HomeMy Public PortalAbout2015-03_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressedmunicipal insight
“Keeping informed about April 2015
your municipal government”
In the Municipality of the District of Chester this spring(?)...
The 411 on 211 (pg. 5) Is that an Easter Egg? (pg. 6) It's that time of year again... (pg. 8)
211 has information on No, and the Easter One word:
practically every service Bunny isn't the only itstimeforthecommu-
in Nova Scotia! one doing good deeds! nitygardenagainyayy!
The FHCS Falcons are building a nest at Kai-
zer Meadow! Well, sort of. Forest Heights
Community School Student Council has taken
on a cool project with the Municipality that
will mean we could see a lot more action at our
wind tower site.
They have been asked to participate in the
development of an "interpretive campsite"
near the turbine after the Municipality was ap-
proached by some visitors interested in spend-
ing the night on site. We asked ourselves, "Why
not?" and started looking into the potential li-
abilities, costs, etc.
Warden Allen Webber felt that Student Coun-
cil, already a Standing Committee of Council,
was an ideal partner for the project. So, they
brought their ideas, their enthusiasm, and their
camera to Kaizer Meadow on Sunday, March 8
to scope out the area.
The project will be primarily led by the stu-
dents with support from Council and Municipal
Staff. The budget is $5,000 and the students are
tasked with determining what kind of facility
they can provide with that kind of money.
The Municipality is also providing in-kind sup-
port through heavy equipment use and site
work. If they want topsoil or boulders, we've got
topsoil and boulders!
Of course, there are some requirements we
have to work within as municipal government.
Yes, We Said "Campsite"
Earlier this month, Council and municipal staff
hosted an information meeting about future op-
erations of Kaizer Meadow Landfill.
As a background, Kaizer Meadow is one of
seven second generation landfills in Nova Sco-
tia; meaning, all of the waste in the Province
goes to one of these seven approved landfills.
Fifteen years ago, when the Municipality opted
to upgrade the existing landfill to continue op-
erations, the cost of a double-lined landfill cell
would only be financially viable if we were to se-
cure waste from outside municipal boundaries.
At that time, we partnered with Valley Waste
and shared disposal costs according to volume.
Since that time, we have added several small-
er municipal units and process approximately
37,000 tonnes of waste per year (5,600 tonnes
from the Municipality of the District of Chester).
Host fees charged to users allow the Municipal-
ity to remain competitive and build our reserve
for future costs. At this rate of disposal, an av-
Top left to top right: Daniel Huphman, Matt Morash, Lisa Clements, Katie Dorey,
Kathryn Green, Alyssa Reeves (below), Sarah MacKelvie (Municipality), and
Warden Allen Webber. Photo credit to Matt Morash
erage cell site (where the waste goes) lasts five
years. Which is doable since the Landfill sits on
800+ acres of land.
A couple of months ago, a company called Sus-
tane Technologies approached the Municipal-
ity with an advanced technology that they call
"third generation separation" that suggests that
90% of landfillable material can be diverted. Ba-
sically, the process uses several stages of separa-
tion, a boiler, and recycled water. In the end, all
of the moisture, plastics, metal and other inert
items are removed leaving a material that's pro-
cessed into biomass fuel pellets (around 55%).
Sustane Technologies, founded by a group
from Nova Scotia with an extensive background
in the solid waste field, has already seen success
outside of Canada.
Their operation will have no financial cost to
the Municipality as all capital and operating
costs are paid for by them. And, because they
are locating at Kaizer Meadow, they have agreed
to provide 22-25 jobs locally. The Municipality
only needs to provide waste.
Recycling decreases the amount of material
being landfilled (good thing); combined with our
partners, we are down approximately 10,000
tonnes from original projections. Additionally,
the majority of the costs to dispose of waste
is fixed (equipment, infrastructure, staff). So, it
stands to reason that if less waste is being dis-
posed of, not only are we getting less revenue
but the costs are still the same.
This is where Halifax Regional Municipal-
ity comes in. Around the same time as Sustane
Technologies contacted us, HRM amended their
Solid Waste By-law to allow commercial and in-
dustrial waste to leave their municipality. As a
result, one of their private haulers (not HRM it-
self), also contacted the Municipality to inquire
what our tipping fees were and if there was an
interest to accept additional waste. Separate
proposals, very timely and lucrative for us.
The Municipality signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with Sustane Technologies this
month. We are also negotiating a short-term
agreement with a private hauler in HRM to ac-
cept a portion of the waste
(con't on page two)
Potential hazards need
to be identified, and we
must have required per-
mit approvals, if any.
Some other consider-
ations for the group are
site design, potential in-
frastructure, type of use,
possible fee structure, on-
going maintenance, use
of interpretive elements,
construction timelines
and procurement.
It's a fairly large project,
but they are up for the
challenge and soon-to-be
graduates have already
started planning to hold
their Safe Grad on the lo-
cation.
The wind tower itself
is producing quite well
these days. As of the lat-
est report, it has generat-
ed a total of 4,521,600 kWh
as of February 28, 2015.
Revenue to the end of
February is $592,331 before expenses. You can
access all of the latest numbers as we receive
them on our website by clicking Kaizer Meadow
Wind Turbine under the menu item "Inform"
(www.chester.ca/inform/metrics/kaizer-mead-
ow-wind-turbine).
FUTURE OPERATIONS of
KAIZER MEADOW LANDFILLOnce again, Kaizer Meadow Landfill is at the centreof budding technology
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Message from
the Warden
Sign up for Council meeting agendas under Municipal Alerts at www.chester.ca
Municipal Insight is your window into what's
going on at the local government level - and just
as importantly - what's happening in our com-
munities, and how it all ties together to make
our Municipality, our family of communities, a
vibrant, supportive, and quality place to work
and live.
