HomeMy Public PortalAbout2015-01_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressedmunicipal insight
“Keeping informed about January/February 2015
your municipal government”
In the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter...
Anvil Park Update (pg. 3) Wind, snow, sleet & rain (pg. 5) Property Tax Exempti ons (pg. 7)
What's going on with Between the -25˚ wind chill Are you eligible for an
Anvil Park in Chester and 11˚ rainstorms, condi- exempti on amount on
Basin? ti ons aren't always safe. your property taxes?
Plan Review Kicks Off the New Year
What do you love about your community? What would you change? We want to hear from you! Early in 2015 we will host public meeti ngs across the Municipality
to gather public input that will help us create a new Municipal Plan. The new Plan will guide growth and change over the next 25 years.
At these meeti ngs, we will talk about building healthy and strong communiti es. We want to know what you value. Is it heritage? Protecti ng nature? Growing the
economy? New trails and parks? Aff ordable housing? Or something else? Come out and speak with your community and tell us what matt ers to you.
The meeti ngs will build on work already done by the Municipality including the Sustainability Plan, the Strategic Plan and the Climate Change Plan. These plans all
have ideas for our communiti es. At the Plan Review public meeti ngs, we want to make sure the community agrees with the ideas in these plans. We will also discuss
what else needs to be done to build strong communiti es.
Some communiti es have already come together to talk about their future, including New Ross, Hubbards, Fox Point and Mill Cove. In communiti es that already
made plans, such as these, we will build on those plans.
Some places haven’t yet had an opportunity to gather together and talk about their future. Some places haven’t had this conversati on in many years. In these
places, we will help create a vision and goals for the future. These visions will help Council and the Citi zens Planning Advisory Committ ee know what the community
wants. This will guide the new Municipal Plan.
We are planning seven public meeti ngs and we hope you can make at least one. The meeti ngs will focus on nearby communiti es, but all are welcome. The focus
will be local, but we will also talk about the whole Municipality.
What: Kick-off meeti ngs for the Plan Review!
Why: We need to know what you value. We need to know what the public wants from a new Plan.
Where and When: We will host a meeti ng close to you! Below are the dates and locati ons.
Saturday, January 17th
9 am-noon: Western Shore Legion Hall
1-4 pm: Chester Basin Fire Hall
Saturday, January 24th
9 am-noon: New Ross Fire Hall
1:30-4:30 pm: Bonny Lea Farm (main building)
Saturday, January 31st
9am-noon: Chester Legion Hall
Saturday, February 7th
9am-noon: District #1 Community Centre, Blandford
1-4 pm: Aspotogan Consolidated Elementary School
Saturday, February 7th
9am-noon: District #1 Community Centre, Blandford
1-4 pm: Aspotogan Consolidated Elementary School
Want to stay informed? Contact
Sean Gillis at sgillis@chester.ca
or 902-275-2599
Your input is key to creati ng a
Municipal Plan that fosters a
strong and healthy community.
This doesn't happen very oft en - at least not
in the last 22 years - but nonetheless, here
we are.
This year, Recreati on & Parks had more money
in their grants budget than grant applicati ons
made. They budgeted $20,000 for the 2014/15
year, but could only award $13,350. In additi on,
$500 is designated for start-up grants for new
groups with the remainder of that to be given
to PRO Kids at year-end. That sti ll leaves $6,150.
Usually, the amount of requests exceeds the
amount budgeted for the grants given to non-
profi t groups in the Municipality of Chester, but
this year, we were surprised.
So what do you do when under budget in a
category where you WANT to give all the money
away? Do a second call for grant applicati ons!
A second call is going out to all non-profi t com-
munity groups who have not received a grant
yet this fi scal year, and who have a recreati on
program, acti vity or facility in the Municipality
of the District of Chester.
The applicati on deadline is Friday, February 6.
For an applicati on or more informati on, contact
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DOLLAR
the Recreati on & Parks Department by calling
902-275-3490 or email recreati on@chester.ca.
The Municipality has a number of other grants
available as well: Youth Sponsorship, Leader-
ship, Tourism, Start-up, and Council grants. The
majority are for non-profi t groups or individu-
als. Check our website for more informati on.
Look for a full listi ng of which groups were
funded in 2014/15 in the next issue of munici-
pal insight.
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Message from
the Warden
Sign up for Council meeti ng agendas under Municipal Alerts at www.chester.ca
Well, 2014 has passed us by and the challeng-
es of 2015 are upon us.
Council will be reviewing its Strategic Plan
later this week to determine what has been
achieved, what sti ll needs to be done, have pri-
oriti es changed, and what resources need to
be - and can be - provided in this year's budget
process.
This process ti es in well with the public en-
gagement sessions taking place throughout the
Municipality in mid-January ti l early February to
chart our course as part of our overall Planning
Strategy. It is vital that we hear from you, and
you from us, so we can best determine a path
You can contact the Warden by calling the Municipal
Offi ce at (902) 275-3554, calling his home at
(902) 275-2536, or emailing awebber@chester.ca
forward that is achievable and meets your ex-
pectati ons as a community.
The preliminary assessment fi gures are in and
suggest modest growth at 4% commercial and
3.8% residenti al aft er CAP and before the ap-
peal process.
The Kaizer Meadow wind turbine, although
experiencing growing pains, is on track to gen-
erate about $400,000 in revenue aft er expenses
or approximately 3₵ that does not have to come
out of property taxes.
The Municipality has just awarded the con-
tract to determine the feasability of an industri-
al park development. The study will be complet-
ed in the current fi scal period and expected to
make recommendati ons on how or if we should
proceed.
The deadline for nominati ons for our annual
volunteer awards is approaching, and I'm sure
that we will have a great recogniti on event in
the spring as we are blessed with so many in-
dividuals and groups who give so much to our
community.
Looking forward to working with you in the
coming year.
