HomeMy Public PortalAbout2014-11_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressedmunicipal insight
“Keeping informed about November/December 2014
your municipal government”
In the Municipality of the District of Chester this fall...
That is so “last year”! reVISION & Your Role WHATTA DUMP!
The 2015 Waste An update on the Plan Yeah, we're pretty proud
Collection Calendar Review, and your of our landfill and here's
is soon here! (Pg. 2) involvement. (Pg. 3) why...(Pgs. 4-5)
With the imminent move of two municipal depart-
ments to Gold River, there has been more discussion
than usual around the office and in the community.
Since the initial idea was presented a little over a year
ago, Council and staff have discussed many options and
scenarios around the move. Is it a good idea? How will
service be affected? How much will this cost? Are there
any other options?
Here is a snapshot of how events have played out thus
far, reasoning, and the financial picture.
Timeline
June 13, 2013: Council received notice from the South
Shore Regional School Board (SSRSB) that the former
Gold River/Western Shore School property will be re-
turned to the Municipality.
The Municipality insured the property, arranged for a for-
mal appraisal, and conducted a recreational assessment.
July 8, 2013: Upon request from Council, a meeting was
set up with SSRSB to view the premises.
July 19, 2013: The Municipality acquired the former
school and surrounding 2.97 acres.
August 29, 2013: Possible (and very broad) options for
use of the Gold River property were presented to Coun-
cil. They requested staff to provide preliminary cost es-
timates for municipal and community use as well as de-
velop an RFP.
October 24, 2013: Options for use of the vacant property
were presented to Council in camera; a) sell property as
is; b) demolish building and sell the vacant lot; c) call for
proposals for use; and d) maintain for municipal/com-
munity purposes. Initial costs for renovations and roof
repair was estimated at $416,000 over two years using
costings done by staff.
October 30, 2013: Council made a motion to proceed
with the potential of relocating the Recreation and Com-
munity Development Departments to the former school
as well as prepare a Request for Proposals for consider-
ation of selling the Annex Building to offset costs.
December 23, 2013: A final Hazardous Building Materials
Survey report was received from SNC-Lavalin (our engi-
neering consultant). Their preliminary cost for items that
needed to be done prior to occupancy was $394,500.
Adding construction that could be done at a later date,
such as replacing ceiling tiles and framing the gym roof,
brought the estimate up to $487,500. However, they
hadn’t included some things, such as accommodating
computer servers and structural and roofing options.
They continued with further investigations.
January to March 2014: As more information was re-
ceived from SNC, Staff revised their preliminary estimate
to $615,500.
April 14, 2014: Council reviewed the costs at an Audit &
Budget meeting and opted to phase in renovations over
three years, with the bulk of the work to be done in Year
1 to address safety and potential safety issues.
May 15, 2014: The Municipality applied for a Recreation
Facility Development Grant in the amount of $207,570 to
help offset the costs.
August 25, 2014: SNC delivered an initial design estimate
to the Municipality: $1,134,773. Staff revised the esti-
mate to decrease costs.
September 25, 2014: A final update was provided to
Council from Municipal Staff and SNC-Lavalin represen-
tatives, including an asbestos abatement specialist.
The new estimate with full asbestos abatement came
in at $963,656. With partial abatement, the cost was
$781,557. Council opted for partial abatement as it is
cheaper and just as safe. The significant difference be-
tween the very first estimate by SNC and this one is
made up of an increase in abatement costs (+$18,000),
contingency and overhead costs (+$172,940), and HST
(+$32,150); none of which were included in the very first
estimate.
November 13, 2014: After a presentation from the pub-
lic, Council voted to explore possibilities for use of the
Annex Building in addition to the option to sell with the
condition that the annual maintenance and operating
costs are recovered through the alternate use.
Motivating Factors
Space Restrictions
The Community Development Department occupies
the top floor of the Annex Building. There are four indi-
vidual offices, two common areas, two washrooms and
a kitchen. There are thirteen staff. Half of the downstairs
floor is storage for archived files and PRO Kids equip-
ment. The other half houses the Lighthouse Food Bank.
The Recreation & Parks Department is upstairs in the
Municipal Office with four staff members. They had
equipment and file storage (along with the Tax Depart-
ment) in three outside paid storage lockers as well as
stacked in their office space.
Current space in the Annex Building provides inad-
equate meeting areas, impediments to basic office func-
tions, safety barriers, and mobility challenges for some
public members.
Location of Services
When looking at new unit construction, four out of
seven districts have shown above average growth at least
half the time over the last ten years. With the exception
of parts of District 1, all of the growth has taken place
outside of the central village area. Given these trends,
providing access to services in other areas is an advan-
tage. Basic services (such as picking up and dropping off
permit applications) will be provided at the Chester site
and full services at Gold River. With our existing technol-
ogy, we are fully capable of transmitting electronic files,
images, and communications.
Recreational services are already provided in all areas
of the Municipality. The Gold River facility presents ad-
ditional physical opportunities for the Municipality and
community groups, such as a soccer field, gymnasium
and playground.
Financial Considerations
• Four years ago, Council investigated the pos-
siblity of an addition to the Municipal Office to
address space issues. The cost in 2010 was be-
tween $782,900 and $889,840, not including pro-
fessional, legal, relocation or contingency fees.
