Box 369, Chester NS B0J 1J0
RESOURCES
If you have questions about…call this Department at...this number
Animal Control (Dogs)Animal Control Officer 277-0017
Bandstand/Gazebo rental (Wedding)Recreation & Parks Department 275-3490
Boat Launches Recreation & Parks Department 275-3490
Building Permits/Inspections Building/Fire Inspection 275-3080
By-Laws Community Development Dept 275-2599
Composting Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-1312/275-2330
Council Meetings Administration/Tax Department 275-3554
Fire Inspections Building/Fire Inspection 275-3080
Islands (use of)Recreation & Parks Department 275-3490
Kaizer Meadow Solid Waste Department 275-2330
Municipal Sewer Public Works Department 275-1312
After Hours Emergencies 1-888-664-6998
Parks/Trails Recreation & Parks Department 275-3490
Planning Areas Community Development Dept 275-2599
Public Works (Municipal)Public Works Department 275-1312
Recycling Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-2330/275-1312
Taxes Administration/Tax Dept 275-3554
Waste Collection Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-2330/275-1312
Wharves Public Works Department 275-1312
Zoning Community Development Dept 275-2599
fax mail email
902-275-4771 151 King Street administration@chester.ca publicworks@chester.ca
P O Box 369 building@chester.ca recreation@chester.ca
Chester NS B0J 1J0 planning@chester.ca info@KaizerMeadow.ca
Municipal Districts and Councillors
#1 Blandford to East Chester area
Andre Veinotte 277-1409
#2 Hubbards to Mill Cove and Simms Settlement area
Floyd Shatford 857-9817
#3 Village of Chester and part of Old Trunk #3
Brad Armstrong 275-3121
#4 Chester Basin to Chester Grant and Lower Grant
Allen Webber 275-2536
#5 Martin’s Point to Gold River area
Robert Myra 627-2470
#6 New Ross area
Tina Connors 679-4461
#7 Windsor Road to Marriotts Cove and Middle River
Sharon Church-Cornelius 275-2281
For exact district boundaries, call the Municipal Office at (902) 275-3554
or click on the “Municipality” menu option on our website.
Provincial Contacts
Department of
Environment .........................................................543-4685
Labour ..................................................................543-0665
Natural Resources ................................................634-7555
Public Health ........................................................543-0850
Transportation (Bridgewater) ...............................543-8169
Transportation (Marriott’s Cove)..........................275-3221
Property Valuation 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
SUMMER
Recreation
GUIDE
Community
Garden
We are expanding our vegetable gar-
den. If you have interest in planning,
planting or picking, please call Jen at
(902) 275-3555, ext. 1202. Half of the
harvest is for Lighthouse Food Bank,
and the other half is for helpers!
Valued at more than$8,000 COURTESY OF
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