The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My Public Portal About2016-01_MunicipalInsight_pdf_archive-compressedmunicipal insight “Keeping informed about January/February 2016 your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter... Going once, going twice... Winter Safety There IS green in winter! We are having a Tax Are you practicing safety Turn to Pages 6 & 7 for Sale next month. during the winter months? an indepth look into Details are on Page 2 Find out on Page 4. waste collection. Compared to last year, we "ain't seen nothin' yet" as far as snow goes. Although there have been rumours of less snow this year, there is snow nonetheless. Snow removal in the Municipality of Chester (and pretty much in all municipalities) is a shared effort between us, the NS Department of Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal (NSTIR), RCMP and citizens. We all have a role, and we are working with NSTIR and the RCMP to coordinate efforts. All provincial roads are plowed by NSTIR. Provin- cial roads include highways, routes, and all roads represented by a green road sign. If you call us about plowing roads other than our own (listed later in the article), we will direct you to NSTIR. Save the extra dialing and call NSTIR first through 511 or their office at 1-888-432-3233. You can also visit http://novascotia.ca/tran/ and check out cool things like NSTIR's Plow Tracker, high- way cameras, and which roads are plowed when (road priority list). There is also some safety infor- mation including road conditions and a winter travel safety pdf. The Municipality only plows roads that are owned and maintained by the Municipality. Our roads are, • Captains Way, Aspotogan • Commodore Drive, Aspotogan • Foxwood Drive, Mill Cove • Lake Road, Mill Cove • Landing Drive West, East River • Millennium Drive, Chester • Parkwood Drive, Mill Cove We also plow our own infrastructure, such as sew- er pump stations and sidewalks (see a little further in this article). To make plowing for NSTIR easier, Winter Park- ing Ban Regulations are in effect from December 15, 2015 to March 31, 2016. This means that you cannot park on any street maintained by NSTIR be- tween 1:00 and 6:00 a.m. until the parking ban ends. ALSO, you cannot park on the street an hour after a storm starts until two hours after it ends. This is because NSTIR is trying to clear roads for safe pas- sage as quickly and as efficiently as they can. Avoid- SLIPPERY SLOPE This photo was taken courtesy of Wayne Coolen of the sidewalk in Hubbards during one of our "holiday storms". Wild, Wild Waste Guidelines are meant to improve collection, not hinder it Overall, residents in the Municipality of Chester are doing fairly well on the "waste front". Af- ter all, we have achieved the Provincial goal of land- filling less than 300 kg per person per year. However, let's not hang our hat just yet... As our Quality Control Coordinator says, "there is always room for improvement." There are a number of areas that need attention from those who use the waste collection service. And, it occurs to us that if we publish good, solid reasons, we might get more cooperation. A large and consistent problem area is special col- lection. As a matter of fact, last Fall saw one of the highest rates of rejection during special collection! But why? We've had the same rules for years. Noth- ing has substantially changed. Are there too many rules? Do residents just not care enough? Truth is, special collection is one of those things that you don't really have to pay attention to until you need it. And when you need it, the list of rules might seem a kilometre long. NOT TO WORRY! We will help you! After all, that's what we're here for. First and definitely foremost is the limit of items that can be put roadside for collection. There are two reasons why there is a limit: space and time. There is only so much room in one special collection truck. We have seen enough collection at one house to more than fill an entire truck on their own. We realize that this doesn't happen at every house, but it happens more often than one thinks. Further, the truck has one day to collect ALL spe- cial collection for a particular route. Yes, they travel back and forth to the Landfill to unload, but it takes fifteen minutes to get to the Landfill from Exit 8 on Highway #103. Depending where collection is, it could take upwards of half an hour one way to un- load. They have eight hours to complete the entire route and haul their loads to the Landfill. They physi- cally don't have time to drive to the Landfill if they collect more than the limit. At this point in time, we should tell you that the whole size rule doesn't count when it comes to fur- niture and mattresses. We pick those up regardless of size, weight or length. The second largest issue with special collection has got to be bits and pieces. We can appreciate that it takes a considerable amount of time to clean out a garage and lug all of those shingles and bits of metal and drywall down to the curb. Problem is, the collec- tor doesn't have the same amount of time to throw it into the truck. Solution? Box it up! Throw all of continue reading "Wild Waste" on Page 6... Special Collection Limit • 46 cubic feet in volume (equal to 12 full garbage bags, not actually 12 full garbages bags, just EQUAL TO what 12 full garbage bags would take up in space) • 50 lbs in weight • 4 feet in length ing parked vehicles makes for a messy plow job and leaves drivers annoyed because they are plowed in. To circumvent the problem, the RCMP can have your vehicle towed (at your expense) if you obstruct winter maintenance (like plowing, salting, sanding, etc.), or you can be fined un- der the Motor Vehicle Act. Inci- dentally, if you plow driveways, please don't plow snow across a street or sidewalk. Speaking of sidewalks, the Municipality clears and main- tains all sidewalks in the Dis- trict, including • Chester Basin • Chester Village • Hubbards • Mill Cove • New Ross • Western Shore Please report uncleared or messy sidewalks (like the one in Wayne's photo) to the Engineering & Pub- lic Works Department by calling 902-275-1312. This service is contracted and we are not always on site; however, our staff routinely inspects the sidewalks and we communicate with our contractor regularly to report any concerns. Winter is unpredictable and we always try to do the best we can. To get an official idea of what our contractor does and when, view an excerpt of the tender specifica- tions on our website; or, below is a BRIEF summary. • The contractor provides snow plowing and sand/ salt on all of our sidewalks; • Clearing starts within one hour after the end of storms where accumulation is 5cm or more; • If it's a prolonged snowstorm, clearing will prob- ably start during the storm as well; • Sidewalks should be substantially cleared with- in six hours of start time unless of course it's a snowpocalypse. Then we need longer; and • Salt/sand mix is spread as necessary on snowfall amounts under 5cm and if greater, salt/sand is spread immediately after snow clearing. If you live on a private road, maintaining it is your responsibility or that of your homeowners associa- tion. Neither the Municipality nor NSTIR plow pri- vate roads. Usually private roads have signs that are reflective white with black letters. If you are unsure if your road is provincial, municipal or private, please contact us at 902-275-3554 and we can help you. As always, we ask that people use caution when winter traveling; whether walking, driving or biking. You can always contact Engineering & Public Works at 902-275-3554 or publicworks@chester.ca MUNICIPAL COUNCIL Message from the Warden Let's take a look back at some of the highlights of 2015. It would be diffi cult to imagine that anything could be more fundamentally signifi cant than the South Canoe Wind Farm coming into commercial operati on. Within weeks, Nova Scoti a's largest wind farm allowed our prov- ince to enerate 50% of its electricity from renewable re- sources for the fi rst ti me ever, if only for a brief period of ti me. It was a massive undertaking that can literally be seen by lobster fi shermen as they check their traps at sea. The fi nancial impact on the Municipality will conti nue for the next twenty years with revenues from South Canoe and Kaizer Meadow projected to be close to $900,000 this year. The project also allowed for direct social investment in community by the developers and has created eco-tour- ism opportuniti es for our Municipality. Our Health Centre broke ground late this fall, which will enhance health services delivery when completed and make our community more att racti ve to both commercial and residenti al development. We were, and are in the process of, developing foward- You can contact the Warden by calling the Municipal Offi ce at (902) 275-3554, calling his home at (902) 275-2536, or emailing awebber@chester.ca looking strategies for renewable energy, economic devel- opment and marketi ng as well as a comprehensive look at our land use policy and by-laws. The South Shore Regional Enterprise Network is up and running and has hired a CEO. PRO Kids is helping more people than ever thanks to the conti nued support of the community. We have conti nued to work with the FHCS Student Gov- ernment and have successfully completed their fi rst capi- tal project - an interpreti ve campsite at Kaizer Meadow. We have strengthened and clarifi ed our grants program for community-based projects. We were unsuccessful in moving the Gold River School project forward, but made a tough decision and conti nue to work on a sound approach to addressing our space re- quirements. Lastly, but of great signifi cance in building a strong and cohesive municipality moving forward, in working with our provincial partners, we were able to bring closure to the divisive, ongoing Town debate. This is not a complete list, but only some of the high- lights of 2015; none of which would have been possible 2 without a committ ed Council, a dedicated staff , and an engaged community. Thank you. Next year will be as equally challenging and I'd like to touch on a few key issues briefl y. We will focus on building a partnership for new energy projects; moving waste management to a new level by working with Sustane Technologies and hopefully start- ing constructi on on their facility at Kaizer Meadow; the opening of Our Health Centre; and the completi on and the rollout of the Planning Strategy. We will celebrate the 200th birthday of the community of New Ross. We anti cipate a renewed capital program as a result of an enhanced Federal commitment to infra- structure funding. We also anti cipate that the Municipal- Provincial Fiscal Review process will bring clarity and op- portunity to municipal fi nancial concerns. This is also an electi on year for municipaliti es; always an interesti ng ti me and one where you have the fi nal say. All the best, Municipal Tax Sale Do you know who your Councillor is? Visit www.chester.ca for bio and contact informati on. Multi ple properti es will be sold at Public Aucti on by the Treasurer of the Municipality of the District of Chester. The Aucti on is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb- ruary 2, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. unless the total amounts indicated are paid in full before the date of the Sale. The Tax Sale will be held in Council Chambers in the Municipal Building at 151 King Street in Chester. TERMS OF SALE We will accept cash, money order, bank draft , law- yers trust cheque, certi fi ed cheque, or debit card (be- fore the date of the Sale, verify with your bank the amount of your available daily limit. Unfortunately, we cannot accept payment through credit card. The amount required at the ti me of Sale is listed with each property. However, check the list frequent- ly because interest is applied. The most up-to-date fi gures are found on our webiste at www.chester.ca or by calling the Tax Offi ce at 902-275-3554. If the property is sold for more than the amount listed, the excess must be paid by 12:00 noon on Feb- ruary 5, 2016 using one of the methods listed above. LISTED PROPERTIES 