With omitted costs, the figure would have been
$1,147,500. In “2014 prices”, the cost is escalated
to $1.56 million.
• Preliminary estimates for demolishing the Gold
River facility are $152,000 (not including relocat-
ing the playground). However, based on revised
costs for asbestos removal, the cost will increase
by $144,300.
• Relocating the playground will cost almost as
much as the price to install it ($100,000).
• Subdividing the Gold River property into four un-
serviced lots (as the treatment plant cannot sup-
port serviced lots), would fetch approximately
$57,000 each based on local listings.
• The cost to maintain Gold River/Western Shore
school is approximately $69,000 occupied and
$35,000 unoccupied (includes insurance cover-
age, snow removal, groundskeeping and heat) per
year.
• The cost to maintain the Annex Building in Chester
costs $34,500 per year.
• Although the appraisal amount for the Gold River
property is confidential because of potential nego-
tiations, it falls significantly below the assessment
value.
• The Municipality already owns this building and
will make use of an existing asset.
• The annual cost for keeping three storage units is
around $2,200.
• Several community groups have already expressed
interest in utilizing the Gold River site.
What it boils down to is feasibility. We need space. We
have a vacant building. If we were to demolish it or sell
it, we would lose money. If we were to add on to the
existing municipal building, we would spend three quar-
ters of a million dollars more than renovating the former
school. Developments and new construction are increas-
ing throughout the Municipality. Multiple locations for
Community Development can be an advantage.
Lighthouse Food Bank
The Lighthouse Food Bank has occupied the Annex
Building for many years. Currently, they have access to
one main room and storage adjacent on either side, at
no cost, in the Annex Building. The Municipality fully sup-
ports this organization, which is why we have extended
the same offer for the Gold River site as well as arranging
free transportation for their clients.
NEW DIGS...
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Message from
the Warden
Sign up for Council meeting agendas under Municipal Alerts at www.chester.ca
The new school year has begun, and I had
an opportunity to meet the new Student
Council Advisory Committee. They are
an enthusiastic group and I look forward
to working with them to gain a better
understanding of their concerns and provide
them an opportunity to become more
involved in local government.
Also on the youth engagement front,
our Municipality has been chosen by
YMCA Lunenburg County for an expanded
youth leadership program to be offered on
Thursday evenings beginning in January.
YMCA youth staff will be visiting local schools
and organizations over the next month to
share this opportunity with our youth.
In the last edition of the Insight, I was
encouraging you to get involved in the
Municipal Planning Strategy Review and we
You can contact the Warden by calling the Municipal
Office at (902) 275-3554, calling his home at
(902) 275-2536, or emailing awebber@chester.ca
are pleased to report that we had a good
response. The new committee will hold its
first meeting on November 24.
Earlier this month, Council was pleased
to host our annual Firefighter Appreciation
Night. We had a great turnout and took the
opportunity to thank them on your behalf
for their tremendous commitment to our
community.
This edition of Municipal Insight highlights
a wide variety of topics including our recently
achieved ISO certification, our utilization
of the former Gold River/Western Shore
Elementary School, the recommendations
of the Fiscal Review Committee, a variety
of community events, and a good deal
of information on the second municipal
department to be featured: the Kaizer
Meadow Environmental Management
Centre...not your average dump!
You may have noticed a new face in the
office lately. Tammy Wilson has accepted
the postion of CAO and started working
with us on November 3. The transition has
gone exceptionally well; she is a very skilled
individual and we are grateful to have her
back in local government.
In closing, you're all invited to the Tree
Lighting in the Basin on November 28 for hot
chocolate and to sing a few Christmas carols,
and yes, Santa will be there courtesy of the
Chester Basin Fire Department who bring
him down to light the tree around 6:30 p.m.
Merry Christmas in case I don't see you!
2
The Municipality of the District of Chester has
become the first municipal unit in Nova Sco-
tia to achieve ISO 9001:2008 Certification! The re-
sult? Increased accountability, greater transparency,
aligned processes and consistency in service deliv-
ery.
Two years ago, Council adopted a Quality Policy
stating their commitment to “delivering reliable ser-
vices in the most efficient, effective, professional and
financially responsible manner to enhance the qual-
ity of life for our citizens.” To honour that commit-
ment, Council and staff have worked steadily using
the ISO 9001:2008 standard. The standard includes
documented processes that enable departments to
work more cohesively and virtually eliminate redun-
dancy. It also provides a way for staff to record and
measure services delivered to the public.
The entire process is a substantial undertaking.
But, the Municipality is not about to rest on their
laurels. The whole foundation of this type of certifi-
cation is continual improve-
ment. With every service,
a process – or several pro-
cesses – is identified and
documented. If a problem
arises, it needs to be record-
ed, corrected, and improved
upon. Public and internal
feedback, both positive and negative, is necessary
to measure how services are delivered and received.
Before the Municipality was certified, they un-
derwent an assessment by an independent auditor,
Grant Thornton. In a presentation to Council on Oc-
tober 16, they reported that the Municipality’s sys-
tems for feedback and document control is “impres-
sive”. They also noted that Council’s support was
critical in achieving certification.