2
A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN A FEW MONTHS...
The Municipality is gaining ground in the Financial Conditi on Index
The OneNS "Now or Never Report" - or the "Ivany Re-
port" as many call it - has been the topic of conversati on
in many sectors of Nova Scoti a, chiefl y on the economic
development front. It is the result of many hours of public
consultati on, research, and hard work by a core group and
many collaborati ve partners.
The common theme among the key mandates is eco-
nomic growth, an important factor if Nova Scoti a wants to
realize and sustain prosperity.
The report, released in February 2014, explores trends
in demographics, spending, migrati on and development
for the past 150+ years in NS. It also identi fi es potenti al
areas for growth and addresses atti tudes, governance,
and our greatest assets.
OneNS suggests that Nova Scoti a is beginning an eco-
nomic decline and advocates a path for change through a
total of 19 goals related to populati on, economic develop-
ment, and governance. The ti meline is unti l 2024.
1. Net gain of 1,000 working age people per year;
2. 2.7% of all internati onal immigrants to Canada will
come to NS;
3. 10% retenti on of internati onal students;
4. 4,200 new business start-ups per year;
5. Total annual value of exports to exceed $20 million;
6. 50% increase of fi rms involved in export trade;
7. Equal the nati onal rate for labour force parti cipa-
ti on (from 63.4% to 66.4%);
8. Bring employment rate for First Nati ons and Afri-
One of the main purposes
of the Fiscal Review (Page
3) is to detect if a municipal
unit is in fi nancial trouble
and then conduct a review to
identi fy its viability as an indi-
vidual unit.
As a means of measuring
how well (or how poorly) a
municipal unit is doing fi nan-
cially, the "Financial Condi-
ti on Index" was developed by
partners in the provincial and
municipal governments.
The Index (FCI) focuses on
can Nova Scoti ans up to provincial standard;
9. Youth unemployment rate will at least equal the
nati onal rate;
10. 10% increase in populati on of working age with
post-secondary educati on;
11. Doubled research funding in post-secondary insti -
tuti ons;
12. 2,000 reasearch and development partnerships
between business and post-secondary insti tuti ons
per year;
13. Increase venture capital investment to Canadian
average;
14. Reach $4 billion in gross business revenues from
tourism;
15. Sustainably double value of exports from fi sheries
and agriculture;
16. Double value of agricultural products produced for
NS market;
17. By the end of 2015, NS Government with munici-
paliti es will develop a comprehensive plan to meet
these goals;
18. Then, conduct comprehensive review of municipal
government structures, federal and provincial ser-
vice and effi ciencies, cost eff ecti veness and com-
munity engagement; and
19. Decrease net provincial debt to gross domesti c
product rati o to 30% or less.
These are aggressive goals, but results imply success for
our Province. The Municipality of the District of Chester,
classed as a "rural economy", has tremendous potenti al
as far as locati on, resources, and land availability. At the
municipal level, excitement is building by the prospect of
revitalizati on, and we have already adjusted our course
towards prosperity. As Only a few example, we have...
• hired an Economic Development Offi cer;
• adjusted our Procurement Policy to encourage lo-
cal bids;
• started developing a recruitment and retenti on
plan for business and skilled workers;
• conti nued work with tourism agencies to att ract
visitors;
• began engaging youth in our communiti es;
• fi nancially supported local agricultural industry or-
ganizati ons through grants;
• supported the Fiscal Review process and outcomes
(more on Page 3);
• Partnering with our neighbouring maunicipal units
in establishing a regional economic development
agency; and
• numerous other iniati ves.
You can see the full report at www.onens.ca.
where municipaliti es get revenue, how they spend it, and
how they manage it. Using 15 "indicators", municipaliti es
are rated against a "threshold" (or provincial standard)
and the provincial average. If a municipal unit scores bet-
ter than the standard and the average, they get a "green"
for that indicator. If they score bett er than the standard,
but not bett er than than the average, they get "yellow".
Finally, if they score worse than the standard and the av-
erage, it's "red".
A recommendati on from the Fiscal Review (see Pg. 3)
is that if a municipal unit gets six or more reds for three
years in a row, the Province will conduct a review and de-
termine if they are fi nancially viable.
The Municipality of the District of Chester has been
rated for the last three years and has been consistently
receiving decent scores. This year, out of the 15 indica-
tors, we have 8 green, 4 yellow, and 3 red.
Among the green are
• low reliance on government transfers (money from
other levels of government)
• low rate of uncollected taxes
• assessment base is growing
• lower than average reliance on a single business
• low number of operati ng defi cits in last fi ve years
(yellow last year)
• accurate expense budgeti ng
• healthy operati ng reserve portf olio
• outstanding debt (yellow last year)
Among the yellow are
• residenti al tax eff ort (combines tax burden with
median household income). We fall under the
standard, but a large number of properti es are
owned by non-residents which does not allow us
to fall under the provincial average.
• short term liquidity
• debt service rati o is higher than the average for
two reasons: 1) we've had an increase in capital in-
vestment in assets that don't provide revenue, like
the trail and sidewalks, and 2) landfi ll incurs debt
through projects, but the projects don't generate
revenue; the service to users does.
• 5-year capital purchases - the Municipality is ag-
gressive when it comes to depreciati ng assets,
which this indicator is based on.
Among the red are
• commercial property assessment
• undepreciated assets - landfi ll assets are depreciat-
ed more quickly than usual meaning we pay them
off quicker so debt cannot accumulate. This year's
constructi on of Cell 3A is a good example.
• contributi ons to capital reserves - capital reserves
are restricti ve, so we opt to invest in operati ng re-
serves, which impacts this outcome.