1. Land, Lot 28 Chester Downs Road, East Chester Assessed to Atlanti c Modular Structures Account # 00140651 PID # 60150026 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $5,359.29 2. Land, Mill Lake Road, Hubbards Assessed to Albert A. Curley – Estate Account # 01037269 PID # 60082542 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $532.74 3. Land, Dwelling, Lot 50C Evergreen Rise, New Russell Assessed to Jamin Matt hew Church Account # 01492098 PID #60129061 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $947.69 4. Land, Dwelling, Out Building, 39 Angus Hiltz Road, Chester Basin Assessed to Jennifer Armstrong Account # 02133253 PID #60100245 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $3,874.91 5. Land, Mill Lake Road, Hubbards Assessed to Susan Elizabeth Anne Jeff ries Account # 02208962 PID # 60084654 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $1,075.63 6. Land, Out Building, East Side Gold River, Beech Hill Assessed to Arnold L. Zwicker Account # 02294931 PID # 60160009 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $835.95 7. Land, Forti es Road, Forti es Assessed to Adam Kroscen Account # 02395312 PID # 60117108 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $693.94 8. Land, Homestead Road, Bayswater Assessed to Gordon Hargreaves Account # 02574411 PID # 60072188 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $1,108.79 9. Land, Tilley Point Road, Northwest Cove Assessed to T. Duncan MacDonald Account # 02683326 PID # 60074317 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $1,473.38 10. Land, Dwelling, 1171 Highway 329, Lot 2A, Mill Cove Assessed to Jeanine Verge Account # 04755413 PID # 60077526 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $6,047.94 11. Land, New Ross Assessed to Timothy M. Levy Account # 05338654 PID # 60120094 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $689.23 12. Land, Highway 329, Fox Point Asssessed to Irma M. Rozee and James M. Rozee Account # 08151547 PID # 60081106 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $600.39 13. REMOVED 14. Land, Look Off Drive, East Chester Assessed to Robert Kimber Woodroofe and Deborah Woodroofe Account # 08241600 PID # 60526324 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $603.79 15. Land, Lot 13, Parkwood Drive, Mill Cove Assessed to David Wayne Young and Donna Young Account # 10130883 PID # 60661568 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $3,750.83 16. Land, Lot 20, Parkwood Drive, Mill Cove Assessed to T Y H F S S Inc Account # 10163153 PID # 60661949 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $3,755.39 17. Land, Building, 1357 Highway 12, Chester Grant Assessed to Wayne B. Millett Account # 03249026 PID # 60528064 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $16,612.51 18. - 26. REMOVED 27. Land, Lot 3A Rivers Edge Road, Seff ernsville Assessed to Rodney Charles Redden Account # 09479325 PID # 60531167 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $619.00 28. Land, Lot 30, 4 Larch Lane, New Russell Assessed to Leo Kehoe Account # 01919377 PID # 60128626 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $563.80 29. Land, Lot 29 Poplar Drive, New Russell Assessed to Leo Kehoe Account # 01919202 PID # 60128618 Taxes, Interest, Expenses to Date $563.80 Tax Sales do not in all circumstances clear up de- fects in ti tle. A Tax Deed conveys only the interest of the assessed owner, whatever that interest may be. A person intending to clear up defects in the ti tle to the property by way of a Tax Sale is advised to obtain a legal opinion as per tax sales. The recoverable costs of a Tax Sale can be considerable. Also, sales of Vacant Property, Commercial Prop- erty, and Newly Constructed Residenti al Property are subject to HST, which will be added to the purchase price. Visit our website to view a map of the properti es listed above along with the Noti ce to Sell. The whole Tax Sale process is also explained. Sherbrooke Lake For more information, please contact: Public Access Consultations Trudy Payne Director of Recreation 902-541-1333 We need your help! The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is exploring different options for developing public access on Sherbrooke Lake. You can help shape this new public space. To share your vision for Sherbrooke Lake please fill out a survey or drop by one of our open house events. Open House Dates: Please drop in any time between 5pm and 8pm: February 8 New Ross School4689 Highway 12New Ross February 10 Canada Games Centre Community Room26 Thomas Raddell DriveHalifax February 17 Parkdale-Maplewood Community Hall3003 Barss Corner RoadMaplewood To find out more about the project and to fill out a online survey, visit: www.modl.ca/sherbrooke STRATEGIC PLAN 3We may not be available 24/7, but our website is. Visit us at www.chester.ca BOSS or BUST Since the last report, we received four complaints and two compliments. • A complaint was lodged about a premises that a resident feels is unsightly. The complaint was forwarded to the Building Code & Unsightly Premises Committee for evaluation. • Another resident filed a complaint about the timeliness of snow removal on Highway 329. Plowing highways is Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal's (TIR) job so we could not resolve the issue except to provide contact information for TIR. Residents or concerned travelers must call TIR for any information on provincial roads. If you have a complaint about snow removal on municipal sidewalks, by all means call us at 902-275-1312. If there's a problem with snow clearing on any of these municipal roads, please call the same number: Captain's Way, Commodore Drive, Foxwood Drive, Lake Road, Landing Drive West, Millennium Drive or Parkwood Drive. • Another complaint was received about uncollected waste. The waste was inadvertantly missed and arrangements for collection were made. • A second complaint with regards to provincial roads was made except this time it was about the disrepair of two signs: a stop sign and a directional sign. The complaint was forwarded to TIR and they fixed the stop sign on the very same day. • Moving on to the compliments, Council was complimented TWICE on their decision to discontinue with the Gold River Municipal Office project. One resident went on to further suggest that Council advocate a change to the Province's policy to turn abandoned school properties over to municipalities to deal with. Agreed, and a recommendation was made at the last Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities conference and forwarded to the Province for consideration. Fingers crossed.