There are only a handful of certified public orga-
nizations in Canada, including the Town of Ajax in
Ontario, City of Fredericton in New Brunswick, and
Membertou First Nation here in Nova Scotia. Al-
though ISO 9001:2008 Certification isn’t a legislated
requirement for government, conforming to the
standard is a sure means to streamline operations
and improve internal and external relationships.
We are proud of our achievement! Feel free to call
us at (902) 275-3554 and ask questions about our
our journey.
Now that’s SomeQUALITY CONTROL!
Municipality achieves ISO Certification
Public Hear-ings Scheduled in November
There are two Public Hearings scheduled
this month. The first is on Tuesday, No-
vember 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hubbards
Fire Hall.
Council will hear feedback on proposed
amendments to the Land-Use By-Law and
Municipal Planning Strategy. Changes in-
clude the addition of “Commercial Golf
Courses” and the deletion of “Senior citi-
zens housing” in favour of “Multi-unit hous-
ing.” Amendments are related to the Aspo-
togan Ridge development in Mill Cove.
The second Public Hearing is scheduled
for Thursday, November 27 at 8:45
a.m. in Council Chambers (Municipal Of-
fice). Council is looking for feedback on a
proposed single telecommunications pole
to be erected at the Chester Fire Depart-
ment site on Central Street in Chester.
Please call (902) 275-2599 for details.
FISCALREVIEW
Municipalities and the
Province talk finances!
On October 16, 2014, Council was presented
with a summary of recommendations as a result
of a collaborative fiscal review. The work was
done by a group comprised of municipal and
provincial representatives.
The full report and executive summary are
available on the front page of the Union of Nova
Scotia Municipalities (UNSM) website, www.
unsm.ca, and includes these highlights:
• Recommendations were jointly developed
by representatives from the Association of
Municipal Administrators Nova Scotia, the
Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, and
the Nova Scotia Department of Municipal
Affairs;
• Deputy ministers and municipal elected
officials formed a steering group that
oversaw a working group (made up of the
previously mentioned reps) and four sub-
committees that broke down components
of the Fiscal Review;
• There are many similarities between this
report and the OneNS report (Ivany),
which will be further dissected in the next
municipal newsletter; and
• Topics under review include formalizing a
process for structural reform, the status of
NS villages and village commissions, road
maintenance recovery costs by the Depart-
ment of Transportation and Infrastructure
Renewal, enhanced municipal revenue op-
portunities, the possibility of implement-
ing a Provincial Property Tax for manda-
tory expenditures instead of including it
with the municipal tax bill, and improved
municipal/provincial collaboration.
At present, formal feedback is open to munici-
palities and Village Commissions. Consultation
sessions were scheduled throughout the Prov-
ince, and our councillors attended a session in
October. They will review the report and formu-
late their position by December 15.
Coming soon to a mailbox near you...
(www.chester.ca)
STRATEGIC PLAN
3We may not be available 24/7, but our website is. Visit us at www.chester.ca
Anvil Park - The washout at Anvil Park after Tropical Storm Arthur
was repaired, leaving it as good as new, and costing around $600.
“Be the Peace...Make a Change” - is an initiative of Second Story
Women’s Centre that addresses relationship violence through
awareness efforts in Lunenburg County. In support, Council
encourages staff to attend a session advocating change, work
with other areas to hopefully develop a coordinated policy, and
investigate internal policies regarding domestic violence, gender
equality and violence against women and girls. If your organization
is interested in an information session, please contact the Centre.
Borgels Point Road Petition - A petition with support from 87%
of the residents living on Borgels Point Road was provided to the
Municipality along with a request that the name of the road return
to the traditional “Borgalds Point Road” spelling. The request
will be forwarded to the Province with Council’s support as it is a
provincially-owned road. The names of Borgels Drive and Borgels
Shore Drive also have the potential to change if residents so desire.
Community Name Change - A proposed name change for the
community of Seffernsville was approved by the Province on August
13, 2014. The new name is Seffernville (no “s”). The proposal came
about after extensive research done by a resident determined that
the extra “s” was added at some point in the past in error.
Western Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade - Upgrades
to this system are a priority. Staff have applied to the Provincial
Capital Assistance Program to help recover some of the estimated
$1.2 million expense.
IN BRIEF...BOSS or BUST
Since the last newsletter, we received five complaints.
• Two complaints were received online with respect to the decision
of moving two departments to Gold River. Council has received
several others both written and verbal.
• Another complaint was made about a deep hole in the pavement
on North Street in Chester as a result of the Municipality working
on a culvert. It was filled in with ground, but after a heavy rainfall,
it washed away. We refilled the hole and paved it over.
• A fourth complaint asked about the Municipality’s consultation
process with regard to a commercial topsoil operation and use of
heavy machinery. The land use in question is permitted under our
Municipal Land-Use By-Law and doesn’t need permitting (which
would trigger a public consultation process) as it isn’t a structural
development.
• The last complaint was filed about Council minutes not posted on
our website. Fact is, in case of errors, we only post minutes when
they are approved by Council at the following meeting. So, the
minutes are usually posted two weeks after the meeting where
they are recorded. If a meeting is cancelled, it could be longer.