This edition touches on many initiatives that
help define who we are and where we see our-
selves as a Municipality and regional partner.
What better place to start than recognizing our
volunteers. Not only the twenty-two marked for
recognition this year, but the hundreds who give
freely every day. They represent all parts of our
Municipality from all walks of life, providing ser-
vice and enhancing the quality of life not only in
their own community, but to all.
The youth of our community have become en-
gaged in helping us define the relationship be-
tween our role as a leader in renewable energy/
waste management technologies and how we
deliver that message and take advantage of the
eco-tourism opportunities it could bring. This
project will help build capacity not only for the
community, but within themselves and hope-
fully they will have fun doing it.
Our Health Centre's Board has recently an-
nounced that they are in a position to move for-
ward with construction of the Centre in the Vil-
lage this season. Thanks for all your hard work
and dedication to enhancing health services in
the Municipality.
I was able to view the IWK Dream Cottage at
Skipper Hill in Chester Basin recently. What a
beautiful setting for a spectacular home. This is
the kind of community profiling you just can't
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
buy. Thanks Jon Dimick, keep it going!
We have held a lot of public engagement ses-
sions over the past few months on a variety of
topics. The future of operations at Kaizer Mead-
ow was discussed at Bonny Lea Farm where we
openly presented our challenges and opportu-
nities moving forward.
Working with Minas Energy, we held meetings
in New Ross and Canaan to help develop our En-
ergy Strategy with a focus on Council's role and
the communities' position on biomass opportu-
nities and challenges.
Three years ago, who would have thought
those two communities would be front and cen-
tre in the largest renewable energy project in
Nova Scotia and playing a fundamental role in
helping the Municipality increase its revenenues
from non-traditional sources.
We have met with communities all across the
Municipality in an effort to define our Planning
Strategy needs and will shortly be moving for-
ward with a visioning exercise that will guide us
in determining our needs as a Municipality and
as communities in relation to land use policy.
On the regional front, the Board for the Re-
gional Enterprise Network (REN) has held its
first two meetings. The Municipality of Chester
continues to provide administrative support
and will continue to until they have successfully
hired a CEO. This process has begun as well as
an environmental scan of the REN region.
We continue to work with our partners in the
County and Valley regions to pursue options
for managing organics and have kept them in-
formed of the potential of moving forward with
Sustane Technologies in a game changing ap-
2
Spring is here and that means budget time!
The Municipality's year end is March 31, but
that doesn't mean a new budget just appears
on April 1. There's months of preliminary work
before a budget is actually passed at the Council
level.
What we've done.
• Council identified priorities for the up-
coming fiscal year.
• Draft Capital Budget is prepared.
• Assessment roll has been released and we
know what the expected revenue from
property taxes is based on the 2014/15
tax rate.
• Operating Budget is outlined and awaiting
some final numbers.
What's left?
• The Province will tell us how much we
owe them for "mandatory contributions."
Mandatory contributions are funds we
pay the Province for our share of educa-
tion, policing, regional housing, roads, li-
braries, and assessment costs. Once the
Future operations...
(con't from page one)
they handle from HRM. We can comfortably
accommodate 30,000 tonnes per year from
HRM.
Outcomes include
• enough waste volume for Sustane to be-
gin production as soon as possible;
• an opportunity for the Municipality to
receive a host fee for additional waste;
and
• an option for only short-term accep-
tance of waste (less than five years) until
the success of Sustane Technologies is
known.
Sustane is looking at approximately one year
before becoming operational.
MUNICIPALBUDGET
Province provides us with the mandatory
contributions amount, we will add it to our
Operating Budget.
• Fire Commissions will provide us with their
financial requirements. We add them to
our Operating Budget as an area rate, col-
lect it on their behalf and then disburse it
to them quarterly.
• Once those numbers are added, we will
know how much revenue we will need.
This is how the tax rate is determined. All
of the expenses must equal revenue be-
cause municipalities are not permitted to
budget for a deficit.
• The Budget & Audit Committee will review
the Operating and Capital Budgets. The
next meeting is scheduled for Monday,
April 13 at 3:00 p.m.
Budget approval!
• After the Budget & Audit Committee scru-
tinizes the combined Operating and Capi-
tal Budgets line by line, they will make a
recommendation to Council. This usually
happens in late spring.
An entire year of expenditures is reflected in
a summary of a few pages. It takes a lot of plan-
ning and any unexpected expenditures or over-
ages have to be approved individually by Coun-
cil once the Budget has been passed. Depending
on how much, it usually means forgoing a dif-
ferent project until the following year, a transfer
from reserves, or borrowing.
Look for a comprehensive dissection of the
Budget in the next newsletter. In September,
we also include a snapshot of the Budget in the
property tax bill.
If you have questions about the Budget pro-
cess, contact us by calling 902-275-3554, drop-
ping by the Municipal Office or sending an email
to finance@chester.ca
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Bus Trip
Saturday, July 4
(register by noon on
Monday, June 15)
$75
(includes tickets and transportation to Scotiabank Centre)
Pick-up at the New Ross
Credit Union and the
carpool parking lots at
Exits 9, 8, 7 and 6
on Highway #103.
Call Recreation & Parks at 902-275-3490 to
register or visit www.chester.ca.
proach to the management of household waste.
Council is currently in the process of develop-
ing a Capital and Operating Budget, which we
hope to finalize by the end of April. The projec-
tions so far would suggest that we will not re-
quire an increase in residential or commercial
tax rates.
Thanks for your continued participation and
support.
STRATEGIC PLAN
3We may not be available 24/7, but our website is. Visit us at www.chester.ca
THECAO
REPORT
Once a month, our Chief Administrative
Officer (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.
• Significant public engagement has taken place regarding
the Municipal Plan Review.
