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Home My Public Portal About2015-05_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressedmunicipal insight “Keeping informed about June 2015 your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this spring(?)... Location, location, location! Mmmmmmmmmmm... What's this guy screaming about? New access from a new I don't know about you, Hopefully you won't be municipal green space! but all of a sudden I'm screaming once you find See where on Page 3. craving donuts! (Page 4-5) out why on Page 7! Woopsies... Speaking of the Chester Golf Club, in the last issue of Municipal Insight, we mistakenly indicated that a 12-month membership was included in the QEII Home Lottery's Oceanview Cottage Grand Prize package. It isn't a member- ship, but one year of unlimited golf at the Chester Golf Club. By the way, win- ners are Sharon & Larry Maloney! ALSO in the last issue...In the "Future Operations of Kaizer Meadow Landfill" piece, we are NOT negotiating an agree- ment with Waste Management (a private hauler in HRM). We were negotiating an agreement with a hauler, but not Waste Management. Initially a private course, it's easy to under- stand why this property was selected as the site for the first Chester Golf Club. So beautiful and serene, you just might not care that you shot four over par on hole #12. Just after the turn of the 20th century, two Scottish brothers (Alexander and Col. John Mill- er) saw the property's potential, and the con- cept of golfing locally was realized. After two World Wars and a brief closure, the course was reopened in 1955 as a public club, and so it remains. Mr. Joseph Pew, and his wife Alberta, resurrected the course by purchasing the land in 1953 and selecting a team to prepare for opening. Their vision was to make the course affordable to all and to encourage local membership. They felt that structuring membership to favour resi- dents local to the area would keep the unique course more accessible to the people who love it the most. Today, Chester Golf Club remains a non-prof- it organization with the same vision. Although the membership boundary is from Middle River to East River, the course is open to everyone through green fees. If you've never played, club rental is available as is a driving range to practice your killer drive. And, if your slice or hook threatens to take down the golfer on the next green, the Club's Golf Pro offers lessons. The Golf Club has a Junior program with on av- erage 120 kids per season. The program is open to all youth in the Municipality, and is touted as one of the best around. PS...don't forget that IT NEVER RAINS ON A GOLF COURSE Chester Golf Course prepares for another full season! Photo courtesy of Chester Golf Course the Municipality offers funding to some through our PRO Kids program! Operationally, the Golf Club is one of the larg- est non-profit employers in the Municipality with between 40 and 50 on staff in part-time, seasonal, and student positions in maintenance, the Pro Shop, and Club House. Two full-time staff, including the General Manager Dave Mac- Millan, make sure things run smoothly during the off season. Dave MacMillan has been with the Club for eleven years, and the last eight of those as Gen- eral Manager. Dave brings plenty of experience, knowledge and energy. He comes by it hon- estly since his whole family is immersed in golf, whether they play or manage their own courses. So when Dave says that Chester has the most beautiful, inviting, and unique course he's seen, we believe him. During his years as GM, there have been im- provements to cart pathways, infrastructure, and drainage (allowing for an earlier season). Opting for biological controls and organic-based products, the Club has also significantly reduced their use of chemicals on the greens. Since the Club receives so much local sup- port, they pay it forward by purchasing supplies and products from area businesses and helping community groups when they can. Their involvement in the community extends to donations to some local charities, being a venue for many corporate and community fund- raisers, and giving long-standing support to Spe- cial Olympics, PRO Kids, Bonny Lea Farm, Minor Hockey, and Shoreham Village. The Municipality themselves has partnered with the Golf Club while fundraising for PRO Kids and offering programs such as yoga for golf- ers, indoor golf, and golf lessons. We have also been the recipient of numerous sponsorships by the Club for our summer programs. Even those with an "I'd-rather-watch-grass- grow" opinion of golf, cannot deny the stunning scenery. Whether you love the game, hate the game or love to hate the game, lunch in the sun- shine on the deck of the Club House is worth it. Visit chestergolfclub.ca to book a tee time, look at more photos, or check their live web- cam. For general inquiries, call 902-275-2434. For the Junior Program, call 902-299-0025. For PRO Kids, call our Recreation & Parks Depart- ment at 902-275-3490 or visit www.chester.ca. Things you