Find out more about the FCI, indicators, and our score,
by visiti ng the Department of Municipal Aff airs' website
at htt p://novascoti a.ca/dma/fi nance/indicator/fci.asp
If plan on burning brush this winter, check the Municipality's Outdoor Fire By-Law No. 142 fi rst. A copy is posted on our website at www.chester.ca
or call the offi ce for a paper copy. Although the Department of Natural Resources does not have any fi re restricti ons unti l March 15, 2015, they have
a winter burning page found on their website at www.novascoti a.ca/natr/forestprotecti on/wildfi re/fi recentre/winterburn.asp.
REMEMBER: burning anything (including solid waste) other than clean brush is illegal!
WINTER BURNING?
OneNSNow or Never
STRATEGIC PLAN
3We may not be available 24/7, but our website is. Visit us at www.chester.ca
A concern was brought forward about spending
money on Anvil Park aft er washouts. As some
residents local to the area already know, the problem
is far more complicated than replacing topsoil. Prior
to the Municipality's repairs last year, the old culvert
had worn completely away at the bott om, and the
earth surrounding it eroded. Because Anvil Park is
the culminati on point of two rivlets as well as a low
lying area across from the Basin, the Park is prone
to fl ooding. When the Municipality excavated the
area for repairs, they discovered erosion, small
sinkholes, and secti ons compromised by the large
amounts of water that travel through there. Safety
was greatly improved with the culvert replacement,
grate installati on, and additi on of soil and gravel;
meaning the washouts would have been much,
much worse. As it is, we've had to remove the grate
in an att empt to accommodate the large amount
of water, but we can most likely expect more
washouts as the intensity of storms increases. We
are discussing other opti ons with the Department of
Transportati on and Infrastructure Renewal, but so
far, the only forseeable soluti on would be to divert
the water fl owing through the Park, which may or
may not be possible.
ANVIL PARK UPDATE
In the last editi on of this newslett er, we reported
that Council was preparing input on the Fiscal Re-
view Report presented to them in October. Their
deadline to submit feedback to the Union of Nova
Scoti a Municipaliti es (UNSM) was December 15.
To provide some background, a steering group
comprised of municipal and provincial representa-
ti ves was formed to jointly review fi nancial viability
of municipal units, provincial-municipal relati ons,
and feasible soluti ons. Council discussed the result-
ing 41 draft recommendati ons in meeti ngs, att ended
two informati on sessions provided by UNSM, and
met with the Village of Chester Commission.
The key themes of the recommendati ons are
• to improve government structures, including
viability reviews of municipal units that con-
sistently demonstrate fi nancial diffi culti es (the
measurement tool is the FCI, which is further
explained on Page 2 of the newslett er);
THECAO
REPORT
Once a month, our Chief Administrati ve
Offi cer (CAO) reports our progress on
various projects to Council. The projects
relate to goals set within our Strategic
Plan, and the CAO Report focuses on
how we are doing at achieving these
goals. Here are a few of the highlights
from Tammy's last report, and some of
what we’re doing as a Municipality. A
full copy of the CAO's Report to Council
can be found at www.chester.ca under
this year's folder for minutes and
agendas.
• Work has commenced on the Business/ Industrial Park
Feasibility and Design Study. The report is due March
2015.
• A Tourism Marketi ng Plan is being developed with the
Chamber of Commerce for the 2015 Season.
• The Regional Enterprise Network is in the process of being
incorporated and Board recruitment is underway. The Dis-
trict of Chester is hosti ng the operati ons unti l the Board is
in place and a CEO is recruited.
• Constructi on of Landfi ll Cell 3 at Kaizer Meadow Environ-
mental Management Centre is nearing completi on.
• Trail Maintenance has been completed on 3 km’s of trails
on Hubbards and 3 km’s in Western Shore.
• ISO 9001:2008 Certi fi cati on has been obtained.
• The Municipal Plan Review – reVision has begun. The
Municipal Planning Advisory Committ ee will soon
commence the citi zen engagement phase (January 2015).
• The Fox Point Lake Water Quality Monitoring Committ ee
has been established and staff are in the process of devel-
oping a monitoring plan.
• The fi rst year of operati ons for the Kaizer Meadow’s Wind
Turbine is nearing completi on. Staff are reporti ng monthly
on the actual revenue realized.
• Internal communicati ons has seen improvements through
the implementati on of Mango Apps, a social networking
platf orm that is used to engage staff in group discussions,
post organizati on communicati ons, enables project man-
agement, idea generati on and functi ons as a repository
for organizati on knowledge.
• The Website Redesign will soon be completed and a “Go-
Live” date is scheduled for January 2015.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Healthcare providers in the area will be
gradually taking new pati ents over the next
several months. To help facilitate this pro-
cess, people who do not have a Doctor or
Nurse Practi ti oner are encouraged to add
their names to a database of people in need
of a healthcare provider.
If you DO NOT currently have a Doctor or
Nurse Practi ti oner or are traveling outside
of the District for care, you can do one of
the following to put yourself and/or your
family members on a database.
• Email your name and the names of any
other people in your household look-
ing for a care provider, as well as your
phone number to healthcentre@ssdha.
nshealth.ca
OR
• Call 902-527-1549 and leave your name,
phone number and the names of other
family members living at the same ad-
dress who need a healthcare provider.
Your names will be added to a database
and you will be contacted if space becomes
available. We cannot guarantee that you
will be a pati ent or when you will be taken
on as a pati ent.
Please note: Having your name on the da-
tabase does not guarantee you will be a pa-
ti ent. You are not considered a pati ent of
any provider or clinic unti l you have had an
appointment with a healthcare provider.
No walk-ins please. We appreciate your pa-
ti ence and cooperati on.
In need of aDOCTOR
or NURSEPractitioner?
• to improve roads equity (e.g. unequal mainte-
nance and service costs/recovery);
• to reallocate resources by restructuring cer-
tain province-to-municipaliti es grants;
• to improve revenue systems for municipali-
ti es, including separati ng the provincial por-
ti on from municipal taxes; and
• to improve collaborati on between the prov-
ince and municipaliti es.