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. Animal Control Services - The contract for Animal Control Services ex- pires on December 31, 2016. A Request for Proposals was issued, but not officially awarded to date. To ensure the Municipality has coverage, the existing contract was extended by one month. Change is a-comin' - Council and staff reviewed the criteria for our existing grant programs (Council/Tourism and Wind Revenue). A few things were recommended to facilitate the whole process and changes discussed at the January 21 Committee of the Whole meeting. Keep an eye out on our website for a meeting Agenda. Or, better yet, subscribe to our Agenda Alerts and get them delivered straight to your emailbox. REN gets new CEO - The Regional Enterprise Network, representing municipalities on the South Shore, has a new CEO. Carole Lee Rein- hardt was hired last November, and is working on a strategy that will strengthen the region's economic environment. Waste collection calendar available - Our 2016 Waste Collection Calen- dar was delivered to mailboxes in December. If you didn't get one, or if you would like another, you can either print it from our website or call the Solid Waste Department at 902-275-2330 for a paper copy. Branded! - For those of you following this project, Council will meet with Sperry Design for a second workshop to peek at potential brand- marks and possibly finalize our strategy. It's all very exciting! Village cell tower update - There isn't much further to report on this issue except that we are still waiting for information from the Canadian Radiocommunications Information and Notification Service (CRINS), which we expect in a week or two. They are providing us with their as- sessment of the situation and our process. Capital budget - It's never too early to talk budget! We are in Year Four of Council's Strategic Plan and things are moving along. Council has re- viewed the preliminary numbers for the 2016/17 Capital Budget. Look for more information in the next newsletter. IN BRIEF... Every year, Council appoints Councillors, staff, and citizens to specific positions and external commit- tees. Below is a list of our representatives. Auditor - The Municipality must have an indepen- dent financial auditor. Ours is Grant Thornton. Chief Building Inspector - Council appointed Earl Woodworth as the Chief Building Inspector for the Municipality. They also appointed Rick Corkum as a Building Inspector. Development Officer - Our appointed Development Officer is Heather Archibald and the Acting Officers are Tara Maguire and William DeGrace (both with the Community Development Department). Emergency Measures Coordinator - Arden Weagle, currently the By-law Enforcement Officer, has also been appointed as Emergency Measures Coordina- tor as well as the Fire Inspector and staff representa- tive on the Fences Arbitration Committee. Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Administrator (FOIPOP) - Traditionally, the CAO is responsible for this function. So, in keeping with tradition, Council selected Tammy Wilson, our CAO. Tammy was also appointed as the Sexual Harass- ment Policy Administrator. Sexual Harassment Policy Advisor - This position falls to the Municipal Clerk, Pamela Myra. Returning Officer - Sam Lamey, also the Municipal- ity's Solicitor, is appointed this position. Sheep Valuer - Our Sheep Valuer is Stacy Keddy. If you're not sure what a Sheep Valuer is, it is someone who determines compensation if your sheep has been killed by a dog. Town Crier - Garry Zwicker holds this position for us. COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation - Brad Arm- strong, District #3. Church Memorial Park Trustees - Sharon Church- Cornelius, District #7. Community Use of Schools Committee (ACES) - Allen Webber, District #4; Floyd Shatford, District #2; and Andre Veinotte, District #1. Community Use of Schools Committee (FHCS) - Allen Webber, District #4; Sharon Church-Cornelius, District #7; and Tina Connors, District #6. Fire Advisory Committee - Floyd Shatford, District #2, and Andre Veinotte, District #1. Committee of CouncilAppointments 2015-16 Highway 103 Committee - Robert Myra, District #5. Louisiana Pacific Community Liaison Committee - Andre Veinotte, District #1. Mersey Woodlands Advisory Committee - Brad Armstrong, District #3. Regional Emergency Measures Organization (REMO) - Allen Webber, District #4; Floyd Shatford, District #2; Tammy Wilson, CAO; and Robert Myra, District #5 (alternate). Senior Safety Program for Lunenburg County - Tina Connors, District #6. Sherbrooke Lake Access Advisory Committee (MODL) - Tina Connors, District #6. South Canoe Community Liaison Committee - Sharon Church-Cornelius, District #7; and Tina Connors, District #6. South Shore Housing Action Coalition - Tina Connors, District #6. Western Regional Housing Authority - Eric Hagen, resident. South Shore Regional Library Board - Robert Myra, District #5. Southwest Regional Community Advisory Board - Robert Myra, District #5. Victorian Order of Nurses - Tina Connors, District #6. Zoe Valle Library Municipal Trustee - Brad Armstrong, District #3. Description Successful Bidder Price* Over/Under Budget**Type Date Chester Wastewater Treatment Plant Generator Buildon Construction Ltd. $80,876.95 UNDER $69,123.05 Tender 10/2015 * Prices listed here include only the portion of HST that the Municipality pays, not the full amount. The price may differ from the NS Procurement site or our own website if they are listed with the full HST amount, or no HST amount. **Although we