However, we do post summaries within a day or two that provide
an unofficial, and brief, account of the meeting.REGISTER A COMPLIMENT OR COMPLAINT BY:
Calling (902) 275-3554. Leaving your name is optional.
Emailing the Municipal Clerk at pmyra@chester.ca
Filling in our online form at www.chester.ca
Coming in to see us at 151 King Street in Chester.
Description Successful Bidder Price Over/Under
Amount Budgeted Type Date
Winter Road Maintenance
George Zinck Excavation &
Trucking AND W. Gerhardt
Property Improvement
$34,155.32 OVER $15,000
(cost is variable because it’s de-
pendent on snowfall amounts)
Tender 09/2014
Winter Sidewalk
Maintenance
W. Gerhardt Property
Improvement
$36,849.98
Year 1
UNDER $56,400.56
(cost is variable because it’s de-
pendent on snowfall amounts)
Tender 09/2014
Cleaning & CCTV Inspec-
tions of Municipal Sewers
Pardy’s Waste Management
and Industrial Services $18,228.42 UNDER $3,500 Tender 09/2014
The Municipality has opted not to renew the snow removal contract for Municipal Properties in favour of using in-
house labour. Staff will clear snow at all municipal properties, such as the Municipal Offices, sewer treatment plants,
Croft Road Playground, etc. The savings during the first year is expected to be $4,000; subsequent years will be an
estimated $13,000.
Tenders Awarded in 2014
The Plan Review is well underway,
and on October 16, Council ap-
proved six principles that will guide dis-
cussions throughout the process. These
principles are,
• Preserve and enhance community
character, built heritage and natural
areas;
• Build complete communities where
residents can work, live, shop, play,
and learn;
• Provide more
transportation op-
tions to connect our
communities;
• Build and main-
tain programs and
infrastructure to
support a healthy community;
• Foster and encourage economic
growth; and
• Invite the public to plan for the com-
munity’s future.
These principles are based on recent
community planning projects and reflect
ideas from those public sessions. They
will be used by the Citizens Planning Ad-
visory Committee (CPAC) during public
consultation and Committee discussions.
CPAC is formed by members of the pub-
lic along with municipal representatives.
This Committee will advise staff and
Council on all aspects of the new Plan.
Sixteen enthusiastic residents submit-
ted applications, and eight were appoint-
ed by Council. Thanks to all who applied,
and we look forward to working with the
Committee and the public. Welcome,
• John Carroll
• Nancy Greene
• Mark Narsansky
• Trevor Hume
• Matt Nightingale
• Debbie Reeves
• Arthur Backman
• Amanda Enright
Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre
Kaizer Meadow...Quite an Operation
The photo on the right was taken in 2005. That’s
when former “dump” became transformed.
Council at that time was faced with a choice: either
close the existing Landfill, or keep it open under new
Provincial regulations. New regulations meant that
there could only be seven landfills in the Province
(called second-generation landfills), and that each
one would cost millions of dollars to construct.
There were a lot of questions, and a considerable
amount of research went into finding the answers.
How much would a new landfill cost to build and op-
erate? How long would it last? How much it would
cost to close our existing landfill? How far would we
have to transport our waste if we did close?
All of the options were expensive, but the Munici-
pality of Chester had two advantages: space and re-
sourcefulness.
On 800+ acres of land, the Municipality of the Dis-
trict of Chester’s new landfill was built on a bed of
naturally occuring and impermeable clay. On top of
that, two enourmous plastic liners, tonnes of crushed
rock, and a network of pipes.
By securing waste from the Valley Region, the Mu-
nicipality met the tonnage requirement to become
fiscally viable. On top of that, the Solid Waste Depart-
ment is consistently revenue neutral every year.
Shall we take a tour?
After turning the corner onto Kaizer Meadow Road,
you see the unmistakable, and somehow majestic
shape of the Municipality’s first wind turbine. Tower-
ing over the surrounding trees, the steady rotation is
cause to stop and stare. Not quite a year old, the tur-
bine seems to almost lazily take on the responsibility
of providing natural power to over 500 homes in the
Municipality.
Drive further on, and our first stop is the Scale
House(1). Ryan Smith(7) sees around 30 to 40 ve-
hicles per day(2) drive across the scale, and depend-
ing on time of year, sometimes more. His primary job
is to weigh vehicles in and out, direct people to the
Public Drop-off or Landfill face, and compile statistical
reports for us and the Department of Environment.
He also manages on-site payments and provides in-
formation to the Finance Department for monthly
statements.
Residents proceed to the Public Drop-off (3) where
they are presented with a number of bins for garbage,
recyclables including cardboard, and construction
waste. There is also a compost pile for yard waste and
our household hazardous waste (HHW) depot(4) for
chemicals or dangerous goods. HHW is regularly sent
to New Brunswick for treatment and disposal. Heavy
equipment operators regularly replace full bins with
empty ones using the loader.