• E-post delivery of property tax bills could happen as early
as this Fall for residents who prefer to receive bills online.
• The local preference clause in our Procurement Policy is
currently under review.
• Staff are working on service level expectations for a possi-
ble "one counter customer approach", meaning a certain
level of service be available at all municipal offices regard-
less of physical location of the responsible department.
• Phase Two of the website update is in progress. "Extras"
will be added to simplify visits and engage citizens.
• The second phase of testing on the vermicomposter pro-
totype is underway. Tests will determine if the industrial
size machine is suitable for curbside compost.
• Priorities for the Chester Village sewer system will be pre-
sented to Council shortly.
• We are installing a dialer at the wind turbine site to alert
us of power outages. Every time the power goes off, we
lose production.
• Issued an asbestos abatement RFQ for Gold River; we re-
tendered for the roof replacement in the Spring; and draft
specifications on interior renovations being drawn up.
• Funding received from the NS Off Highway Vehicle fund to
cover some costs incurred from trail washouts last year.
• A MET tower to record wind data was installed near Card
Lake.
• The Regional Economic Network received start-up
funding, is scoping out office space, and Board members
are appointed.BOSS or BUST
Since the last report, we received four complaints and three compliments.
• A complaint was submitted about possible physical changes to a residential
roadway because of the inconvenient location of a municipal sewer pump
station. We have met with the area homeowners association and we're
looking to relocate the station.
• A resident complained that some Council Meeting Summaries were missing
from the website. We recently revamped our website and documents
like the Council Meeting Summaries are now accessed through an online
repository called Weblink. The summaries were not transferred over to
the repository right away, but are there now!
• We received two formal complaints about plowing in Chester.
Unfortunately, that's the Department of Transportation's area, so we
can't take any action to improve a service that's not ours.
• A service that IS ours though (as of this year) is plowing municipal properties.
It was on one of these occasions where a resident complimented us!
His driveway is adjacent to one of our pumping stations, and was very
appreciative of Gippy's plowing prowess, especially by not blocking in his
vehicles. You're welcome!
• The Director of Community Development was complimented on her
quick action at a public engagement session. A request for additional
refreshments was met immediately! Good job, Tara!
• Finally, we received some positive feedback about our new and improved
website. It "looks professional," "easy to follow," and "this is fantastic!".
Well thank you very much! If you want to comment on the website, feel
free to use our website feedback form on the main page of www.chester.
ca, or email communications@chester.ca.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 under "I Want To..."
Coming in to see us at 151 King Street in Chester.
We want your feedback! The Municipal Plan
Review is a public process to update the goals
and vision for development in the Municipality.
We are in the first stages of public engagement.
In January and February we hosted a series of
seven public workshops across the Municipal-
ity. At these meetings, residents talked about
their vision and goals for their communities. We
also hosted a series of targeted sessions to talk
about specific issues like housing, economic de-
velopment, transportation and the natural envi-
ronment.
The public sessions were run by facilitators. All
of the feedback is being compiled by our facilita-
tors into an engagement report, which will be
available to the public.
The feedback and the report will guide the
Citizens Planning Advisory Committee as they
develop a vision, goals and objectives. The Com-
mittee is composed of citizen representatives
from each district. They will advise Council on
all aspects of the Plan Review.
There are many ways to provide feedback on
the Plan Review. Our public online survey just
finished up, but you can can still submit com-
ments by email to revision@chester.ca. If you
would like to provide written comments, you
can mail them to the Municipality of the District
of Chester, 186 Central St., PO Box 369, Ches-
ter NS, B0J 1J0. Finally, you can speak to staff by
calling 902-275-2599.
We will be back out in public in the summer
and fall. We look forward to hearing from more
residents and thank everyone who came out to
our winter sessions.
Holiday Hours and Waste Collection - Municipal Offices at 151 King Street
and 186 Central Street, Chester, are closed on Good Friday (April 3) and
Easter Monday (April 6). Waste collection scheduled for Good Friday
is RESCHEDULED to Saturday, April 4. Waste collection is as usual on
Monday, April 6. The Administration Office and Scale House are closed
on Good Friday, and open on April 4 and April 6 for regular hours.
Recognition Awards - Two local businesses and three residents received
awards! Oceanview Garden Centre received the Small Business Award at the
Lunenburg-Queens Business Excellence Awards Ceremony and The Galley
Restaurant was the winner of the Hospitality Award at the same event. Snaps!
Matt Morash was recognized twice. First as Coach of the Year by Sail Nova
Scotia and second as Instructor of the Year by international organization, Sail
Canada. Impressive! Matt is a coach at Hubbards Sailing Club (and one of
those participating in the interpretive campsite project at the wind tower
site...see the first page!).
Lastly, two students from New Ross Consolidated School received the
prestigious Respectful Citizenship Award, presented by the Lieutenant
Governor in a ceremony at Government House. Emmalee Harvey and Natalie
Baker were recognized for their concept of "Kindness Day". Kudos ladies!
That's a great idea!
Energy Strategy Meetings - Minas Energy held two public meetings about
energy opportunities in the Municipality. Minas staff facilitated conversations
on our Energy Strategy, forest biomass and purpose grown biomass. The
meetings went well and we look forward to hearing the online survey results.
Sidewalks - It has been an extraordinarily snowy year! Snow clearing for
sidewalks has been a challenge to say the least! We recognize that there
is a learning curve since we hired a new contractor through our tender
process, and we apologize to pedestrians, residents and shop owners. We
removed a lot of snow in many areas, are regularly inspecting the sidewalk,
and we working with the contractor for the remainder of the season and the
upcoming year.
IN BRIEF...
COMMUNITY INTEREST
Sat., April 4
Country Breakfast Chester Basin Fire Hall, 7:30-10:30am.