usually budget for contingencies, the over/under budget amounts will not reflect these until the work is complete and potential unknown costs discovered. For information on the tender process, please email administration@chester.ca Tenders Recently Awarded 4 SAFETY the latest weather reports to avoid the storm! Carry an emergency kit in your car including a car phone, fl ashlight, fi rst-aid supplies, extra clothes/blanket, cat litt er or sand for tracti on, jumper cables, knife, and high-calorie, non- perishable food. It is recommended that you stay in your car or truck if you get caught in a winter storm. Disorientati on oc- curs quickly in wind-driven snow and cold. Run the mo- tor about ten minutes each hour for heat, ensuring that you open the window a litt le for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Exercise from ti me to ti me by vigor- ously moving arms, legs, fi ngers, and toes to keep blood circulati ng and to keep warm. Make yourself visible to res- cuers, perhaps tying a coloured cloth (preferably red) to your antenna or door. Winter driving is always a challenge, please visit the Nova Scoti a Department of Transportati on & Infrastruc- ture's website for informati on: htt ps://novascoti a.ca/ tran/winter/booklet_winter_maintenance.pdf FIREPLACES, FURNACES and SPACE HEATERS Keep fi re where it belongs - in the fi replace! Clean and inspect your chimney annually for damage and obstruc- ti ons. Store cold ashes in a sealed metal container. Only burn materials appropriate for a fi replace, never burn trash or other such materials. An annual cleaning and inspecti on is recommended for your furnace as well. Keep combusti bles at least three feet away from space heaters. Ensure that the unit has a thermostat control mechanism and a switch that auto- mati cally shuts off the power if the heater falls over. Lo- cate the heater on a level surface away from foot traffi c. Be especially careful to keep children and pets away from the heater. CHECK ON A NEIGHBOUR It is always a good idea to take a few moments to check in on your neighbours, especially the elderly person liv- ing next door. It doesn't take long to make sure they have everything and that they aren't in any kind of diffi culty. It helps knowing someone is out there. HYPOTHERMIA, WIND CHILL and FROSTBITE Hypothermia or low body temperature can be very seri- ous and even life threatening. Warning signs include un- controlled shivering, memory loss, disorientati on, slurred speech, and apparent exhausti on. Infants and elderly people are most suscepti ble. Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the combined eff ects of wind and cold. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature. Be aware that animals are also aff ected by wind chill. Frostbite is damage to body ti ssue caused by it freezing. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale ap- pearance in extremiti es, such as fi ngers, toes, earlobes, or the ti p of your nose. If symptoms are detected, get medi- cal help immediately! Wear loose-fi tti ng, light-weight, warm clothing in sever- al layers. Trapped air insulates. Layers can be removed to avoid perspirati on and subsequent chill. Outer garments should be ti ghtly woven, water repellent, and hooded. Wear a hat. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold. Mitt ens, snug at the wrist, are bett er than gloves. Try to stay dry. For more informati on on these winter health issues please visit: htt p://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certi fi - cati on/fi rst-aid-ti ps-and-resources-/fi rst-aid-ti ps/cold-re- lated-emergencies--staying-warm-and-safe-in-canadian- winters THIN ICE People are att racted to either ice in a pond or out on our lakes during the winter months. It is fun to walk on, run and slide across, and to go snowmobiling on. Unfor- tunately, the risks are real and oft en underesti mated. If you see someone who has fallen through the ice, DO NOT WALK out to them as you may quickly become another victi m. Instead, try to reach them with a tree branch, rope, shovel, anything that you can place between you and the victi m and have them grab onto it. Call 911 to noti fy the Fire Department who are trained in ice rescue and will respond to the scene. Please visit the Red Cross website for more helpful ti ps. htt p://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certi fi cati on/swim- ming-and-water-safety-tips-and-resources/swimming- -boati ng-and-water-safety-ti ps/ice-safety WINTER STORMS Every year, winter storms and below zero tempera- tures give rise to weather-related emergencies. Strong winds can create blizzard conditi ons, and ice storms can knock down trees, uti lity poles, and power lines. Downed power wires should always be considered LIVE AND DAN- GEROUS and must be avoided. Call 911 to noti fy the Fire Department who will respond to the scene. Avoid over-exerti on, such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a car, or walking in deep snow. The strain from the cold and the hard labour may cause a heart att ack. Sweati ng could lead to a chill and hypothermia. If a disaster happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some ti me to get to you as they help those in desperate need fi rst. Be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours. By taking a few simple steps today, you can become bet- ter prepared to face a range of emergencies – anyti me, anywhere. There is a handy guide and checklist available to help you take care of yourself and loved ones during an emer- gency at the Nova Scoti a Emergency Management Offi ce website at www.gov.ns.ca/emo/prepare_for_an_emer- gency/prepare.asp The Municipality has made arrangements with several organizati ons in our communiti es to become Comfort Cen- ter faciliti es if needed. These centers are simply a place to go on a short term basis for perhaps some warmth, a cup of coff ee and access to electrical services for charging your cell phone, etc. They are not intended for overnight or extended stay. If you fi nd yourself in need during such emergencies, please contact