Most of the time, the “trip to the landfill” ends
there; residents drive back over the scale to get
weighed again and away they go. Commercial trucks
(like the ones who collect waste curbside) and staff
carrying waste-laden Public Drop-off bins make their
way to the active Landfill cell. Once there, you will
see Tim Weisner (Compactor Operator) operating our
compactor(5). The compactor does exactly what it’s
named for: compacting. Waste at the Landfill cell is
squished until it takes up only a fraction of its original
volume. Through GPS coordinates, a monitor mount-
ed inside the cab, and computer software that maxi-
mizes space efficiency(6), Tim determines where the
incoming waste should be dumped. Each full cell lasts
about five years, costs approximately $6 million, and
holds close to 200,000+ tonnes of waste (10% is from
the Municipality of the District of Chester).
That isn’t the end of it. We can control the use of
Landfill space. We can control what goes into the
Landfill. We can even control what comes out of the
Landfill, but we cannot control the weather. Precipi-
tation that falls on the waste in the Landfill trickles
through and pools at the bottom. By the time it gets
there, it’s contaminated. The liners underneath the
mound of waste prevents that water (or “leachate”)
from going into the ground and water courses. The
pipes mentioned earlier collect the leachate and si-
phon it into one of two nearby ponds for treatment.
“Faces” of Kaizer Meadow
Tim Townsend(8), Supervisor and Plant Operator,
is responsible for the sophisticated equipment that
treats the leachate and septic waste(9/10). By the
time he’s done with it, it sparkles! It’s so clean that it
can be released back into the environment. As proof,
frequent water tests are done and annual fish studies
show that populations are increasing!
Of course, the equipment doesn’t drive itself...
we have six staff for operations. Tim Weisner(11) is
the primary operator of the compactor. Ben Swina-
mer(12), Shawn Whiting(13), and Joey Rines(14) all
use a loader, dump truck, and excavator to ensure the
Public Drop-off bins are empty, on-site construction is
complete, and all disposal sites are maintained (con-
struction/demolition, shingles, etc.)(15). They are all
trained to also operate the compactor as a back-up
for Tim Weisner. Josh Wile (16) operates our dewater-
ing truck(17), increasing the life of our sludge ponds
and treating septic waste.
With all of this equipment around, it keeps Robert
Russell(18) on his toes. He is the “resident mechanic”,
and also has a great deal of experience with maintain-
ing and operating all types of heavy equipment.
Yvonne Weisner(19) plays a dual role. On the road,
she inspects waste, fields public inquiries, and edu-
cates residents and businesses on sorting waste. At
the site, she cleans up the office, processes HHW, fills
in at the Scale House, and is responsible for landfill
equipment records.
PHOTO GALLERY
1.
2.6.
4.
5.3.
NOTICE about
SPECIAL COLLECTION in 2015
Because of a significant increase in spe-
cial collection costs, the Municipality has
elected to offer two special collections
next year rather than four. The savings is
$24,000. As in other municipalities, we
will have special collection in the spring
(April) and fall (October). January’s was
not used much and very unsightly as
people would take their stuff out well
before the date, it would storm and then
get stuck in the ground until a thaw. Ad-
ditionally, we will continue leaf collection
in November, but not in April. Each leaf
collection costs $13,500. All items can be
taken to the Kaizer Meadow Environmen-
tal Management Centre any time of year
for free up to 1,500 lbs to residents of the
Municipality. Check the 2015 Waste Col-
lection Calendar for dates.
Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre
Tammy Harnish(20), our “Client Services Coordina-
tor” is usually the front line person for phone calls and
visitors to the Administration Building (turn left to-
wards the Landfill instead of right to the Scale House).
She also helps residents, businesses and groups re-
cycle by providing resources and great advice! Have
questions about our recycling programs? Ask her!
A $17.6 million capital investment, along with its
services and systems, needs coordinating. Bruce
Forest(21), then Director of Public Works, managed
the Landfill when it newly opened in 1990. In 2005
when Public Works split into two departments (Public
Works and Solid Waste), he remained as Director of
Public Works until 2010. As Director of Solid Waste,
Bruce has done quite a bit including redirecting the
Municipality’s blue bags to HRM for processing at
one-third the cost and overseeing the construction of
another half-cell.
Financial Picture
Making sure a multi-million dollar operation runs
smoothly is one thing, managing the budget is quite
another. The expenses stream for 2014-2015 will to-
tal $4,478,588. What kind of bang do we get for our
buck?
$1,207,030 - Waste collection services
$3,047,792 - Landfill operations, including closure
costs
$86,559 - Recycling
$137,207 - Reserves. The Municipality charges a
Host Fee to other municipal units who use our Land-
fill. This fee is put into savings for future projects.
The Solid Waste Department has most expenditures
of all municipal departments. It is also the biggest as-
sets, bringing in $4,470,152 in revenue forecast in the
2014-2015 Budget. Revenue comes from a number of
sources:
$1,389,076 - Area rates
$2,564,894 - Disposal fees, which includes the Host
Fee mentioned above and fees charged to other
units like Valley Waste and the Town of Lunenburg.
$516,182 - Tipping fees charged to direct users of
the Landfill.
Services
Anyone living independently in the Municipality
knows thay they have a “garbage day.” That’s one day
every two weeks when residents and businesses can
put one black bag, five clear bags, one green cart and
ten recyclables bags out at the end of their driveway
(or road depending on the location) and trucks will
come and pick it up. We also have special collection,
leaf collection and Christmas tree collection.
Citizens use those services regularly. So what other
kinds of service does the Kaizer Meadow Environmen-
tal Management Centre offer?