may or may not have known about Chester Golf Club. • Sheep were used to "mow" the grass on the fairway when it was a private club. • The Golf Course sits on Prescott Point, named after Captain Jonathan Prescott from Massachusetts, and early settler in Chester. In fact, he is credited for surveying and planning the Village. • Before renovations, the existing Club House was a farmhouse built around 1900. It was the family home of Wil- liam Harris and Ann Sophia Smith and their 18 children. After renting his farmland to the Miller brothers, he continued to live there as the course's groundskeeper. MUNICIPAL COUNCIL Message from the Warden The 2015-16 Operating and Capital Bud- get has been approved. Although it contains an aggressive capital spending program and moves our Strategic Plan forward in all key ar- eas, the residential and commerical tax rates remain unchanged, and we are able to lower some area rates - specifically street lighting and waste disposal. The Municipality, when establishing a bud- get, must be mindful not only of the amount needed for expenses, but we must also look forward and insure that we will have the re- quired infrastructure and capacity five or ten years out and that we can accomplish those goals without unduly impacting our residents' ability to pay. I believe this Budget accomplishes that by building our reserves, developing new rev- enues sources, and effectively building our ca- pacity to deliver services to our residents. The Minister of Municipal Affairs, Mark Furey, recently announced changes to the Municipal Government Act (MGA) which will remove some of the long standing uncertainty surrounding the composition of the Munici- pality of Chester. These changes allow the Village of Chester to remain a village and remove the concern that a town will be created within the bound- aries of our Municipality. We are grateful for the leadership dem- onstrated by the Minister and believe that we can now plan our future more effectively and build on initiatives and partnerships that strengthen the region as a whole. 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 The Municipality currently provides service or partners with other municipalities in our region on animal control, planning services, building inspection, regional economic devel- opment, and waste management. In addition, we have been, and are, developing partner- ships across the Province in information tech- nology, waste managment, and renewable-to- retail energy projects. Our approach has been, and continues to be, that these initiatives build capacity, provide economies of scale, and where possible, gen- erate revenue for the Municipality of Chester. We are in the process of preparing a submis- sion to the Federation of Canadian Municipali- ties in anticipation that we will be recognized for our leadership at the Sustainable Commu- nities Awards. On a more local front, the Municipality is in the process of acquiring two significant pieces of property that will enhance your opportuni- ties to ocean and river access. The first piece will provide river/ocean frontage at the mouth of Gold River as well as having an historical connection to the forest industry having been owned by Minas Basin Pulp and Power since the early 1930s. The second piece has great river frontage as well as in excess of 100 acres of mature forest. Student government has developed a plan for the campgrounds at the Kaizer Meadow Wind Turbine site, and construction has be- gun. They look forward to showcasing the fruits of their labour to the public later this summer. 2 This edition of the Insight will provide detail on some of the things I have touched on as well as what's going on in general. I hope you have a great summer and, as always, on behalf of Council, thank you for your support. You may have read in the newspaper that the Provincial Government amended the Mu- nicipal Government Act (MGA). The MGA a piece of legislation enacted by the Province that outlines what municipalities are respon- sible for, the authority they have, and their or- ganizational structure. The change to the MGA was to prevent the creation of new towns or villages, and it is seen as a step towards an efficient and sus- tainable province that Nova Scotians have en- visioned for themselves according to the One Nova Scotia Now or Never Report. In a press release announcing the change, Mark Furey, Minister of Municipal Affairs, en- courages “regional thinking” for a stronger and more viable municipal governance. Giv- en the amount of financial struggles existing towns and villages face, building on current government structure will create a more solid foundation for the growth Nova Scotia needs. Our Municipality’s position is supportive of the latest change in legislation and we feel that it is a positive stride towards fulfilling the progressive goals of the OneNS report. For us, removing the option for creating new towns means that all of our communities can con- tinue to move in an economically sustainable direction collectively. This