your District Councillor who can advise on the opening of the closest center. WINTER TRAVEL Be prepared before the storm strikes. Check and winter- ize your vehicle before the season begins. Always check HAVE A FUN (AND SAFE) WINTER With the colder months of the year now upon us, here are a few safety ti ps for you and your family... If you accidentally recycle your municipal newslett er, you can access it (and most of our publicati ons) online at www.chester.ca Community Wheels: Driving the Community Need a ride? Community Wheels is wheelchair accessible and avail- able to ALL residents of the Municipality of the District of Chester two days a week. Local service is fl exible, door-to-door when pos- sible, and comes with a friendly driver! Please book the service in advance by calling Sandra at 902-275- 5585. Charter services are also available. Donati on-based. Events listed on our website have more details than those listed here. Visit us online!5 COMMUNITY INTEREST The Sherbrooke Lake Access Advisory Committ ee has been meeti ng monthly since May 2015. Appointed by the Municipality of Lunenburg (MODL), ten volunteers are tasked with giving advice to MODL Council about potenti al opti ons available for public access to Sherbrooke Lake. Additi onally, they will reach out to citi zens for feedback to ensure that decisions are made with the public in mind. Sherbrooke Lake is shared between the Municipaliti es of Chester and Lunenburg. There are representati ves from both Districts on the Committ ee, and residents from both sides of the border will be consulted when it comes to determining what public access to the Lake will look like. Although there isn't much in the way of an update just yet, the group fi nalized a plan of acti on in November. The work plan has fi ve areas of focus, • to research and identi fy possible sites for public access to the Lake; • to discover community concerns and impacts to the Lake; • to use community feedback to determine the type of access • to investi gate "best practi ces"; and • to present fi ndings and recommendati ons to MODL Council. Tina Connors - Councillor for District #6 - represents Council on the Committ ee, and we have off ered staff support from the Recreati on and Community WELCOME TO SHERBROOKE LAKE! Municipality of Lunenburg Council commits to lake access Development Departments if needed. Expect the fi rst round of public engagement soon by way of an online survey (paper copies also available), open houses, and focus groups comprised of property owners from both municipaliti es (Page 2 has details). A report from the Committ ee is esti mated to be presented to MODL Council between June and August 2016. Unti l then, MODL Council will not in all likelihood make a decision as to the locati on or type of public access for the Lake. To stay informed about the work of the Committ ee and the opportuniti es for input, please visit htt p://www.modl. ca/recreati on/sherbrooke-lake. For informati on or to be added to the email list, please contact Trudy Payne at 902-541-1333 or tpayne@modl.ca. Anyone interested in the project is more than welcome to att end any of the Sherbrooke Lake Access Advisory Committ ee meeti ngs as a member of the gallery. Visit htt p://www.modl.ca/recreati on/sherbrooke-lake for access to agendas, minutes, meeti ng ti mes, and other helpful informati on. This is an initi ati ve of the Municipality of Lunenburg with $5,000 in support from the Municipality of Chester towards public engagement, earmarked at their December 10th Council meeti ng. Saturday, Jan. 23 Newfi e Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Sunday, Jan. 24 Secrets Revealed Time Capsule Opening at Forti es Community Centre to celebrate New Ross' 150th Anniversary. 2pm. Gospel Concert Chester United Bapti st Church, 7pm. Saturday, Jan. 30 34th Annual Sauerkraut Supper Chester Basin Fire Hall, 4pm. Rock-a- thon starts at 9am. Saturday, Feb. 6 Country Breakfast Chester Basin Fire Hall, 7:30-10:30am. "Coldest Day of the Year" 16th Annual Chester Drama Society Benefi t, Fo'c'sle Tavern, 3pm-closing. Sunday, Feb. 7 Crib Tournament Forti es Community Centre, 1pm. Call 902-689-2147. Monday, Feb. 8 Blood Donor Clinic Chester Legion, 1-3pm and 5-8pm. Call 1-888-236-6283. Tuesday, Feb. 9 Pancake Supper St. Marti n's Anglican Church, 4:30- 6:30pm. Call 902-627-2748. Saturday, Feb. 13 Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Benefi t Lobster/ Prize Bingo for Sean Jollymore District #1 Community Centre, 7pm. 902-228-2790 or 902-275-8654. Storm date is February 14, 2pm. Sunday, Feb. 14 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm. Variety Show Forti es Community Centre, 1-4pm. Call 902-689-2612. Sunday, Feb. 21 Aft ernoon of Music Hubbards Area Lions Club, 1:30- 4:30pm. Saturday, Feb. 27 Newfi e Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Mondays, Wednes- days and Fridays Elderfi t Aquacize Atlanti ca Hotel & Marina, 10:30 am unti l June 2016. Call 902-766-0272, email elderfi t@eastlink.ca or visit www.elderfi tlunenburg.ca To have your event included in this listi ng as well as on our website and events page in the local newspaper, please contact the Recreati on & Parks Department by calling 902-275-3490 or emailing recreati on@chester.ca 119 km of pure fun from Halifax to LunenburgSo, what are you waiting for?Get out there and enjoy yourself! www.rumrunnerstrail.ca conti nued from front page... of those bits and pieces into a box and put it to the curb. Besides, it will save lugging-to-the-curb ti me too. If the pieces are larger than standard bits and pieces size, bundle it. Just as easy as a box if we're talking shingles or lengths of wood, etc. This guideline saves ti me for residents, our con- tractor, and us. There's no real place to say this, but we only col- lect up to ten lobster traps per residence. The third obstacle is placement. It's not so much where you place your waste (obviously close to the road), but how. During special collecti on, there are two trucks that collect waste; one for metal and one for everything else. If you accidentally hide your