Pancake Breakfast Hubbards Area Lions Club, 9:00-
11:30am. 902-858-2082.
Karaoke Chester Legion, 9:00pm-12:30am. 19+
Sun., April 5 Crib Tournament Forties Community Centre, 1pm. Call
902-689-2147
Sat., April 11
Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am.
Country Variety Show
Little Red School. Auction 45's, 1pm and
Show, 7pm. For info, call 902-275-3496,
902-275-3777, or 902-275-3805.
Amanda Riley with
Special Guest
Kathryn Green
Aenon United Baptist Church, 7-10pm.
902-275-2229 or dm@bellaliant.net.
Spring Dance Usual Suspects at District #1 Community
Centre, 9:30pm. 19 years and over.
Sun., April 12 Variety Show Forties Community Centre, 1:30-4:30pm
Mon., April 13
Blood Donor Clinic Chester Legion, 1-3pm and 5-8pm.
1-888-236-6283.
Annual General
Meeting Forties Community Centre, 7:30pm.
Sat., April 18
Breakfast District 1 Community Centre, 9-11am.
Home Based Business
Fair
Chester Basin Legion, 9am-2pm. Call
902-275-8391 or email
branch88pres@eastlink.ca
Fashion Show
Presented by "All is New Again
Frenchy's", New Ross Fire Hall, 1:00-
3:30pm. Get tickets before April 11.
Proceeds for New Ross Fire Dept.
Country Jamboree Little Red School, 7-10pm.
Sun., April 19
Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm.
Afternoon of Music Hubbards Area Lions Club, 1:30pm.
Corned Beef &
Cabbage Supper
Forties Community Centre, 4:30pm.
Call 902-689-2612.
Sat., April 25 Bad Intentions Chester Legion, 9pm. 19+
Sun., April 26 Fish Fry Hubbards Area Lions Club, 4-6pm. Call
902-858-2082.
Fri., May 1 to Sun.,
May 3 Mayfest Garage sales, yard sales and many
events throughout the Municipality.
Fri., May 1 Karaoke Chester Legion, 9:00pm-12:30am. 19+
Sat., May 2
Mayfest Garage Sale District 1 Community Centre. Call 902-
228-2738.
Pancake Breakfast Hubbards Area Lions Club, 9:00-
11:30am. Call 902-858-2082.
Sun., May 3
Crib Tournament Forties Community Centre, 1pm. Call
902-689-2147.
Country Gospel
Music Night Aenon United Baptist Church, 6:45pm.
Sat., May 9
Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am.
Ticket Auction and
Bottle Drive
Support for Champion Cheer All Stars
and PRO Kids. New Ross Legion, 2pm.
Roast Beef Dinner Western Shore & District Fire Hall,
6pm. 902-627-2606 or 902-627-2069.
Sat., May 9 and
Sun., May 10
Aspotogan Arts &
Crafts Annual
District 1 Community Centre, 10am-
5pm. www.aaandc.org.
Every Thursday in
April
YMCA Youth Leader
Program
Chester Brass Band building, 7pm. Call
the YMCA at 902-530-3392 or email
Kim_Whitman-Mansfield@ymca.ca
4
NEED A
JOB THIS
SUMMER?
The Municipality of the District of Chester
Recreation & Parks Department is
seeking applications from students who
would like to be part of our summer staff
team. You will organize special events
and plan summer recreation programs. If
you are creative, outgoing, energetic and
enjoy working with youth and the public,
submit your resume to:
Municipality of the District of Chester
Recreation & Parks Department
ATTN: Mr. Jody Conrad
151 King Street P O Box 369
Chester NS B0J 1J0
email: jconrad@chester.ca
phone: (902) 275-2712
fax: (902) 275-3630
Deadline to apply for high school
positions is Friday, April 24, 2015.
Only those applicants selected for an
interview will be contacted.
The Municipality of Chester is celebrating the tremendous efforts of our local volunteers by
hosting a Volunteer Awards Ceremony and Reception during Volunteer Week (April 12-18).
Volunteer Week is dedicated to recognizing the important contributions that volunteers make to
the community. This year’s reception is at the Chester Legion on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00 pm.
We would be honoured if you could join us as we recognize these volunteers:
• Nora Barkhouse, Chester • Cliff MacKinnon, Chester Basin
• Kenneth Carroll, Western Shore • Catherine (Babe) Martel, Chester
• Joan Cleather, Chester Basin • Doris Murphy, Hubbards
• Charlotte Corkum, Chester Basin • Deanie Parks, Blandford
• Richard Eldridge, Chester Basin • Grant Reeves, New Ross
• Roger Foster, Hubbards • Ira Sawler, Western Shore
• Suzi Fraser, Chester • Devon Schnare, Chester (Youth)
• Danette Gray, Western Shore • Tanya White, Chester Basin
• Danny Hennigar, Chester Basin • David & Patsy Schnare, Chester (Family)
• Lee Hiltz, New Ross • Derrek & Joan Swinemar, Chester Basin (Family)
• Elaine Lowe, Martins Point • Wendell & Annie White, Blandford (Family)
After the ceremony, everyone is invited to stay for refreshments and to congratulate the award
recipients. This is a great opportunity to mingle and talk with the various volunteers from our
Municipality. We ask that you please RSVP by Tuesday, April 7 by calling the Recreation & Parks
Department at 902-275-3490.
Special congratulations to Richard Eldridge who will receive the Provincial Volunteer Award.
Richard started volunteering in 1961 and has a combined 335 years of volunteer service, not
including special events! Richard will represent the Municipality at the Provincial Awards Ceremony
on Tuesday, April 7 at the Westin Hotel in Halifax.