adjustment to the MGA directly sup- ports the course many residents wished to fol- low when asked their vision of a future Nova Scotia during an extensive public outreach by One Nova Scotia teams. It also coincides with a list of recommendations presented by a committee that was formed to review fiscal relations between municipalities and the pro- vincial government. One of the Committee’s recommendations called for the dissolution of villages, eliminating the added level of local government. Since that time, Minister Furey has assured Nova Scotians that this recommendation is off the table – no villages will be dissolved. This is also a positive outcome for the Municipality of Chester as some residents were concerned when faced with the possibility of Chester los- ing their village status. For information on the One Nova Scotia Now or Never report, please visit www.onens. ca. For information on the Municipal/Provin- cial Fiscal Review, visit www.unsm.ca. Change to Municipal Government Act Affects Municipality of Chester Gold River Municipal Office Update Since the South Shore Regional School Board announced the closure of the Western Shore/Gold River School, the Municipality has been co- ordinating the transition of some staff to occupy our "new" old space. The building reverted to municipal prop- erty once the School Board vacated the premises. Renovations met a minor setback last year when the tender we issued for a roof replacement didn't provide us with the results we wanted. Despite the setback, this spring staff started some of the demolition work and asbestos abatement began. We also reissued the roof tender and fi- nally awarded it to Gaudet Building Contractors for $169,142.00 plus HST. Meanwhile, we also asked the pub- lic to submit expressions of interest for use of the Annex Building. With the Community Development Depart- ment moving to the Gold River Office, this building (save the Food Bank) will be vacant. At closing, we received one submis- sion for a proposed use of the Annex Building (from the Food Bank). Un- fortunately, accepting the lone sub- mission meant paying to operate the entire building with cost recovery for only a small portion. After much deliberation, Council determined that the Annex is surplus to our needs and has given the Food Bank 12 months notice to vacate. There is recognition that some hard- ship may be caused to the Food Bank, and Council will provide them with a $20,000 grant to assist them in relo- cating. The plan at this point is to demolish the building, unless another option arises between now and the start of next fiscal year (April 2016). 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. • Work has begun on the year-end financial audit, and the auditors are scheduled to meet with with Committee of the Whole around mid-June. • We have implemented an electronic invoice processing system. Staff were trained and things are going well! • Directors have met and reviewed expectations for a "one counter customer" approach. A report to Council is pending. This means that customers can get a certain level of service at every municipal office open to the public. • The second phase of testing is underway for the vermi- composting prototype. A presentation is upcoming! • Work has begun on asbestos abatement at the Municipal Office in Gold River. Municipal staff are on-site doing some demolition work as well. • Sewer asset collection and mapping has been set up. This means that the public sewer will mapped electronically. • An internal communications tool has been implemented for the Municipality of Chester. It has evolved to include other municipal units and will be a great tool for cross- boundary projects and interests. Having more units on board has also reduced our cost. • We are awaiting flag design approval before implement- ing a Crosswalk Flag Program in Hubbards and New Ross. • Phase 1 of the community engagement piece for the Municipal Plan Review is finished. Look for Phase 2 to begin this summer/fall. This Phase will delve into more specific definitions and sharpen ideas already brought forth by the community. BOSS or BUST Since the last report, we received one complaint. • A complaint was submitted by a resident who had difficulty finding the staff directory on our website. Our new website is very different from our old one in that it's organization is service-based, not department-based. We know it will take some getting used to, especially for those who just got used to navigating the old website (staff included!). We are taking all suggestions for improvement, so if you have a comment, please submit it to communications@chester.ca or use our website feedback form found on the front page of our website (www.chester.ca) in the "Contact the Municipality" box.