Council agreed with the overall proposal, recog-
nizing that although some of the draft recommenda-
ti ons may not work in our favour, it is for the bett er-
ment of Nova Scoti a as a whole and falls in line with
the OneNS report recently circulated (more about
that on Page 2 of this newslett er as well).
Before forwarding their feedback though, they
fl agged two areas for discussion; a) the proposed
phasing out of Villages and b) separati ng municipal
and provincial porti ons of property tax.
It's the majority of Council's positi on that village
commissions across Nova Scoti a provide an extra,
and unnecessary layer of government; however,
they also recognize the concerns our own residents
may have with becoming a community rather than
having Village status. Concerns include ownership
and maintenance of Village infrastructure/assets,
community voice, and the level of service.
Although Council likes the idea of the province
taking responsibility for the majority of the tax resi-
dents see on their bill for provincial services such as
educati on, their concern is that the provincial rate
will be the same across the province and will nega-
ti vely impact municipaliti es such as the District of
Chester where there are highly assessed properti es.
Other than several other comments, Council re-
fl ected their support of the draft recommendati ons
in the feedback they sent to UNSM. You can read
what the Municipality forwarded to UNSM, along
with all of the other municipal units' responses, the
full report and Executi ve Summary at UNSM's web-
site at www.unsm.ca.
The Steering Committ ee will now review each of
the responses and see where consensus lies. Then
they will either return to the drawing board or pro-
pose the acceptance of the recommendati ons by the
Province and trigger amendments to the Municipal
Government Act.
Fiscal ReviewUPDATE
COMMUNITY INTEREST
Friday, Jan. 16 Karaoke Chester Legion, 9:00pm-12:30am.
Saturday, Jan. 17 Crib Tournament Little Red School House, 11am.
Sunday, Jan. 18 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm.
Tue., Jan. 20 & 27 Jam Matinee Chester Basin Legion, 2:00-4:30pm.
Call 902-275-4321.
Saturday, Jan. 24
Break Up the Winter
Blues Fair
Bonny Lea Farm, 12-4pm. Storm date
is January 31. 902-980-0554.
Band Intentions will play at Chester Legion, 9pm.
Friday, Jan. 30 Karaoke Chester Legion, 9:00pm-12:30am.
Monday, Feb. 9 Blood Donor Clinic Chester Legion, 1-3pm and 5-8pm.
Call 1-888-236-6283.
Saturday, Feb. 14 Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30pm.
Sunday, Feb. 15 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm.
Send an email to recreation@chester.ca to have your non-profit
community event listed in this newsletter, on our website, and in a
weekly event column in the local newspaper.
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.The Board of the Lighthouse Food Bank would like
to thank members of the community, businesses,
churches, schools and organizations for their tre-
mendous support throughout the year, particularly
so during the Christmas season. In December we
provided food hampers to eighty households, the
largest number ever. We also want to thank the
Municipality of Chester for providing space at no
cost to the Food Bank, enabling us to continue our
services from a central location for the year past
and many preceding years.
Many readers know that the Municipality is cur-
rently looking at potential options for alternate uses
of the Annex Building. Whatever the outcome of
these deliberations, the Food Bank wants the public
to know we are committed to remaining in Chester.
We made this decision after considerable discussion
and a thorough review of the needs of our clients,
supporters and volunteers. The principal reasons
are as follows:
• The majority of our clients reside in the local
Chester area. We have compiled data which
confirms this statement. Our clients travel
from all over the Municipality including Mill
Cove, Blandford, New Ross and Martins River
so we are central to all residents.
• Chester is the commercial and administrative
centre of the Municipality. Many Food Bank
clients do their errands while in Chester, e.g,
banking, attend appointments, go to the drug
store, hardware store, etc. Some are able to
get drives to the food bank with neighbours
who are coming to the village for their own
THANK YOU
from the Lighthouse Food Bank
errands.
• Chester is a central location for donation drop-
offs from churches and many other groups.
• Milk vouchers which we supply must be re-
deemed at Your Independent Grocer (former-
ly Save Easy).
• We rely on food donation boxes set- up in the
local grocery stores and the groceries must be
transferred to the food bank. If outside tem-
peratures are either freezing or hot, these
food products cannot be left in vehicles for
any length of time. At present, these products
are taken directly to the food bank. Trans-
porting these items outside the village would
involve additional costs and volunteer time
which is not guaranteed if people need to
spend 15 minutes travelling each way.
• There are days when we do not have enough
stock to supply our families and so a trip to
the grocery store is necessary at the last min-
ute. We have accounts at both the Indepen-
dent Local Grocer (Save-Easy) and Foodland
which are quickly accessible.
• Many of our clients, including some from Tan-
cook Island, walk to the food bank. Some ride
bicycles and one gentleman comes in his mo-
torized chair; these clients will be challenged
to find accessible transportation to a more
distant site.
For further information, please contact Wendy
Sheppard, Chair of Lighthouse Food Bank by email
at sheppardjw@hotmail.com or call 902-273-2106.
At a reception and dinner held on November 3,
2014 at the Atlantica Hotel in Western Shore, vol-
unteer firefighters, medical first responders and
fire department support members of the seven fire
departments of the Municipality of the District of
Chester were recognized and thanked for their self-
less dedication and invaluable service to the com-
munity. This was the seventh of the planned annual
recognition dinners honouring the efforts of our vol-
unteer first responders. Fire department members
from Blandford, Chester, Chester Basin, New Ross,
Hubbards, Martin River and Western Shore attended
and were honoured for their dedication to the com-
munity’s emergency response services. There are
currently over 200 men and women who serve as
first responders in our District, all of whom put in
many hours each month in training and emergency
response. A special video tribute to our volunteers
was presented by Wendy Rafuse of the Chester Ba-
sin Fire Department.