• Outreach locations - Home Hardware stores in
the Municipality (New Ross, Chester, and Hub-
bards) collect compact fluorescent light bulbs
so residents don’t have to drive them out to the
Landfill. Adams’ Bottle Exchange also collects
batteries (alkaline and rechargeable).
• Multi-Stream Drop-off - Kaizer Meadow deals
in more than just garbage. If you miss collec-
tion day, we will accept all streams of residen-
tial waste FREE OF CHARGE up to 1,500 pounds.
Included is regular household garbage, recy-
clables, recyclable paper, HHW, tires, used oil,
large appliances like hot water heaters, con-
struction and demolition waste, propane tanks,
furniture, etc.
• Low tipping fees - Commercial haulers and con-
tractors within the Municipality pay the lowest
tipping fees in the Province.
• Hands-on Information - We provide tours, class
trips, and waste reduction presentations to any
organization interested, including businesses,
community groups and schools. We have host-
ed organizations from Jamaica, India, Trinidad
& Tobago, Spain, Bermuda, and Cambodia.
• Eco-Park Space - We lease space to environ-
mentally-minded businesses in the Eco-Park.
There are a number of benefits. Call Kaizer
Meadow at (902) 275-2330 and speak to Bruce
if interested.
9.
10.
15.17.
7.11.
18.
16.
14.
13.
12.
8.
20.
19.
21.
21st Annual
New Ross
Christmas
Festival
December 5, 6 & 7,
2014
www.newross.ca
6
COMMUNITY INTEREST
Look for our new and improved website coming later this Fall. Same address, different experience.
Every Sunday in
November Gold Mines Tour
Guided walking tour, 1:30-3:30pm.
proceeds for Chester Municipal heri-
tage Society. Reservations 275-3178.
Saturday, Nov. 22
Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am
Gingerbread Craft
Fair
Chester District School, 9am-1pm.
Vendors: Paterson.amandajane@
gmail.com or organicsue@gmail.com
Craft Fair Chester United Baptist Church, 10am-
3pm. Free admission.
Annual Christmas
Bazaar
St. Stephen's Parish Community Cen-
tre, 11am. Lunch, 11:30am-1:30pm.
Crib Tournament Little Red School, Canaan, 11am.
Country Jamboree Little Red School 7-10pm.
Short Notice at Chester Legion, 9pm-1am. Mem-
bers/guests over 19 years. 275-3315.
Sunday, Nov. 23
Country Christmas
Variety Show
District #1 Community Ctr., 1:30pm. Pro-
ceeds for All Saints Church. 228-2961.
Gospel Concert Chester United Baptist Church, 7pm.
Hymn Sing, 6:30pm.
Monday, Nov. 24
Blood Donor Clinic Chester Legion, 1-3pm and 5-8pm.
1-888-236-6283.
Christmas Wreath
Workshop & AGM
Basin Gardeners Association at Aenon
Baptist Church Hall, 7:15pm
Saturday, Nov. 29
Annual Christmas
Craft Fair Chester Basin Legion, 9am-2pm.
Prize Bingo District #1 Community Centre, Bland-
ford, 7pm. Doors open at 6pm.
Saturdays, Nov. 29,
Dec. 13 & Dec. 20
Christmas at the Hub-
bards Barn 8am-12noon. www.Hubbardsbarn.org
Sunday, Nov. 30 Children’s Christmas Western Shore & Improvement Hall,
2-4pm
Friday, Dec. 5 to
Sunday, Dec. 7
21st Annual New
Ross Christmas
Festival
Many events happening throughout
the area! Visit www.newross.ca and
see below for information.
Saturday, Dec. 6
Country Breakfast Chester Basin Fire Hall, 7:30-10:30am.
Crib Tournament Little Red School, Canaan, 11am.
Saturday, Dec. 13
Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am.
Free Public Skate Chester Rink, 5-6pm. Hosted by Ches-
ter Municipal Recreation Committee
Country Jamboree &
Tree Lighting Little Red School, Canaan, 7-10pm.
Hog the Covers at Chester Legion, 9pm-1am. Mem-
bers/guests over 19 years. 275-3315.
Sunday, Dec. 21 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm.
Schedule of Events (all events take place in New Ross)
Friday, Dec. 5 - Hot chocolate & cookies - Credit Union; Community Supper - Legion; Tree Light-
ing - The Cross (hot chocolate - Vittles); Holiday LED Light Exchange - Home Hardware; and Magic
with Mike - Fair Grounds Activity Centre.
Saturday, Dec. 6 - Breakfast - Fire Hall; Festival Craft/Gift Fair and Photo Exhibit - School; Coun-
try Craft Fair - Legion; German Christkindlmarkt - 4670 Hwy 12; Cider with Cecilia - 4865 Hwy 12;
Festival Concert - Anglican Christ Church; Kids crafts and fun - Family Resource Centre grounds;
and Dance - Legion.
Saturday, Dec. 6 & Sunday Dec. 7 - Festival specials - Country Delight and Peasants Pantry;
Walk - Community Park; Christmas in the Country - Ross Farm; Turkey Dinner & Craft Market -
Forties Community Centre; U-picks - various; Christmas Tree Decorating Contest - Welcome Post;
Fashions - All is New Again Frenchy’s; Blacksmithing demonstration - Scotian Ironworks; and Stu-
dio Tour - Sylvia Dodge at 25 Forties Road.