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. Holiday Hours and Waste Collection - Municipal Offices at 151 King Street and 186 Central Street, Chester, are closed on Canada Day (Wednesday, July 1). Waste collection scheduled for Canada Day is RESCHEDULED to Saturday, July 4 because the Landfill site is CLOSED. New Staff - Welcome aboard to two new staff people at the Municipal Office! Christa Rafuse, P.Eng., has officially taken the Assistant Municipal Engineer position in the Engineering & Public Works Department. She started April 7. Sandra Challis joined the Community Development Department in early January as the Administrative Assistant. It's like she's been here for years already! Happy to have you, Sandra! Nice Going! - Danielle Millett, from New Ross, received a $200 sponsorship from Council to compete in the National Wrestling Championships in Fredericton. Also, Jacob Myra received $750 towards his competition costs in the Montreal Meltdown, which happened from May 15-17. Campsite Update - FHCS Student Council is progressing with their project of developing the Kaizer Meadow wind tower site into an eco-tourism site. They have been meeting regularly and at last "check-in", the O2 program was constructing picnic tables and benches. After the site is constructed, campers can use the site but only through a reservation with the Municipality. We won't start taking reservations until the last picnic table is in place, so don't call just yet! Stay tuned for information about an Open House. Outdoor Learning Space - Speaking of Forest Heights Community School, Council showed their support for their Courtyard Rejuvenation Project with a $10,000 grant from the Wind Energy Revenue Fund. The space will be used as an alternate learning space that students will help develop, create and maintain. IN BRIEF... In the 2015/16 Operating Budget, we re- ported that the South Canoe Wind Farm will generate $250,000 in new tax revenue for the Municipality, but how is this “tax revenue” de- termined? Wind turbines are not taxed in the same man- ner as property. Property is assessed and a tax rate is applied to the assessment ($0.685/$100 of assessment) resulting in the property tax. Wind tur- bine facilities have something called "total nameplate capacity", which is the intended power output they are capable of. Wind tur- bines with a total nameplate capacity of more than 100 kilowatts - such as those at South Ca- noe Wind Farm - are taxed based on their capac- ity. The current rate is $6,311 per megawatt. Some residents have questioned why area WINDward How the South Canoe Wind Farm is "taxed" rates are not applied to this value. Area rates, such as fire tax, are applied to properties with taxable assessments. Turbines are not consid- ered taxable assessments, as their value is de- termined by their nameplate capacity and not by the Provincial Valuation Services Corporation like houses. As such, the tax rate, including area rates, are not applied to the $6,311 per mega- watt. The only part of a wind turbine development that has a taxable assessment is the land and any other structures on the site. The rate ap- plied is usually for resource or forest land, which is lower than residential or commercial. The Municipality very recently acquired this piece of property on the Gold River. We look forward to offering it as a means of river and ocean access to the public. BUDGET 2015 4 MUNICIPAL BUDGET Re v e n u e $11,147,516 Property Tax revenue is our primary source of revenue. They are calcu- lated by dividing total as- sessment (determined by Property Valuation Servic- es Corporation) by 100 and then multiplying by the tax rate. This year, the tax rate stayed the same as it was last year...68.5₵. The com- mercial rate also stayed the same as last year at $1.53/$100. This year, the Province gets 62.58% of our Property Tax Revenue in mandatory contribu- tions (see breakdown be- low under Expenses). Residential $9,429,272 Commercial 1,384,864 Forest/Resource 333,380 Property Tax $4,317,722 Area rates are applied to properties that use a spe- cific service. For example, if your home is connected to the public sewer sys- tem, the charge to use the system will show up on the tax bill. If your home is not in the service area, no charge is applied. Area rates are also used by fire/village commissions. We collect the rate on their behalf and then forward the money to them. All of the fire rates haven't been set yet, so the amount be- low is tentative. Fire $1,815,384 Roads 251,069 Sewer 830,513 Waste collection 1,375,879 Mill Cove/ACES 44,877 Area Rates $1,329,573 "In lieu" tax means rev- enue received in place of property tax. For example, the Governments of Cana- da and Nova Scotia are ex- empt from property taxes. Instead, they give grants to replace the lost reve- nue; some can be used for anything and others are for specific uses. Another "in lieu" tax is when a rate is applied to a busi- ness' revenue rather than their property assessment. Often, these businesses are service-based, like Aliant who pays for poles, wires and small buildings. Business Revenue $122,237 Grants in lieu 157,336 South Canoe 250,000 Deed Transfer 800,000 "In lieu" Tax $4,692,562 Property Services are costs related to residental and commercial services to land, excluding waste col- lection (separate