Warden Allen Webber spoke sincerely of his ap-
preciation of all the members of the departments.
He stressed that the Municipality is working closely
with the departments to ensure that they have the
support they need. Denise Peterson-Rafuse, MLA for
Chester-St. Margarets thanked the firefighters for
their dedication in serving their community. Each
department was presented with a plaque recogniz-
ing their ongoing support to the community and an
additional plaque recognizing the support of the
firefighters’ family members.
The event was co-sponsored by the Municipality,
Aspotogan Heritage Trust, Denise Peterson Rafuse,
and Atlantica Hotel. Many local businesses and the
Village of Chester Commission also contributed. This
year, each of the fire commissions made a special
contribution in support of some door prizes drawn
throughout the evening.
BECOME PART OF OUR TEAM!
Our department volunteers are our first line of
emergency response and have a broad responsibility
for the overall safety of the community. Our mem-
bers, who answer all calls for help, are extraordinary
people, just like you!
Volunteering for the Fire and Emergency Services
can be a rewarding and life-changing experience for
men and women. If you have a sincere desire to help
others in their greatest moments of need, volunteer-
ing some of your time is a great idea.
There are many ways you can use your knowl-
edge and skills to help our fire and emergency de-
partments not only as a firefighter or medical first
responder but also in various supporting roles such
as emergency or support vehicle drivers, radio com-
munications, equipment maintenance, fundraising,
community events, public education, fire preven-
tion, accounting and administrative support and
more. Information on our Fire Departments is found
on the Fire Services website at www.chesterfire.ca
If you want to help your fellow citizens in their time
of need, please contact the Municipal Fire Services
Co-ordinator at bblackwood@chester.ca or by tele-
phone at 902-275-2599 or your local departments at
the numbers indicated following.
• District 1, Blandford and Area Fire Rescue
Chief Phillip Publicover 902-228-2812
• District 2, Hubbards Fire Department
Chief Clary Coolen 902-857-3753
• District 3 & 7, Chester Fire Department
Chief Dave Richardson 902-275-5113
• District 4, Chester Basin Fire Department
Chief Doug Rines 902-275-5525
• District 5, Western Shore Fire Department
Chief Scott Rafuse 902-627-2450
• District 5, Martins River Fire Department
Chief Stuart Hirtle 902-627-2770
• District 6, New Ross Fire Department
Chief Lyle Russell 902-689-2422
We are most pleased to assist you with volunteer-
ing for the Fire and Emergency Services and helping
your friends and neighbours in a time of need.
Table for two...hundred
First Responders in the Municipality recognized for their self-
less dedication to the community.
Many permits are available for download on our website. Just fill it out and drop it off or fax it!4
COMMUNITY INTEREST
Emergency preparedness begins at home. Strong
communiti es work together to stay safe.
Step 1 - Consider winter storm impacts
• Dangerous road conditi ons
• Uti lity outages (power, phone, internet)
• School/business closures or early dismissals
Step 2 - Prepare for the impacts
• Listen to weather updates (local radio, TV,
Environment Canada)
• Change travel plans. Travel before, or wait ti ll aft er,
the storm.
The YMCA recognizes, welcomes and celebrates the energy, talents and challenges of young peo-
ple. The Youth Leader Program is a free program that provides opportuniti es for youth to par-
ti cipate in leadership training, gain new skills, learn to get along and appreciate others, gain self-
confi dence, volunteer with YMCA led youth programming and community events. The YMCA's
resources are the vehicle for building relati onships that enable young people to engage in their
community and collaborate in creati ng communiti es that are vibrant, inclusive and peaceful.
The Lunenburg County YMCA currently off ers the Youth Leader Program at the YMCA King Street
Youth Centre on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30pm. While this program is available to all
youth between the ages of 12 and 18 years, the YMCA recognizes that transportati on concerns,
including the lack of public transportati on and winter weather, may impact program parti cipati on
of youth living outside the Town of Bridgewater and the bordering communiti es.
Last summer, the Lunenburg County YMCA received a $12,000 grant from the NS Department of
Health & Wellness for an expansion of their current Youth Leader Program into rural communiti es.
Because of this grant, they are now able to launch the Youth Leader Program in Chester starti ng
this January! The program will be off ered Thursday evenings at the Chester Brass Band Building.
• If you have to travel tell someone your route and
when you expect to arrive. Have an emergency kit
in your vehicle in case you get stuck on the road.
• What would you need to stay home for three days
or more without power? Stock up on things that
keep you comfortable, including:
- Food supplies
- Drinking water
- Medicines and essenti al supplies
- Safe alternati ve heati ng sources or fuel
- Flashlights and batt eries
- Batt ery operated or hand crank radio
- Telephone that doesn’t require power
- Entertainment (games, books, puzzles)
- Pet supplies
• Fill your bathtub. You can use this water to wash
with and fl ush toilets
• Talk to your family and neighbours about what you
plan to do, what you might need help with, and
how they can help. Plan a way to stay in touch.
• Charge all batt ery operated devices (cell phones,
laptops)
WINTER TRAVEL
Be prepared before the storm strikes. Check and winter-
ize your vehicle before the season begins. Always check
the latest weather reports to avoid the storm! Carry an
emergency kit in your car including a car phone, fl ashlight,
fi rst-aid supplies, extra clothes/blanket, cat litt er or sand
for tracti on, jumper cables, knife, high-calorie, and non-
perishable food.
It is recommended that you stay in your car or truck
if you get caught in a winter storm. Disorientati on oc-
curs quickly in wind-driven snow and cold. Run the mo-
tor about ten minutes each hour for heat, ensuring that
you open the window a litt le for fresh air to avoid carbon
monoxide poisoning. Exercise from ti me to ti me by vigor-
ously moving arms, legs, fi ngers, and toes to keep blood
circulati ng and to keep warm. Make yourself visible to res-
cuers, perhaps tying a coloured cloth (preferably red) to
your antenna or door.