Chester Cut n Run 5/10K Walk/Run
This year marks the fifth for the
Chester Cut N Run, which is a 5K walk
and 5K/10K run. It all happens at the
Chester Area Middle School on Sunday,
June 7 at 9:00 a.m. If you register by
Wednesday, May 13, you will get a
free t-shirt! Registration is $20 ($25
after May 13) for adults and $10 for
18 years and under. Proceeds are for
Municipality of Chester PRO Kids! Call
902-275-3490 or visit our website at
www.chester.ca for info.
Your mailbox + Explore Life. Reunited once again on April 7.
Look on our website under "Inform" for statistics on our wind tower, PRO Kids and development permits.
COMMUNITY INTEREST
5Storm cancellation updates for programs are available on our website or by calling the Recreation Department at 902-275-3490.
You are looking at the (mostly built at the time) "dream cottage" in Skipper Hill, one of
the grand prizes in the latest Queen Elizabeth II Lottery! Skipper Hill is located off Swallow
Point Road (which is off Arthur Hatt Road) in Chester Basin, and is owned by local devel-
oper, Jon Dimick. It is open every weekend from 11:00am to 6:00pm, or you can view
conceptual drawings at www.qe2homelottery.com/one/cottage.php. In addition to the
cottage, the winner also receives $10,000 and a year membership to Chester Golf Club.
What is available 24 hours a day and liter-
ally has information about thousands of
services? 211, that's what!
This non-profit organization is like the Rolls-
Royce of information giving. If you want to know
about programs related to emergencies, fami-
lies, housing, community, transportation, and a
multitude of others, 211 can tell you about it.
Most recently, they added seniors programs to
their extensive list as well.
This confidential service provides information
and referrals to community, non-profit and gov-
ernment programs from anywhere in the Prov-
ince and in more than 100 languages. It's like a
superhero or something!
Launched two years ago in February, 211 is
funded through the Government of Nova Sco-
Recently, the Board for Our Health Centre an-
nounced that after several years of fundrais-
ing, advertising, and preliminary work, they are
comfortable enough with their financial position
to begin the construction process. That process
includes submitting permit applications, land
transfer and consolidation, and drafting tenders
and contracts. Their press release indicates that
they estimate one year for completion and hope
to break ground this spring; if all goes well with
the paperwork.
To date, the Municipality has received applica-
tions for site plan approval, and we are in the
process of reviewing and working with the OHC
Building Committee.
Construction itself, although a big step,
doesn't represent the months of coordination
and professional skills freely given by the Board,
partners, and many volunteers involved with
the project. In a presentation to Council, Board
members specified that the Centre is more than
a clinic; they want to focus on a number of health
and wellness needs, not just medical. The Cen-
tre is open to all residents from the Municipality
of the District of Chester as well as Tancook.
Council committed $50,000 this fiscal year and
$100,000 each year for the next two years to
OHC. The project qualifies for funding under the
community based projects/infrastructure sec-
tion of the Wind Energy Revenue Policy (P-79).
This fund was established to provide guidelines
to this and future Councils on spending revenue
generated from wind energy projects in our Mu-
nicipality. Their fundraising efforts continue, and
the most popular as of late are the OHC 50/50
tickets, available in many locations in the area.
To keep informed on project updates, visit
their website at www.ourhealthcentre.ca or sign
up for their newsletter by emailing a request to
communications@ourhealthcentre.ca.
OUR HEALTH CENTRE Is construction in their very near future?
211
tia and United Way. Money well spent as the
service is accessed by more than 120,000 Nova
Scotians via telephone or online database.
Reportedly, approximately a third of all inqui-
ries are about services for seniors. This is why se-
niors programs have been added to 211's roster.
Calls to the two Department of Seniors informa-
tion and referral lines that previously provided
these services are now automatically redirected
to 211. In preparation, staff at 211 were recent-
ly trained by the Department of Seniors so they
will understand the types of challenges seniors
face, especially with senior abuse.
Calls to 211 are toll-free from any phone in
Nova Scotia, and 211 also offers an easy-to-navi-
gate online database at www.ns.211.ca
Did you know that the first Municipal Office was fully restored
just a few short years ago? Maple Cottage, on Regent Street in
Chester, was originally built in 1870 and still has the very first
desk used by the very first Municipal Clerk! The building has
had a number of uses over the years...discover more at www.
chester-municipal-heritage-society.ca/maple-cottage.htm
If you have visited the Municipality's website in the
last two months, you may have noticed that we've
changed things around a little bit.
The main differences between our old website are:
1. Service vs. Department
Information on the old website was largely
categorized by Department. If you weren't fa-
miliar with the website already or what ser-
vices each Department offered, it was difficult
for some users to find what they were looking
for. Information on the new website is catego-
rized by service, based on whether users live
or work here, if they are exploring the area, or
if they just want more information about the
Municipality.
2. Clean vs. Cluttered
The updated website noticeably lacks the large
number of buttons and links and modules.
Almost everything is contained in the "mega
menu". The design is such that users can get to
where they need to go in one click.
3. Webfiche vs. Document Library
Webfiche is a feature new to the website that
allows immediate online access to the Munici-
pality’s central filing repository for documents
such as agendas, minutes, by-laws and policies
among others. As soon as a document is filed
in the system, it is available to users. There are
still some uploaded documents, but all of the
regularly updated ones are in webfiche.
4. Engage vs. Inform
There are more opportunities for two-way
interaction; through request forms, report
forms, compliment/complaint forms, email
subscriptions and staff/Councillor email links.
The Municipality is open to suggestions for further
improvement and invites the public to visit us on-
line at www.chester.ca. Please contact us using the
website feedback form found beside the "Informa-
tion Hub" on the front page. You can also use email
to communications@chester.ca or any of the other
conventional methods!
NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED FOR MUNICIPALITY
6
GRANTS UPDATE
In a surprise turn of events, the Recreation &
Parks Department found themselves with a bal-
ance in their grants budget after approving most
of the first-round applicants. After a second call,
the department has allocated all of the money
except for $500, which is reserved for new com-
munity groups just starting up.