Sunday, Dec. 7 - Ecumenical Church Service - Anglican Christ Church; Miniature Building Dis-
play - 62 Mill Road; and Studio Tour - Barbara O’Neil at 4491 Hwy 12.
Tree Lighting
with performancy by
Youth Singers
November 29
Old Train Station, Chester
Gingerbread BonspielNovember 22
Chester Curling Club
Victorian Christmas Craft SaleNovember 27 - 30
Lordly House Museum
The Gingerbread Man
December 2
7:00 p.m.
Chester Playhouse
for children
Gingerbread Craft Fair
November 22
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Chester District School
CHESTER GINGERBREAD FESTIVAL
Soprano O’Green Gables
December 11 to 13 at 8:00 p.m.
Chester Playhouse
Gingerbread Competition prizes awarded on the last night.
Winter Parking Ban Regulations are in
effect from December 15, 2014 to March
31, 2015.
Until the parking ban ends, you cannot
park on any street in Chester or Western
Shore between 1:00 and 6:00 a.m.
ALSO, you cannot park on the street an
hour after a storm starts until two hours
after it ends.
Your vehicle can be towed (at your ex-
pense) if you obstruct winter maintenance
(like plowing, salting, sanding, etc).
Incidentally, if you plow driveways, it’s
illegal to plow snow across a street or onto
a sidewalk.
Call the Department of Transportation and
Infrastructure Renewal to receive or report
information on local roads. Their phone
number is toll-free: 1-888-432-3233. You
can also access all of this information
(plus more) online at their website:
http://novascotia.ca/tran/winter
SNOW PARKING
If you own and/or drive a vehicle in Nova Scotia, there are a few things you need to know this winter.
PROPERTY SERVICES
7Have a solid waste question? Ask Dear Shabby at solidwaste@chester.ca
Dear Shabby,
I understand that Leaf Collection is
from November 17 to 28. I’ve raked and
bagged all of my leaves in clear, plastic
bags (although if I have leaves outside of
Leaf Collection, I use certified composta-
ble bags). I have 37 bags, but during this
collection I can put out as many as I want
to, right?
~ signed Pretty Sure, The Lodge
Dear “Pretty Sure”:
Right.
PS.....You should be writing this column
instead of me.
***********************************************
Dear Shabby,
I totally forgot to put my garbage out!
That’s three collections in a row! I like
to sleep in...Can I take it to the Landfill?
~ signed Fatigued, Fraxville
Dear “Fatigued”:
You are quite the sleepy head! No wor-
ries! Since you are a resident of the Mu-
nicipality, you can take up to 1500 lbs of
waste to the Landfill for free. They are
open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m.
to noon. As long as you stay within the
limit of one black bag and the rest clear
bags, your waste is sorted, and your recy-
clables are clean, they will welcome you
with open arms!
Dear Shabby
Friendly waste disposal advice
Dear Shabby,
I took all of my unsorted garbage to the
Landfill and they wouldn’t take it! So, I
threw it down my neighbour’s bank out
of sight. I mean, the nerve of those Land-
fill staff! Am I right? AM I RIGHT?!?!
~ signed Free Spirit, Chester Basin
Dear “Free Spirit”:
You have committed the crime of illegal
dumping, my friend! Since receiving your
letter, I’ve taken the liberty of locating
your little “gift”. I think it fair to warn
you that I’ve called your now angry
neighbour. You probably won’t be bor-
rowing his lawn mower any time soon...
And by the way, the RCMP aren’t very
happy with you either. Expect a visit.
***********************************************
Dear Shabby,
When you say the limit for special collec-
tion is equal to 12 garbage bags, does that
mean I can put out 12 black garbage bags?
~ signed Confused, East River
Dear “Confused”:
That is a common question. You can not
put out 12 literal garbage bags. As al-
ways, you can only use one black garbage
bag per collection (even during special
collection) and five clear bags. We use
that analogy because you can put out the
amount of garbage that equals the VOL-
UME of 12 garbage bags, or 46 cubic feet.
MUNICIPAL
TAX EXEMPTIONS
Do you qualify?
Do you qualify for a property tax exemption?
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 listed as owners or co-owners) was
less than $19,000.00 in the 2013 calen-
dar year.
• Exemptions are only for residential prop-
erty tax on the principal residence. Al-
though all owners do not have to live
in the residence, it must be a principal
dwelling of one of the owners.
• Proof of income is required. Please bring
your 2013 Notice of Assessment from
Revenue Canada with you.
Council increased exemption amounts this
year by $100 in each category up to $500.
The amount of the exemption is based on
total income and is determined at the Mu-
nicipal Office. Please come in to apply.
The exemption for the current fiscal year
(April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015) will ex-
pire on March 31, 2015.
Please contact the Municipal Office at (902)
275-3554 to see if you qualify.
Enforcement of our recycling and clear bags
for garbage programs is still ongoing in the
Municipality of the District of Chester. The
number one thing I am hearing in the field
from residents is “why was my garbage rejected
today when it has been collected all along in the
past?” So I would like to explain.