FIREPLACES, FURNACES and SPACE HEATERS
Keep fi re where it belongs - in the fi replace! Clean and
inspect your chimney annually for damage and obstruc-
ti ons. Store cold ashes in a sealed metal container. Only
burn materials appropriate for a fi replace, never burn
trash or other such materials.
An annual cleaning and inspecti on is recommended for
your furnace as well. Keep combusti bles at least three feet
away from space heaters. Ensure that the unit has a ther-
mostat control mechanism and a switch that automati -
cally shuts off the power if the heater falls over. Locate on
a level surface away from foot traffi c. Be especially careful
to keep children and pets away from the heater.
For informati on, visit our Emergency Services website at
www.chesterfi re.ca.
HYPOTHERMIA, WIND CHILL and FROSTBITE
Hypothermia or low body temperature can be very
serious and even life threatening. Warning signs include
uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientati on,
slurred speech, and apparent exhausti on. Infants and
elderly people are most suscepti ble. Immediately seek
medical att enti on.
Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed
skin caused by the combined eff ects of wind and cold. As
the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at
an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature.
Be aware that animals are also aff ected by wind chill.
Frostbite is damage to body ti ssue caused by it freezing.
Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale ap-
pearance in extremiti es, such as fi ngers, toes, earlobes, or
the ti p of your nose. If symptoms are detected, get medi-
cal help immediately!
Wear loose-fi tti ng, light-weight, warm clothing in sev-
eral layers. Trapped air insulates. Layers can be removed
to avoid perspirati on and subsequent chill. Outer gar-
ments should be ti 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. Mitt ens, snug at the wrist, are bett er than
gloves. Try to stay dry.
THIN ICE
People are att racted to either ice in a pond or out on
our lakes during the winter months. It is fun to walk on,
run and slide across, and to go snowmobiling on. Unfor-
tunately, the risks are real and oft en underesti mated. If
you see someone who has fallen through the ice, DO NOT
WALK out to them as you may quickly become another
victi m. Instead, try to reach them with a tree branch,
rope, shovel, anything that you can place between you
and the victi m and have them grab onto it. Call 911 to
noti fy the Fire Department who are trained in ice rescue
and will respond to the scene.
WINTER STORMS
Every year, winter storms and below zero tempera-
tures give rise to weather-related emergencies. Strong
winds can create blizzard conditi ons, and ice storms can
knock down trees, uti lity poles, and power lines. Downed
power wires should always be considered LIVE AND DAN-
GEROUS and must be avoided. Call 911 to noti fy the Fire
Department who will respond to the scene.
Avoid over-exerti 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 att ack.
Sweati ng could lead to a chill and hypothermia.
If a disaster happens in your community, it may take
emergency workers some ti 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. As
with any potenti al hazard or threat, you should create an
individual and famiy emergency plan.
By taking a few simple steps today, you can become
bett er prepared to face a range of emergencies – anyti me,
anywhere. Visit the Nova Scoti a Emergency Management
Offi ce website at www.gov.ns.ca/emo for instructi ons on
how to prepare a home and car emergency kit.
It is always a good idea to take a few moments to check
in on your neighbour, especially the elderly person living
next door. It doesn't take long to make sure they have ev-
erything and that they aren't in any kind of diffi culty. It
helps knowing someone is out there.
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 ti ps for you and your family. Fire preventi on and safety is our mission, make it yours as well!
Step 3 - During the storm
• Stay off the roads
• Listen to radio updates from emergency offi cials
• Keep pets inside if necessary
• Check on neighbours and relati ves
• Noti fy the Nova Scoti a power outage line if you
lose power (1-877-428-6004)
• Check with Transportati on, Infrastructure Renewal
on road conditi ons (1-888-432-3233)
• If using candles, alternati ve heat sources, and
generators ensure good venti lati on. Don’t leave
open fl ames unatt ended.
Being prepared means not being scared. Once you and
your family know what to do and have the supplies you
need, relax and sett le in to enjoy the storm.
Be Ready For
Winter Storms
A message from your Regional
Emergency Management Organizati on
5Storm cancellati on updates for programs are available on our website or by calling the Recreati on Department at 902-275-3490.
6Look on our new website for turbine stati sti cs under Inform (we go live on January 19, 2015...sti ll chester.ca)
CONFUSED?
Visit the "new and improved"
www.chester.ca
launching January 19, 2015
Same address,
diff erent experience
Descripti on Successful Bidder Price
Over/Under
Amount Budgeted Type Date
Business/Industrial Park
Feasibility Study Jozsa Management/CBCL $49,635.00 UNDER $365.00 RFP 11/27/14
Truck Inspecti on &
Maintenance Service
TK 's Car, Truck and Heavy
Equipment Service Centre
Ltd.
$5,235.00
(YEAR 1
esti mated based on potenti al use)
ON BUDGET
(dependent on how
much service is required)
RFQ 10/15/14
Vehicle Inspecti on &
Maintenance Service
TK 's Car, Truck and Heavy
Equipment Service Centre
Ltd.
$9,762.50(YEAR 1
esti mated based
on potenti al use)
ON BUDGET
(dependent on how
much service is required)
RFQ 10/15/14
Facilitati on & Delivery
of Public Engagement
Program (Plan Review)
Third Sector Enhancement $38,500.00 UNDER $21,500.00 RFP 11/13/14
* Prices listed do not include HST.
** For informati on on the tender process, please contact administrati on@chester.ca
Tenders Awarded in 2014PROJECT UPDATES
KAIZER MEADOWWIND PROJECTUPDATE
We are in our tenth month of energy pro-
ducti on at the Kaizer Meadow wind
project site. It's been a litt le bumpy at ti mes, but
it's bett er to discover and resolve the "bumps"
in the fi rst year than well into the project.