The latest recommendations from Recreation
as well as Council's community and tourism
grants plus youth sponsorship, total $143,532.20
in grants so far this fiscal year. Additionally,
Council approved grants totaling $70,000.00 us-
ing designated revenue from the Wind Energy
Revenue Policy.
The table on the right lists the organizations
that applied for a grant, financial support given,
and what they used the money for.
Council grants are provided to non-profit or-
ganizations that benefit the residents of the
Municipality of the District of Chester. They are
at the discretion of Council and there's no dead-
line to apply; however, the majority of them are
given when the budget is approved in May or
June.
A certain portion of Council grant funds is set
aside for tourism activities and initiatives. The
same application form is used, but they are re-
viewed by Community Development staff be-
fore they go to Council for approval.
Youth Sponsorship was created to assist youth
who have won their way or have been selected
to attend a recognized sanctioned event at the
provincial, national, or international level. There
is no deadline.
Recreation & Parks grants have a deadline in
October (unless they do a second call of course!)
and the purpose is to provide funding for local
recreational programs, activities, and facilities
within the Municipality. Groups can only apply
for one grant per fiscal year.
To learn more about funding through Recre-
ation & Parks or through Council, please visit
our website at www.chester.ca where applica-
tions are found under "Engage". The criteria is
outlined on the first page of each form.
ORGANIZATION TYPE APPROVED GRANT USED TOWARDS...
2 Bays 4-H Club Rec $50.00 Tug of War competition team expenses
Aspotogan Arts & Crafts Rec $400.00 Painting supplies and outreach programs
Aspotogan Recreation Association Rec $1,500.00 Recreational programming & equipment maintenance
Basin Gardeners Association Rec $550.00 Operational and programming expenses
Bicycle NS C/T $500.00 Printing costs for map
Blandford & Area Historical Society Tourism $1,000.00 Additional interpretive panels at a designated look-off
Blandford Seasiders Seniors Club Rec $1,000.00 Weekly activities for seniors in area
Bonny Lea Farm Rec $500.00 Yoga/Tai Chi classes
Charing Cross Garden Club Rec $550.00 Community flowerbeds and baskets
Chester & Area Family Resource Centre Council $5,000.00 Operational expenses
Chester Art Centre Association Rec $1,400.00 Programming and event materials
Chester Branch Navy League (Sea Cadets)Council $400.00 Ad in program for Legends All Star Hockey event
Chester Brass Band Council $1,000.00 Summer Bandstand concert series
Chester Curling Club Rec $400.00 Helmet purchases
Chester Garden Club Rec $550.00 Maintenance of Village public green spaces
Chester Merchants Association Tourism $1,000.00 Marketing initiatives and Gingerbread Festival
Chester Minor Hockey Rec $1,800.00 Development ice costs
Chester Municipal Chamber of Commerce Tourism $25,000.00 Visitor Information Centre
Chester Municipal Relay for Life Council $1,500.00 BBQ sponsorship
Chester Playhouse Council $3,000.00 A portion of marketing costs (signs, ads, brochures, etc.)
Chester Race Week/Chester Yacht Club Tourism $2,000.00 Chester Race Week 2014
Chester Trust Wind $15,000.00 Repairs/restoration of Lightfoot Tower
Christmas Daddies Council $100.00 Event sponsorship
Curl for a Cause Council $50.00 Event sponsorship
Deep Cove Fireworks & Weiner Roast Tourism $300.00 Fireworks
East River Village Hall Council $1,000.00 Facility maintenance, insurance and repairs
Events Lunenburg County Tourism $3,157.20 Promotion of County as a meeting/event destination
Feed Nova Scotia Council $100.00 Operational expenses
Flinn, Max Youth $500.00 2014 29er World Sailing Championships, Kingston, Ontario
Forties Community Centre Tourism $400.00 Oktoberfest event costs
Forties Garden Club Rec $550.00 Community flowerbed maintenance and operational costs
Friends of Oak Island Society Tourism $3,500.00 Visitor centre displays and communication system
HHELPS Council $4,000.00 Programming and operational costs
Hubbards Area Business Association C/T $1,000.00 Tuna Flat Races and Hubbards Grand Street Parade
Hubbards Area Lions Club Council $800.00 Construct cement steps inside
Hubbards Area Recreation Association Council $1,800.00 Ballfield maintenance
Hubbards Barn Association Rec $2,000.00 Trail and access improvements
Hubbards Community Waterfront Assoc Tourism $1,000.00 Property improvement
Hubbards Cove Days C/T $500.00 Fireworks
Indian Point Yacht Club Tourism $1,000.00 Infrastructure for international championship
Kids Help Phone Council $100.00 Counselling services support
Lun. Co. Christmas Tree Producers Council $1,000.00 Support for "real, fresh, local" promotional campaign.
Lunenburg Queens Volunteer Partnership Council $2,000.00 Volunteer coordination services serving our Municipality
McInness, Will Youth $1,000.00 2014 Optimist World Championships, San Isidro, Argentina
Mun of Chester Transportation Society Council $6,000.00 Community Wheels
NS Nature Trust Council $100.00 Freshwater Legacy sponsorship
New Ross 200th Anniversary Committee Council $800.00 Logo development and participant information package
New Ross Family Resource Centre Council $3,500.00 Furnace oil
New Ross Farmers Association Council $2,000.00 Portable grandstand, shower, and associated costs.