graph on the right). Costs include staffing and administra- tion, maintenance of pub- lic properties, community development (building/ fire inspection/planning), public sewer, and heritage property. Public property $595,450 Community Dev. 1,095,110 Public sewer 2,408,103 Heritage property 500 Tax administration 280,829 Public works 312,570 Property Services $2,332,861 Administration and gover- nance are expenses relat- ed to operations, such as Councils and committees, departmental supplies, training, software and hardware, communica- tions, quality and records management, legal ser- vices, safety. Also included is the the operational and debt costs for the wind tower project at Kaizer Meadow. Wind tower $490,120 Council/Committee 251,349 Administrative 1,060,734 Finance services 530,658 Administration/ Governance $6,976,593 Mandatory contributions are, by far, the largest ex- penditure we have. This is a financial obligation to the provincial government for specific services to Nova Scotians. Every mu- nicipality in the province contributes a percentage of their tax-based revenue towards these services. Education $4,447,088 RCMP 1,682,931 Corrections 236,441 Assessment 341,463 Roads 179,614 Library 69,056 Housing Authority 20,000 Mandatory Contributions $640,844 These are costs associated with the maintenance of municipally-owned roads. On top of that, homeown- ers associations may elect to have the Municipality collect private road main- tenance fees on their be- half through property tax bills. That money is col- lected and then forwarded on to the associations. Municipal roads $317,974 Private roads 78,210 Sidewalks 87,000 Streetlights 145,450 Signs 12,210 Municipal Roads $1,340,920 "Community Living" costs relate to expenses that directly improve commu- nities on recreational and charitable levels. Recreation $1,052,420 Grants 288,500 Community Living $1,603,623 This is how much we are putting away in our "sav- ings account". Reserves are usually for future capi- tal projects. Reserves $2,155,687 Protective services are: By-laws $46,490 Animal Control 70,480 Emergency Measures 40,707 *Fire Services 1,998,010 *This includes revenue col- lected on behalf of fire/vil- lage commissions. Protective Services Kaizer Meadow Landfill $4,496,666 This graph indicates expenses associat- ed with waste collection and disposal. In terms of landfill operations, Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre partners with Valley Waste, who pays around 87% of costs on average. 1. Waste collection $ 1,304,013 2. Landfill operations 3,140,697 3. Recycling 51,956 1 2 3 1 54 3 2 Economic Development $463,462 Economic Development still is a high priority for Council. This year, focus is around branding, tourism, business retention (BRE), the Eco-Park, local business, and a marketing strategy for the area. 1. Operations $ 221,015 2. Capital projects 120,000 3. Tourism 43,000 4. Regional Economic Network 45,794 5. Eco-Industrial Park 33,653 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS Council was able to hold the Residential/Resource tax rates this year at $0.685/$100 as well as the Commercial tax rate at $1.53/$100. The Municipality of Chester' tax rates are among the lowest in Nova Scotia! All rates and fees remain the same as last year as well except where the landfill tipping fee low- ered to $68.54/tonne for users within the Municipality and the streetlights area rates decreased across the board. The only other difference is that waste collection area rates are now the same for all residents at $0.093/$100 which is a marginal de- crease for some and a marginal increase for others. To correspond with our Strategic Plan, these projects and programs are front and centre this year. Fiscal Responsibility: • Budget was delivered one month early; • Improved internal controls using a purchase order module; • Implementation of electronic invoice processing, which will save many hours of staff time; and • Increased reserves. Improving Municipal Services: • Option for electronic delivery of property tax bills; • "One counter" service delivery where residents can receive a certain level of service at ALL municipal locations; • ISO 9001:2008 interim compliance audit; • Records management; and • Addition of municipal services in Gold River. Availability of Sufficient Infrastructure: • Improved delivery of public sewer including By-Law review, upgrades to Chester and Western Shore sys- tems, decreased sewer infiltration, and potentially increased capacity in New Ross and Chester Basin; • Preparing the former school in Gold River for municipal and community use; • Repairing Chester Basin Wharf; • Improving both pedestrian and motorized routes, such as extending Duke Street sidewalk, improving road crossing at Duke Street and Valley Road, trail maintenance and reha- bilitating municipal roads in Mill Cove; • Exploring options for organics and landfill processes; • Upgradeing streetlights to LED in Chester Basin; and • Repairing the roof at Zoe Valle Library. Support for Environmental, Social