metal by piling other stuff on it, the metal truck driv- er won't see it and, worse, won't stop to pick it up. Even worse is that when you call and tell us that your metal wasn't collected, the driver won't go back be- cause he's already been there. The best soluti on is to set your stuff neatly beside each other - metal, other special collecti on, and reg- ular waste - all in their own piles. Finally, there are just some things we aren't al- lowed to accept. Here's what and why, Dear Shabby, I understand the rationale behind asking resi- dents and businesses to use clear bags, and I even like the idea. I just have one problem with it. I don't want everyone in the neighbourhood see- ing what's in my garbage. I don't care about my used tissue or stinky meat trays. It's just that my wife is home from the hospital and there are some personal items in there that aren't anyone's business but ours. ~ signed Keep Out in Hubbards Dear “Keep Out”: I totally agree. I mean, if my neighbours saw some of the things in my garbage, I would be MOR- TIFIED! My heart would stop beating and all of my hair would fall out on the spot. Luckily, I can t all of my unmentionables in the single privacy black bag that we can use. But, if you nd yourself in the situation where you are caring for someone at home, and medical issues are creating more than the usual amount waste (waste that is no one's business but your own) exemptions are available. Please call the Solid Waste Department at 902-275-2330. *********************************************** Dear Shabby, The collection truck is late. I don't mean ten min- Dear Shabby Friendly waste disposal advice Spray green carts with vegetable oil, line the bott om with cardboard, or use compostable bags to reduce freezing PROPERTY SERVICES 6 ...Wild Waste No bits! • Contain small, loose pieces in a box or a bag or a bundle. Locati on, locati on, locati on • Make "waste piles" separate from each other so drivers will see it, stop, and collect it. Didn't receive your 2016 Waste Col- lecti on Calendar? Call us at 902-275- 2330, email solidwaste@chester.ca, download it at chester.ca or drop in during business hours. We don't take... Because... Hazardous waste (like paint or chemicals)SAFETY Oversized bags (bigger than 31"x42") They won't fi t in the bubble hopper and end up getti ng stuck. Tires The Resource Recov- ery Fund Board has a program for these items. Drop them off at the appropriate locati on Electronics Compressed gas (like propane)SAFETY Freon® (including fridges, air condition- ers, etc.) SAFETY Of course, we've learned a few things along the way, and would like to share with you. These aren't "rules" per se, more like "life lessons and all around good ideas." Things such as, • Keep garbage boxes locked or out of easy reach of illegal dumpers. Otherwise, you might get a nasty surprise that has all of a sudden become your responsibility; • Post your civic number if you have any hopes of getti ng a green cart delivered (or an ambulance for that matt er). This is especially important for multi ple dwellings sharing one collecti on point; • Putti ng your waste at the end of your driveway is safer than taking it across the street; • If you want to keep your wheelbarrow, don't set your special collecti on waste in it; • Shovel out snowed-in waste if you expect it gone by the end of your collecti on day; and • Everything you want to know about garbage is in the 2016 Waste Collecti on Calendar. Get one and keep it close (especially page 10). utes or even an hour. I mean three hours late. Is it possible that they forgot to stop at my driveway? ~ signed Expecting in Chester Dear “Expecting”: Yes, it's entirely possible that they forgot. It hap- pens to the best of us. It's also possible that the truck broke down or there's a new driver who isn't quite familiar with the route just yet or there could have been a change to your collection route and you have a new time now. Maybe the recycle truck came, but the garbage truck is still on their way. In any case, give them a little while and if they don't show up in the next couple of hours, call the Solid Waste Department at 902- 275-2330. *********************************************** Dear Shabby, I just had my garbage rejected! I mean really! All nine black bags full of unsorted garbage just left at my curb! Unreal! ~ signed Outraged in Gold River Dear “Outraged”: Yes, unreal indeed... You might want to try recy- cling and about eight fewer black bags because I don't think the rejection will get any easier. Collecti on days that fall on holidays are either rescheduled to the Saturday BEFORE or the Saturday AFTER. 2016 Holidays Holiday Alternate day March 18 March 26 July 1 July 2 September 5 September 3 November 11 November 12 December 26 December 24 If a holiday isn't listed, we will collect as usual. Soli Wast Departmen 902-275-2330 RESCHEDULED C O L L E C T I O N Holiday Onl Saturda befor or aer! Have a solid waste question? Ask Dear Shabby at solidwaste@chester.ca PROPERTY SERVICES 7 REJECT If you are concerned that waste collection is cancelled because of a snowstorm on your collection day, call Kaizer Meadow at 902-275-2330 or listen to CKBW. If it is cancelled, they will pick it up the following Saturday. But first, please remove your waste from the curb in case the plow comes along, and make sure it's back curbside by 8:00 a.m. on Saturday so it doesn't get missed. Oh, and if you're on a private road, plow and sand/salt it because if it isn't passable, the truck is not coming for your waste. No one likes rejected garbage, including us. Ask us for help before the unthinkable happens and you find yourself elbow-deep in mixed waste. Call 902-275-2330 or visit www.chester.ca We reject waste that is, • over the limit of one black bag, five clear bags, one green cart and ten recycle bags (includes paper and bundled cardboard), plus three extra paper bags of yard waste. • unsorted, including green carts. • too dirty - clean those recyclables! CLEAN 'EM! KAIZERMEADOW We're not just here for our looks In addition to Special Collection, the Municipality of the District of Chester offers regular curbside collection every two weeks and access to our Public Drop-off and Hazardous Waste Depot at the Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre. If you would rather not wait for one of our three Special Collections, or if you have too much material, Kaizer Meadow accepts up to 1,500 lbs of residential waste per trip FOR FREE. We accept labelled hazardous waste, tires, recyclables, regular garbage, furniture and more. We are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and on Saturday from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon. Find us at 450 Kaizer Meadow Road, Route #14 (Windsor Road) about 17 km north of Exit 8 on Highway #103. Tweet of the Week Our most popular post on Twitt er in December was... We off er friends and family our deepest condolences. 