Once per month we receive a report from
Enercon - the company from whom we pur-
chased the turbine and maintenance package.
The report indicates the turbine's total operat-
ing hours, average wind speed, total electric-
ity produced, and the average power output.
The report also lists the number of service and
maintenance calls made throughout the month.
It's reasonable to expect that the turbine will
perform bett er than esti mated during some
months and not as well in other months. How-
ever, there were three months where the tur-
bine's performance was much lower than an-
ti cipated.
Looking at the monthly reports, we found
that there were several causes for low produc-
ti on, but the top three were,
1. Interrupti on in grid connecti on: This hap-
pens during a power outage. The amount
of ti me we are "out of commission" de-
pends on when Nova Scoti a Power crews
are able to restore power. During this
ti me, the wind tower isn't transferring
electricity to the grid or recording our
producti on.
2. Maintenance (scheduled and unsched-
uled): Enercon will disable the turbine
from ti me to ti me for service. The Munici-
pality is compensated by Enercon for rev-
enue lost during unscheduled service calls
if the equipment is at fault or if Enercon
initi ated the downti me.
3. Not enough wind: In the spring and fall
we exceeded the projected volume, but
it was lower in the summer. Wind speed
during the winter remains to be seen.
From April 1 to October 31, 2014, the turbine
was down for a total of 26 days,
9 hours: 15 days for maintenance,
10½ days from power outages and
18 hours from lack of wind.
To compensate for the lost pro-
ducti on, Enercon will likely pay the
Municipality between $20,000
and $50,000 by they ti me our fi s-
cal year end rolls around (March
31). At that ti me, they will deter-
mine what downti me is att ributed
to Enercon and what is att ributed
to NSP and lack of wind.
For the fi rst two years, Enercon
has guaranteed that the wind tur-
bine will be available 95% of the
ti me (NOT including power outag-
es). From Year 3 to 15, they have
guaranteed 97% availability. If it
isn't, we will be compensated for
lost revenue. That's a prett y sweet deal. Since
we have invested over $5 million, Enercon feels
there should be a level of security. We agree.
In seven months, the turbine has produced
over 2.3 million kWh and $366,081 in revenue.
That's equivalent to providing electricity to 676
homes and 2.8₵ on the residenti al tax rate.
This, of course, is before expenses.
Budget wise, our Director of Finance reported
that the turbine has realized 83.42% of its pro-
jected performance rate to November 30. Here
are a few other fi nancial facts...
From April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015, the
Municipality budgeted gross revenue to be
$720,537 and expenses to be $200,166 leaving
a surplus (profi t) of $520,371.
Up to November 30, 2014, we have received
(via monthly payment from NSP) $366,081 and
spent $105,782, leaving a surplus of $260,299.
Going forward, we are conservati vely fore-
casti ng gross revenue to be $601,072 and ex-
penses to be $208,497 leaving a surplus of
$392,575.
As an aside, the Municipality in partnership
with FHCS Student Government have plans to
develop the site into an interpreti ve area for
those with an interest in the project. One of the
features is the possibility of overnight camping
as well as an informati on secti on. There is sti ll
quite a bit of work to be done and the plans are
sti ll very conceptual. We will see what develops
and keep you informed.
7Have a solid waste questi on? Ask Dear Shabby at solidwaste@chester.ca
Dear Shabby,
Christms is over (sob). It took me six
hours to pick out my beautiful, full,
8-foot tree (sni e). We put it up last
October and it's been a source of joy to
me ever since. Now my wife is making
me take it down! Sure the needles have
mostly fallen o , and it fell down twice,
but it's so pretty! She says I can't put up
our Easter decorations until "the re haz-
ard" (her words, not mine) is gone! I've
reluctantly agreed, but I'm not sure when
Christmas tree collection is.
~ signed Nick,Se ernville
Dear “Nick”:
I'm so sorry for your loss. Christmas tree
collection is on your regularly scheduled
day between January 19 and 30. Stay
strong, my friend!
***********************************************
Dear Shabby,
I don't have a question per se. I heard
that there won't be a special collection in
January this year. I cannot express my re-
lief strongly enough! My neighbour con-
sistently puts out special collection every
January only to have it covered in snow
and then strewn all over the ditch by the
plow! Inevitably, it stays there until a
thaw when she can dig it out! Gaaaah!
~ signed Overjoyed,Mill Cove
Dear “Overjoyed”:
Thank you for your comments! I, for one,
have never put special waste out in Janu-
Dear Shabby
Friendly waste disposal advice
ary anyway...too cold! Yes, I am a native
Nova Scotian. And no, I'm not used to it.
***********************************************
Dear Shabby,
My garbage day is next Wednesday.
According to my weather station, the
evening news, the local radio station,
my great-grandfather's knee, the sixteen
websites I checked, and the almanac,
there is going to be a Nor'easter. If we
get a storm, will they still pick up my
waste?
~ signed Mrs. Weatherbee,Middle River
Dear “Mrs. Weatherbee”:
First of all, may I commend you on your
reasearch abilities? Very thorough!
Unless it's a real old-fashioned blizzard
or ice storm, waste collectors will "plow
through" (no pun intended). If the driv-
ing conditions are treacherous, they will
either cancel or postpone collection. The
only way to know for sure is to listen to
CKBW, check www.chester.ca, or call
Kaizer Meadow Environmental Manage-
ment Centre at 902-275-2330. If collection
is cancelled, it will happen on the follow-
ing Saturday, but be sure to have your
waste by 8:00 a.m.
Just a cautionary note...if you live on a
private road, it must be salted/sanded
and plowed before collection! If they
can't travel on the road, you will have
your waste for another two weeks!