and Cultural Resources: • Municipal Plan Review continuation; • Engaging in Age Friendly housing and Seniors Safety initia- tives; • PRO Kids support; • Providing property tax rebates for low income earners; • Increased funding through the Wind Energy Revenue Policy (available on website); and • Providing tax exemptions/reductions for non-profits. Public Engagement and Communications: • Further improvements to website; • Providing engagement opportunities through the Munici- pal Plan Review; • Developing a communications strategy; and • Continuing with this newsletter. Economic Prosperity (in addition to projects listed on the left): • Develop local business excellence awards; • An investment readiness profile; • "Renewable to Retail" options in the Municipality's Energy Strategy; • Make funds available for acquisition of land for a potential Business/Industrial Park; and • Procurement practices workshop with local businesses. 5 BUDGET 2015 MUNICIPAL BUDGET FISCALYEAR2015-16 Ex p e n s e s $1,329,573 "In lieu" tax means rev- enue received in place of property tax. For example, the Governments of Cana- da and Nova Scotia are ex- empt from property taxes. Instead, they give grants to replace the lost reve- nue; some can be used for anything and others are for specific uses. Another "in lieu" tax is when a rate is applied to a busi- ness' revenue rather than their property assessment. Often, these businesses are service-based, like Aliant who pays for poles, wires and small buildings. Business Revenue $122,237 Grants in lieu 157,336 South Canoe 250,000 Deed Transfer 800,000 "In lieu" Tax $4,465,948 The Municipality receives money for fees charged for permits, Landfill tip fees, recreation programs, and selling services to other municipal units. We provides services like some planning and build- ing, fire inspection, animal control and waste disposal to neighbouring munici- palities who don't need full-time services. We also receive income from Nova Scotia Power for our wind tower and Eco-Park lease fees. Wind Tower $719,650 Landfill disposal 2,687,807 (to others) Services to others 168,133 Permits/programs 326,107 Tipping fees 564,251 Fees $2,330,101 These are grants from oth- er levels of government (mostly federal or provin- cial). Some are for specific things, like infrastructure, and others are non-spe- cific. Conditional $2,317,721 Unconditional 12,380 Grants $1,334,279 Transfers come from our reserves, which is like a savings account. Some transfers are from projects previously budgeted for and the money is carried over, and others are for new projects. Transfers Economic Development $463,462 Economic Development still is a high priority for Council. This year, focus is around branding, tourism, business retention (BRE), the Eco-Park, local business, and a marketing strategy for the area. 1. Operations $ 221,015 2. Capital projects 120,000 3. Tourism 43,000 4. Regional Economic Network 45,794 5. Eco-Industrial Park 33,653 COMMUNITY INTEREST Sat., June 6 Pancake Breakfast Hubbards Area Lions Club, 9:00- 11:30am. Call 902-858-2082. Annual Breakfast & Plant Sale Bonny Lea Farm, 8-10am. Penny Auction & Dinner Chester Legion. Auction, 12:00pm and dinner 4:00-6:30pm. Roast Beef Supper District #1 Community Centre, 4:30- 6pm. St. Barnabas Ladies Guild event. Sun., June 7 5th Annual Chester Cut N Run 5K Walk, 5/10K Run Starting at Chester Area Middle School, 9am. Call 902-275-3490. Lobster Dinner Captain Kidd Rod & Gun Club, 11am- 6pm. Call 902-277-1980. Crib Tournament Forties Community Centre, 1pm. Call 902-689-2147. Country Gospel Music Night Aenon United Baptist Church, 6:45pm. Sat., June 13 11th Annual Pig Roast New Ross Fire Hall. Entertainment, 2:00pm and meal, 4:30-6:00pm. Sat., June 13 Cheer for Dad - Father's Day Live Band Dance Atlantica Oak Island, 9pm-1am. Funds to Champion Cheer All-Stars Cheer- leading Club. 902-627-2600. Fri., June 19 10th Relay for Life Chester Area Middle School, 6pm-mid- night. 902-275-5720 or 902-275-5966. We welcome survivors who would like to attend to call 902-275-3817. Sun., June 21 Father's Day Roast Beef Supper Forties Community Centre, 4:30- 6:00pm. Sun., June 28 Fish Fry Hubbards Area Lions Club, 4-6pm. Call 902-858-2082. Chester Brass Band Plays at the Chester Bandstand, 7pm. 902-857-3943. Wed., July 1 19th Annual Chicken Barbecue Western Shore & Area Improvement Association Hall, 11am-2pm. Every Friday Chester Farmers' & Artisan Market Chester Visitor Information Centre, 10am-2pm until October 9. Every Saturday Hubbards Farmers' Market Hubbards Barn, 8am-12pm til the end of October. www.hubbardsbarn.org New Ross Country Market Lions Park, 9am-12pm til October 10. Spring may have gotten off to a late start, but what we've lost in time, garden lovers are mak- ing up for in enthusiasm. Here are a few items of gardening interest... The 12th Open House for the composting fa- cility's East River Louisiana-Pacific Community Environmental Liaison Committee will be held on June 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Union Hall in East River (7216 Highway 329). As usual, the event is well organized and teeming with information! The morning starts with tours of the Composting Facility at 9:00 a.m. Tour reservations can be made by calling Jennifer Frotten, Plant Environmental Manager at 902-275-2976. Guest speakers, including Jodi DeLong, start at 10:30 a.m. The Municipality and Region 6 Solid Waste Management will be on hand with the ever- popular vermicomposting (worms) display and compost tea demo. Stop by their booth with Send events to recreation@chester.ca and they will be included in this newsletter, on our website, and in a weekly newspaper column!6 ATTENTION GARDENERS! Warmer weather signals a planting season we can hardly wait to start! your questions or stories. There is also a plant sale hosted by the garden club and cool product displays. For more info on the Committee and the composting facility, please visit www.CompostingLPEastRiver.ca In other news, a new community garden is taking shape in the Blandford area! Plans are being developed for a series of raised beds for individual or shared use as well as a greenhouse in the fall, all graciously accommodated at the Rectory (4821 Hwy. 329). Look for progress as they enter the "construction phase!" If you live in the area and are looking for gar- den space (extra or otherwise), or just want to help with the project, send an email along to marian.lucas.jeffries@gmail.com The group may host an information evening for those interested in finding out more. Mean- while, feel free to email for information! And finally, Archie (our community garden mascot above) has seen better days...We are planning to revive him and the community gar- den at the Municipal Office again this year, so if you've got a hankerin' for fresh veggies and no place to plant them, contact us! We also will ac- cept any kind of help you're offering! By the time this newsletter is in your mailbox, we'll have had our first meeting, but it's never too late to help and give input! There is plenty of space and we likely won't plant anything until early June. Send an email to communications@chester.ca or call Jen at 902-275-3555 ext 1202. Have a solid waste question? Ask Dear Shabby at solidwaste@chester.ca PROPERTY SERVICES Dear Shabby, I've decided to simplify my life! Of course, that means I've had to kick my "collecting" habit. After all, if I haven't used 18 broken chairs by now, I probably won't...My question is, what do I do with everything I don't want anymore? ~ signed Free At Last, Chester Dear “Free At Last”: I, too, am guilty of hoarding the occasion- al (132) balls of used twine...Anyway, large items can go to the curb for special collection in October (none in July) and smaller items can go in garbage bags dur- ing regular collection as long as you keep within the limits of one black bag and five clear bags for garbage, ten recyclable bags and one compost cart. Or, pile the works into your vehicle and take it all out to the landfill! Clear bag rules apply there too, but you can take up to 1,500 lbs per trip for free! Who doesn't like free?!? *********************************************** Dear Shabby, My husband and I are planning to vaca- tion in the Municipality this summer. We're sailing from Rhode Island and Dear Shabby Friendly waste disposal advice staying at a friends cottage for July and August. We recycle, and wondering if you recycle there too! ~ signed Travelin' Trish, Newport, RI Dear “Travelin' Trish”: Looks like we have more in common than the Atlantic! We separate our waste into four streams: garbage (1 black + 5 clear), compost, paper and recyclable materials like plastic and metal (10 blue or clear bags combined). Just bag it up and put it out to the curb on garbage day. Your cottage will be equipped with an organics cart already...or at least access to one. Even our boaters and other visitors re- cycle! We have public waste stations throughout the Municipality, plus ma- rinas have designated waste areas. So, travel on, Trish! And don't be scared to bring your trash! *********************************************** Dear Reader, If you are Wednesday Week B, don't plan on putting your waste out on July 1. The Municipality won't pick it up because it's a HOLIDAY! They will pick it up on July 4 instead. Oh, and the Landfill is closed too until the next day. Coming to a curb near you... While Municipal staff is responsible for the operation of the public sewer systems, there are lots of things that you, as a user of the system, can do to ensure it remains in good working or- der. After all, if we save money in repairs costs, you save money in repair costs. The tips below provide advice on what you can do to protect the sewer system from harsh chemicals, and keep pumps and manholes from becoming clogged or damaged by foreign ob- jects. Because most sanitary sewer blockages occur between a house and the sewer main, following these simple Do's and Don'ts can also help prevent a sewer line back-up in your home. • DO scrape excess grease into a container and dispose of it in the