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 fi nd all of the latest up- dates, minutes, tender informati on, and more. Twitt er: Search for @chestermun or @ChesterRecParks in your Twitt er account. Follow us and get regular updates and noti fi cati ons about municipal issues, including live tweets from Council meeti ngs. Facebook: Visit www.facebook.com/ChesterMunicipality and learn about events and stories happening in the area. If you have some- thing to share, message us! We will post your event or photos! Instagram: Follow us at chestermuni to see photos of municipal events and daily life in the Municipality! Tag us in your pics! If you have questi ons about… call this Department... at this number Animal Control (Dogs)Animal Control Offi cer 902-277-0017 Bandstand/Gazebo rental (Wedding) Recreati on & Parks Department 902-275-3490 Boat Launches Recreati on & Parks Department 902-275-3490 Building Permits/Inspecti ons Building/Fire Inspecti on 902-275-3080 By-Laws Community Development Dept 902-275-3080 Civic Numbering Community Development Dept 902-275-2599 Composti ng Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/902-275-1312 Council Meeti ngs Administrati on/Tax Department 902-275-3554 Fire Inspecti ons Building/Fire Inspecti on 902-275-3080 Islands (use of)Recreati on & Parks Department 902-275-3490 Kaizer Meadow Solid Waste Department 902-275-2330 Municipal Sewer Public Works Department 902-275-1312 Aft er Hours Emergencies 1-888-664-6998 Parks/Trails Recreati on & 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 Administrati on/Tax Dept 902-275-3554 Waste Collecti on 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 administrati on@chester.ca publicworks@chester.ca P O Box 369 building@chester.ca recreati on@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 Veinott e 902-277-1409 #2 Simms Sett lement, Hubbards to The Lodge Floyd Shatf ord 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 Marti ns River Robert Myra 902-627-2470 #6 New Ross and area Tina Connors 902-679-4461 #7 Marriott s Cove, Windsor Road to Sherwood Sharon Church-Cornelius 902-277-1301 For exact district boundaries, call the Municipal Offi ce at 902-275-3554 or click on the “Inform” menu opti on on our website. Provincial/Federal Contacts Nova Scoti a Department of Environment ..........................................................902-543-4685 Labour ...................................................................902-543-0665 Natural Resources .................................................902-634-7555 Public Health .........................................................902-543-0850 Transportati on (Bridgewater) ................................902-543-8169 Transportati on (Marriott ’s Cove)...........................902-275-3221 Property Valuati on Services (Assessments) ...........1-800-380-7775 Denise Peterson-Rafuse, MLA ...............................1-877-740-3378 ..................................................................................902-279-3378 Bernadett e Jordan, MP .............................................902-527-5655 ...............................................................................1-888-816-4446 We want to showcase our wonderful communiti es on www.chester.ca! If you have a story, comment, spectacular photo, or anything, email communicati ons@chester.ca and we will use it to build our communiti es page. Once we have enough to cover all districts, we will go live! Each month, we will highlight a district. Occasionally, winter takes over and we need to cancel a few things, like programs, meeti ngs, or other municipal events. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, you might be unsure if an event you want to att end is cancelled or not. Please check our website anyti me aft er 3:00 pm for evening events or fi rst thing in the morning for Council meeti ngs. 1. Go to www.chester.ca and scroll down the homepage unti l you see "Contact the Municipality". Below, in red, is our event cancellati on butt on. Click it to view the status of our events. 2. Another opti on is to subscribe to our Storm Cancellati on Alert and get event cancellati ons sent directly to your email address. It's easy, just go to www.chester.ca, scroll down to the "Informati on Hub" and hit subscribe to go to our alert opti ons page. "In case of storm" report Winter storms can wreak havoc on event planning Online Opti ons 1. 2. Person-to-person Opti ons 3. For Municipal Offi ce closure, meeti ng cancellati ons, or general storm inquiries, simply call us at 902-275-3554. If we are not open, our voice messaging system is updated. The Recreati on & Parks Department also updates their voice messaging system for program cancellati ons. You can reach their offi ce by calling 902-275-3490. Waste collecti on is occasionally cancelled if the storm is bad enough. To fi nd out, listen to CKBW or call our Solid Waste Department at Kaizer Meadow Landfi ll. Their phone number is 902-275-2330. If collecti on is cancelled, it will be rescheduled for the following Saturday. If you have a snowplowing questi on, please call the Nova Scoti a Department of Transportati on and Infrastructure at 1-888- 432-3233 or 511. 3. 902-275-3554 (Admin) 902-275-3490 (Rec) 902-275-2330 (Waste)