New Ross Regional Development Society C/T $1,495.00 Christmas Festival and Bandstand costs
Ocean Swells Community Association Rec $2,000.00 Structural repairs and operational costs
Our Health Centre Wind $50,000.00 Capital costs
RECAP Rec $500.00 Shared roadway promotion
Royal Canadian Legion, Br. 79, New Ross Rec $1,000.00 Canada Day celebrations
SMART Trees project Wind $5,000.00 Christmas tree industry research project
St. Stephen's Anglican Parish Council $2,500.00 Musicial Friends program
Shoreham Village Golf Tournament Counil $650.00 Golf tournament sponsorship
Shoreham Village Council $20,000.00 Sewer costs
South Shore CDBC Council $3,000.00 Climate study three-year investment
South Shore Community Justice Council $300.00 Anger management programs and voice workshops
South Shore Safe Communities Council $4,330.00 Part-time position (Seniors Safety Cooridnator)
South Shore Seniors Society Rec $1,000.00 Recreational activities and events
South Shore Wrestling Club Rec $3,250.00 Wrestling mats
Through the Years Daycare Council $5,000.00 Property maintenance and water system reconfiguration
United Way Council $1,150.00 Matches annual employee contributions
VON Council $1,500.00 Community support programs and services to residents
Village of Chester Commission Council $3,500.00 Lido Pool expenses
Western Shore & Area Improvement Council $5,000.00 Comfort station development
TOTAL $213,532.20
Council = Council grants Tourism = Tourism grants Youth = Youth Sponsorship Rec = Recreation & Parks grants
C/T = Council and Tourism combo Wind = revenue used from Wind Energy Revenue Policy
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Nice!
At the end of January, the Shore
Riders ATV Club hosted a Rally in
the Municipality of the District of
Chester.
With an estimated 1,200 people
in attendance and 863 registered
machines, we would say that the
Rally was an unqualified success!
Shore Riders ATV Club were grateful
for all of the cooperation they
received from local organizations.
They also held a fundraiser and
donated $4,000 to the Chester Basin
Legion!
Many permits are available for download on our website. Just fill it out and drop it off or fax it!
Spring Renovation or New Construction
Apply for Development
Permit (only in zoned areas
- call 275-2599 to inquire)
Apply for Sewer Permit (if
connecting to central sewer
Call 275-1312 or go online
for applications)
Apply for Building Permit
(call 275-3080 to see if
required)
If all paperwork is in order,
it usually takes up to two
days for approval (fee paid
with application).
STEP ONE
Applications are available at the
Municipal Offices in Chester.
STEP TWO
Applications are reviewed for
approval by Municipality.
If all information is
complete, it’s usually up to
two days for approval (fee
paid with application).
If application is in order, it takes up to 14 days for approval,
which includes site inspection and assessment of system capac-
ity and by-laws (a deposit for estimated cost of labour and
materials is paid after the site inspection and before approval).Depending on location and
type of project, Sewer and
Development Permits must
be included.
In some cases, a Working
in a Right of Way Permit is
required from NSTIR, which
may or may not be refund-
able, depending on the
circumstances.
STEP THREE
Work and inspections begin.
The Chief Building Inspector
will make a series of regular
inspections before, during
and after construction.
The Municipality schedules a sub-contractor and flaggers to con-
nect to the central system. Then, an inspection is conducted to
make sure the installation meets Municipal Specifications. If the
private portion cannot be conveniently scheduled at the same
time, the public portion is capped.
STEP FOUR
Completion
If constructed according to
the Building Code, the Chief
Building Inspector issues an
Occupancy Permit
Actual costs will be calculated against the deposit and either
a refund or an additional invoice will be issued. After payment
(yours or ours) is made, final approval is sent to the Community
Development and Finance Departments.
If demolishing a structure,
apply for a Demolition Permit
(902-275-3080).
If the structure is connected
to the central sewer, a
disconnection permit is
needed before a demolition
permit is granted
(902-275-1312).
7Have a solid waste question? Ask Dear Shabby at solidwaste@chester.ca
Dear Shabby,
I've decided to stop composting. Not sure
why I feel compelled to tell you, but there
it is. I'm sick and tired of putting out my
full green cart only to get a full green cart
back...it is frozen SOLID!
~ signed Frances, Fraxville
Dear “Frances”:
Breaking the law could've been easily
avoided. Next year, line the bottom of
your cart with cardboard or use certi-
fied compostable bags. Or, try spraying
the sides of your cart with vegetable oil,
strain the liquid off of your compost be-
fore putting it in the cart, and put layers
of sawdust or a little brush between re-
ally wet food.
***********************************************
Dear Shabby,
I just returned from Nepal on a two-year
sojourn. So...what's happening in "waste
world"?
~ signed Just Checkin' In, Marriott's Cove
Dear “Just Checkin' In”:
Frankly, I'm dumbfounded that waste is
Dear Shabby
Friendly waste disposal advice
the first thing on your mind from a long,
amazing two-year trip to Nepal.
Anyway, here's the latest and greatest:
• In case of a storm, waste collection
could be cancelled. Listen to CKBW
or check the "event cancellation"
button on our website (these days,
you better check often!). If you
don't want to be bothered with that,
subscribe to our website alerts and
cancellation will come right to your
email address, free of charge!
• And, you better be sure that your
private road is plowed and salted/
sanded or you may not get collection.
• There is no leaf collection this spring
• The next special collection is April
20 to May 1 on your regular day
• There is no waste collection on Good
Friday, which is April 3 this year.
The landfill is closed. Instead, it
will be collected on Saturday, April
4. Everything is as usual for Easter
Monday though.
Of course, you can get all of these an-
swers and more from the 2015 Waste
Collection Calendar. They are available
online or at the Municipal Office.
PROPERTY SERVICES
As of April 1, there is a change in Building Per-
mit requirements for decks in our municipality.
Previously, decks under 2’-0” in height off
grade (off the ground) were exempt from re-
quiring a Building Permit, unless they carried an
additional load, such as a roof. This exemption
was removed from the NS Building Code Regu-
lations some time ago.