PROPERTY SERVICES
Last summer, Council formally adopted a
policy to establish a Water Quality Monitoring
Committ ee for Mill Cove, specifi cally Fox Point
Lake, amid interest on the part of area residents
in ensuring that there is a means to address the
quality of the lake water in the coming years.
The policy defi nes the compositi on of the
Committ ee and outlines its duti es. Chiefl y, these
are to identi fy and assess current risks to water
quality in Fox Point Lake, and to develop a moni-
toring program that can be implemented now
and in the future.
The Water Quality Monitoring Committ ee
was formally appointed in November. It is com-
prised of representati ves of the Aspotogan Heri-
tage Trust, the Fox Point Lake Property Owners
Associati on, a development company (Aspoto-
gan Ridge Inc.), a local resident who is also a
biologist familiar with water quality monitoring
MUNICIPAL
TAX EXEMPTIONS
Do you qualify?
Do you qualify for a property tax exempti 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 listed as owners or co-owners) was
less than $19,000.00 in the 2013 calen-
dar year.
• Exempti ons are only for residenti al 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 Noti ce of Assessment from
Revenue Canada with you.
Council increased exempti on amounts this
year by $100 in each category up to $500.
The amount of the exempti on is based on
total income and is determined at the Mu-
nicipal Offi ce. Please come in to apply.
The exempti on for the current fi scal year
(April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015) will ex-
pire on March 31, 2015.
Please contact the Municipal Offi ce at 902-
275-3554 to see if you qualify.
techniques, Deputy Warden Floyd Shatf ord rep-
resenti ng Council and District #2, and a repre-
sentati ve of the Municipal Area Advisory Com-
mitt ee.
The Committ ee has met on two occasions thus
far. These meeti ngs present an opportunity to
review any current issues, and also to map out a
process for water quality monitoring.
At the present ti me, the Committ ee is explor-
ing the possibility of retaining professional ser-
vices for help with the development of a moni-
toring program and to conduct baseline water
testi ng.
The full Terms of Reference for the Water
Quality Monitoring Committ ee (Policy P-85) can
be found on our website www.chester.ca. For in-
formati on, contact Bill DeGrace, Senior Planner,
at 902-275-2599 or wdegrace@chester.ca
LIQUID ASSET
Water Quality Monitoring Committ ee for Mill Cove
is up and running
This year, "Plow it Forward" by helping a
senior or someone with a disability shovel
or plow their snow.
Snow presents an obstacle and burden that
endangers the lives of seniors and prevents
our seniors and disabled from getti ng the
care and support that their lives depend
upon.
Seniors that clear their own snow put
themselves at serious health risks that can
result in bone breaking falls, heart att acks
and strokes.
A litt le act of kindness this winter could save
a life...
We want every community group to nominate one volunteer from their group to be recognized at the
Municipality of Chester Volunteer Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 15, 2015. From all the nominations,
one individual will be selected to represent the Municipality of Chester at the Provincial Awards Ceremony
in Halifax. Nominees must be residents of the Municipality of the District of Chester.
Application forms can be picked up at the Municipality of Chester Recreation & Parks Department, located
at 151 King Street, Chester or on our website at: www.chester.ca
For info call Chad Haughn, Recreation & Parks Director at 902-275-3490 or email chaughn@chester.ca.
Deadline to submit nominations is Friday, February 6, 2015.
If you have questions about… call this Department... at this number
Animal Control (Dogs)Animal Control Officer 902-277-0017
Bandstand/Gazebo rental (Wedding) Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490
Boat Launches Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490
Building Permits/Inspections Building/Fire Inspection 902-275-3080
By-Laws Community Development Dept 902-275-3080
Composting Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/
902-275-1312
Council Meetings Administration/Tax Department 902-275-3554
Fire Inspections Building/Fire Inspection 902-275-3080
Islands (use of)Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490
Kaizer Meadow Solid Waste Department 902-275-2330
Municipal Sewer Public Works Department 902-275-1312
After Hours Emergencies 1-888-664-6998
Parks/Trails Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490
Planning Areas Community Development Dept 902-275-2599
Recycling Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/
902-275-1312
Sewer (central system)Public Works Department 902-275-1312
Taxes Administration/Tax Dept 902-275-3554
Waste Collection Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/
902-275-1312
Wharves Public Works Department 902-275-1312
Zoning Community Development Dept 902-275-2599
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 902-277-1409
#2 Simms Settlement, Hubbards to The Lodge
Floyd Shatford 902-857-9817
#3 Chester and part of East Chester
Brad Armstrong 902-275-3121
#4 Chester Basin and Chester Grant
Allen Webber 902-275-2536
#5 Gold River to Martins River
Robert Myra 902-627-2470
#6 New Ross and area
Tina Connors 902-679-4461
#7 Marriotts Cove, Windsor Road to Sherwood
Sharon Church-Cornelius 902-275-2281
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 ..........................................................902-543-4685
Labour ...................................................................902-543-0665
Natural Resources .................................................902-634-7555
Public Health .........................................................902-543-0850
Transportation (Bridgewater) ................................902-543-8169
Transportation (Marriott’s Cove)...........................902-275-3221
Property Valuation Services (Assessments) ...........1-800-380-7775
MP Gerald Keddy ...................................................1-888-816-4446
..................................................................................902-527-5655
CREDIT CHECK...
In the last issue, we neglected to say that Lyle Russell, P.Eng.
and former Municipal Engineer, was the project manager
for construction of Cell 3A at Kaizer Meadow Landfill.
He did a fantastic job and a considerable amount of work
from reviewing the drawings, design and specifications;
tender award; all the way to inspections and project meet-
ings.
Lyle has since taken a different job, and will be greatly
missed by the Municipality.
By now, you should have
received a copy of the 2015
Waste Collection Calendar.
If not, call 902-275-2330 to
have one mailed to you, or
visit www.chester.ca
Municipality of the District of Chester
WASTE COLLECTION CALENDAR
2015
Call for Volunteer Nominations