We have been recycling since 1996, and
our clear bag for garbage program has been
in effect since 2010. We feel businesses and
residents have been giving ample time to come
into compliance with both these programs;
therefore, we have started warning less and
rejecting more.
During each collection, it is impossible to
reject every person who is not in compliance
with these programs. You may not be rejected
on this week’s collection but you will eventually
be rejected if you are not in compliance.
Please take the time to read your waste
collection calendar, if you haven’t done
so already. Make sure you understand our
programs and if you do not have a calendar or
have any questions, contact our office at (902)
275-2330.
Some late season
trail upgrade projects
are underway on the
Chester Connection
and Aspotogan Trail.
Improvements were
made to a three kilo-
meter section of trail
from the Hubbards
Trail Head west to Fox
TRAIL UPDATE:On the Trail
Point Lake. These improvements
included brush cutting, ditching,
grading and the addition of crush-
er dust as the top coat material
making for a nice smooth surface
for walking, biking and riding.
One small problematic area of
the trail has been near Walker Cut
Road in the Village of Chester. This
was once the location of a train
bridge that went over Highway
3, however, when the bridge was
removed a steep bank was cre-
ated. To help prevent washouts,
to make the hill easier to climb
and to make the area safer, a roll-
ing curve was constructed in early
Photo: upgrades to
Walker Cut section
of Chester Connec-
tion Trail.
Photo: A section of trail in Hubbards gets a facelift.
October. Landscaping of the area
and the installation of a bench will
be completed in the Spring.
A three kilometer section of trail
in Western Shore is also sched-
uled to be completed this Fall. The
area from Barkhouse Bridge east
toward Gold River was in rough
condition and required some up-
grades. This work will be done
similar to the section in Hubbards
with the new crusher dust surface.
Don’t forget that we are now
into hunting season and although
hunting is not permitted on the
trail, you should wear bright
colours (prefer-
ably hunters
orange) and be
visible when
out enjoying
the trail. Have a
safe Fall!
A message from yourSolid Waste Inspector
The rationale for rejecting waste
I have listed below the most common causes
for waste rejection I am seeing in the field.
• Unsorted waste. We have four streams:
regular garbage, recyclables, paper, and
compost;
• Not using clear bags for garbage. Only
one black bag per collection can be used.
The rest of the bags (up to a limit of five)
must be clear.
• Paper and recyclables are mixed. Paper
products and other recyclables need to go
in separate bags. Boxboard is considered
paper.
• StyrofoamTM in recyclable bags.
StyrofoamTM is garbage.
• Not using clear bags during special
collection. Special collection is like any
other collection except bigger and bulkier
things can be placed at the curb. The rules
for bagged waste are still the same as on
any other collection day.
Yvonne Weisner,
Solid Waste Inspector
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 275-3080
Composting Solid Waste Dept/ Public Works 275-2330/ 275-1312
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 Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 275-2330/275-1312
Taxes Administration/Tax Dept 275-3554
Waste Collection Solid Waste Dept/ Public Works 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 solidwaste@chester.ca
Municipal Districts and Councillors
#1 East Chester, East River to Northwest Cove
Andre Veinotte 277-1409
#2 Simms Settlement, Hubbards to The Lodge
Floyd Shatford 857-9817
#3 Chester and part of East Chester
Brad Armstrong 275-3121
#4 Chester Basin and Chester Grant
Allen Webber 275-2536
#5 Gold River to Martins River
Robert Myra 627-2470
#6 New Ross and area
Tina Connors 679-4461
#7 Marriotts Cove, Windsor Road to Sherwood
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
MP Gerald Keddy ...................................................1-888-816-4446
...............................................................................527-5655
Municipality of the District of Chester
Holiday Hours & Waste Collection Information
Administration Offices are observing the following holiday schedule:
Wednesday, December 24, 2014 CLOSING at noon
Thursday, December 25, 2014 CLOSED for Christmas Day (Council meeting is cancelled)
Friday, December 26, 2014 CLOSED for Boxing Day
Monday, December 29, 2014 CLOSED
Tuesday, December 30, 2014 CLOSED
Wednesday, December 31, 2014 CLOSED
Thursday, January 1, 2015 CLOSED for New Year’s Day (Committee of the Whole meeting is cancelled)
Thursday, January 8, 2015 First Council meeting of the New Year
The Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre (Landfill) schedule over the holiday season is:
Thursday, December 25, 2014 CLOSED for Christmas Day
Friday, December 26, 2014 CLOSED for Boxing Day
Thursday, January 1, 2015 CLOSED for New Year’s Day
Waste Collection Information:
Thursday, December 25 collection is RESCHEDULED to Saturday, December 27 (Thursday Week A)
Friday, December 26 collection is AS USUAL
Thursday, January 1 collection is RESCHEDULED to Saturday, January 3 (Thursday Week B)
Chester Legion on Wednesday, December 3
1:00 to 3:30 p.m. (doors open at 12:30 p.m.)
All those 50+ are welcome, free of charge. First come,
first served
Live Christmas music! Games and refreshments!
Dress in red, green or your favorite Christmas outfit.
SENIORS’
CHRISTMAS
PARTY