compost. • DO place food scraps in compost contain- ers for disposal and scrape off your dishes prior to washing. • DO place a wastebasket in the bathroom to dispose of solid wastes. Disposable dia- pers, condoms and personal hygiene prod- ucts do not belong in the sewer system. • DO use a strainer over the plughole in your sink, tub and shower. Empty the col- lected material into the garbage. • DO use the manufacturer's recommend- ed amount of detergent for washing up in the kitchen or laundry. The average house- hold uses three times more detergent than manufacturers recommend for wash- ing dishes and clothes. When these deter- gents enter the sewer system, they hold large amounts of oil, grease and fats in suspension making cleaning and treating the waste water difficult and more costly. By cutting down on the amount of deter- gent used, there'll also be less phosphate in the environment to cause the growth of algae in water. And, you'll save money on detergents. • DO NOT pour fats, oils and grease from cooking down the sink drain. If your pots and pans are only greasy, don't rinse them; just wipe them out with a paper towel. Note that home garbage disposals do not keep grease out of the plumbing system. These units only shred solid material into smaller pieces and do not prevent grease from going down the drain. Commercial additives, including detergents, that claim to dissolve grease may pass grease down the line and cause problems in other areas • DO NOT connect sump pump or founda- tion drains to your service lateral. Treating water that doesn’t need to be treated is not only costly and uses up plant capac- ity, but as Section 14 (a) of the Municipal Sewer By-Law states; "No person shall discharge, cause to be discharged, or continue to discharge or cause to be discharged after the coming into force of this By-law, any storm water, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, cooling water or any unpolluted industrial process waters into any sanitary sewer, except by motion of Council to grant an exemption." • DO NOT flush items such as disposable diapers, disposable cleaning cloths, den- tal floss, sanitary napkins, plastic tampon holders, convenience pads, surgical ban- dages, syringes, condoms, cotton-tipped stems, hair, or flushable cat litter down the toilet. It can create many problems in the sewage treatment plant; they should all be tossed into the wastebasket, not the toilet. • DO NOT pour paint, engine oil, pesti- cides or chemicals down the sink. This isn't only because of the threat of these hazards getting into the environment; but, also because these chemicals pose a health threat to maintenance staff work- ing in the sewers. • DO NOT plant any new landscaping without keeping in mind the location of your sewer line. Plant roots are a common problem with pipe breaks that can easily be prevented by thinking through installa- tions and plantings thoroughly. Always remember, if you see a red light flash- ing at one of our lift stations, please call the Emergency Sewer Line at 1-888-664-6998. We encourage you to call so that any issue can be handled in a timely manner. Thank You A Toilet is NOT aTRASH CAN! starring INSPECTION · UNSORTED WASTE · REJECTION read the 2015 waste for guidelines in bag and other CALENDAR · SORTING · LIMITS · STUFF Call 902-275-2330 or 902-275-1312 for a copy. 7 it's back, and it means business Starting this SP R I N G ! ! ! Even Fall special collection c a n n o t escape ENFORCEMENT!!! Need a 2015 Waste Collection Calendar? Visit www.chester.ca or call 902-275-2330. 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 Civic Numbering Community Development Dept 902-275-2599 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 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 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Bus Trip Saturday, July 4 (register by noon on June 15) $75 (includes tickets and transportation to Scotiabank Centre) Pick-up at the New Ross Credit Union and 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. PROCUREMENTPOLICY Council recently adopted amendments to our Procurement Policy (P-04). The change reflect a 5% preference for local businesses. This means that when local businesses and contractors bid on our tenders in the low value procurement range, they will get a 5% bonus added to their evalua- tions. Local means within the Municipal- ity of the District of Chester. Low value procurement includes, • goods up to and including $25,000 • services up to and including $50,000 • facilities up to and including $50,000 • construction up to and including $100,000 The bonus will apply to all evaluation pieces, not just financial, and will hope- fully encourage more local businesses to bid on our tenders. To view a copy of the Procurement Pol- icy, and all policies, please visit our web- site at www.chester.ca under the Engage menu and click on Bylaws and Policies. For a paper copy, call us at 902-275-3554, email administration@chester.ca, or drop by the Municipal Office at 151 King Street, Chester.