To bring the Municipality of Chester in line
with the current regulations, all decks construct-
ed above grade will require a Building Permit.
HHW NOTICE
The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Depot located at Kaizer
Meadow Environmental Management Centre does not accept com-
mercial hazardous waste except for latex paint and NON-CONTAMI-
NATED waste motor oil.
Recently, our employees were exposed to a highly unstable material
that could have exploded and caused serious injury if not death.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide is a commercial chemical used regular-
ly, but as it ages and its exposure to air increases, it becomes danger-
ously volatile. Its extreme sensitivity to temperature and movement
in this condition makes it so high risk that once Newalta (the com-
pany we use to transport and dispose of our HHW) discovered what
it was, they would not take it. We called a specialist to detonate it.
As a result, staff working at Kaizer Meadow are instructed to strictly
ensure that commercial hazardous waste is not left at the site. HHW
disposal is for residents only. It's imperative that containers are la-
belled and not leaking or rusty.
All paint containers MUST have original labels and the cans cannot
be badly dented or rusted. However, other containers can be labelled
with your own label.
Contacts for commercial hazardous waste disposal:
• Newalta 1-506-432-5851
• Atlantic Industrial Cleaners 1-800-565-7383
• Dan-X (fluorescent bulbs) 902-446-3950
• RCMP (ammunition/flares) 902-275-3583
• Bob Ringer (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide) 902-483-4611
This does not apply to decks or patios con-
structed on grade (on the ground) unless they
support an additional load, such as a roof. This
requirement will be phased in over the upcom-
ing construction season.
Some other requirements to remember...
• Decks under 2’-0” off grade may be con-
structed on deck blocks provided the
decks are completely free standing, in-
dependent from the main structure and
are not supporting an additional load.
• Decks attached to the main structure,
(house, etc.), are to be constructed on
piers and footings below frost level (4’-
0” in the Municipality).
• Decks attached to the main structure
are to also be fastened with lag screws,
carriage or through bolts, or approved
fasteners. Nails and deck screws are not
acceptable for this application.
In light of the recent deck failures and per-
sonal injury, the proper construction of decks is
paramount. Handout sheets for deck construc-
tion are available at the Community Develop-
ment Department/Building Services located at
186 Central Street in Chester. If you have ques-
tions, we welcome your call at 902-275-3080 or
email us at building@chester.ca
NEW PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
If building a deck in the Municipality is on your mind this spring,
there are some things you should know.
QR Code: Download a QR Reader app on your mobile device (eg.
iPhone). Hold it over the code while your device scans it, and it will
open our website directly. Here, you will find all of the latest up-
dates, minutes, tender information, and more.
Twitter: Search for @chestermun or @ChesterRecParks in your
Twitter account. Follow us and get regular updates and notifications
about municipal issues, including live tweets from Council meetings.
Facebook: Visit www.facebook.com/ChesterMunicipality and learn
about events and stories happening in the Municipality. If you have
something to share, message us! We will post your event informa-
tion or photos!
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 “Inform” 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
MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse ................................1-877-740-3378
..................................................................................902-279-3378
Tender
Gold River/Western Shore School
Repurposing - Roof Upgrade
T-2015-003
The Municipality of Chester is seeking submis-
sions for the removal of existing roof membrane;
insulation and roof drains; protection of existing
roof deck from weather during construction; re-
moval of windows, upgrades and modifications as
required; installation of insulation, roof trusses,
sheathing and shingles; and structural steel work,
all as indicated in the specifications document.
Sealed submissions must be received by 3:00 pm
on Friday, April 10, 2015 marked "2015-003 Gold
River/Western Shore School Repurposing - Roof
Upgrade."
For a copy of the tender documents in electronic
PDF form, please contact either
Pamela Myra, Municipal Clerk, by emailing
pmyra@chester.ca or Cindy Hannaford,
Executive Secretary, at channaford@chester.ca
Municipality of the District of Chester
151 King Street, PO Box 369
Chester NS B0J 1J0
Tel 902-275-3554 Fax 902-275-4771
The Municipality reserves the right to reject any
or all Expressions of Interest, not necessarily ac-
cept the lowest Expression of Interest, and the
right to accept any Expression of Interest which it
may consider to be in its best interest. The Munic-
ipality also reserves the right to waive the formal-
ity, informality, or technicality in any submission.
Tender
Gold River Bridge
Repairs
T-2015-001
The Municipality of Chester is seeking submis-
sions for the masonry repair and cleaning of three
bridge piers and replace bridge bearings.
Sealed submissions must be received by 3:00 pm
on Friday, April 10, 2015 marked "2015-001 Gold
River Bridge Repairs."
For a copy of the tender documents in electronic
PDF form, please contact either
Pamela Myra, Municipal Clerk, by emailing
pmyra@chester.ca or Cindy Hannaford,
Executive Secretary, at channaford@chester.ca
Municipality of the District of Chester
151 King Street, PO Box 369
Chester NS B0J 1J0
Tel 902-275-3554 Fax 902-275-4771
The Municipality reserves the right to reject any
or all Expressions of Interest, not necessarily ac-
cept the lowest Expression of Interest, and the
right to accept any Expression of Interest which it
may consider to be in its best interest. The Munic-
ipality also reserves the right to waive the formal-
ity, informality, or technicality in any submission.
All tenders are listed under
"Tenders" on our website under
the "Work" menu
The Municipality is offering a
patch of garden to people in
the community who are willing
to pitch in. Water your way to
garden-fresh peas or carrots!
Some of the harvest goes to
the Lighthouse Food Bank, and
the rest is for the gardeners
and their families.
To get in on the "ground floor",
call 902-275-3555 ext. 1202 or
drop us an email at:
communications@chester.ca