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Home My Public Portal About2018-08_MunicipalInsight-compressedmunicipal insight “Keeping informed about August/September 2018 your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this summer... A new what now? Hello old friend, we miss you. Water you think about this? Ooooh yeaaaaahhhh! Bob's Annual Memorial MODC's Water Upgrade The website is finished successful for third year Lending Program By-Law and we're happy! (Pg. 3) running. (Pg 4) finalized. (Pg 7) FRUSTRATED? PROVE IT! Partnership hopes to gather data to leverage improvements The increasing need for stable, high-speed internet coupled with the existing unreli- able service in many areas has residents and businesses in Lunenburg and Queens County frustrated and demanding better. Internet has become essential for many fami- lies, both professionally and personally. Existing businesses struggle to access the global market or work from home because the internet ser- vice in their area is inadequate for their needs. Options for contacting family members living abroad are sometimes limited to only landline telephones with long-distance charges instead of internet-based programs like FaceTime or Skype. Even watching Netflix or gaming is im- possible without decent internet. The question is, can it be improved? We think so and so does the Province of Nova Scotia, who announced a trust of $120 million that will hopefully be used along with private and feder- al money to provide 95% of Nova Scotians with quality internet service. To aid this initiative, we are partnering with the Region of Queens and the Municipality of Lunenburg in a quest to identify areas where broadband internet services are poor or non- existent. Over the next several months, residents and business owners on the South Shore can partici- pate in an online test to reveal the performance of their internet service – a measurement that will help the development of services. And, residents from the Municipality of Chester who participate before September 28 are eligible to win a $100 gift certificate to a local restaurant of their choice. You can take the 30-second test at https://performance.cira.ca/southshore How to take the test When you visit the website above, it will test the internet speed where you are at the time because the test is location-specific, registering each location as buttons are pressed. Feel free to take the test multiple times because speed results may vary over the course of the day. Step 1 From your home or business, visit the website above. Make sure you say "yes" if asked to share your location! Step 2 Click the start button at the top right of the webpage. A map will pop up asking you to con- firm your location. If the location is incorrect, simply use your mouse and drag the marker to the correct location. This is important because we want to ensure your speed is captured in the right community on the map. Then click "okay" on the bottom right. After 30 seconds, your up- load and download speeds will be recorded and displayed. If your connection is so poor that the test fails, that will also be recorded and included in the results. Step 3 Tell your friends to take the test! The more lo- cations recorded, the better data we will have. We want to know where the quality of internet service is high, poor, and non-existent. No internet? If you do not have internet service, contact Erin Lowe, our Economic Development Officer, with your civic address, and she will record your information for you. Her telephone number is 902-275-2599. Or, you can go to a "connected facility" where wifi is present, visit https:// performance.cira.ca/southshore and click on "If you wish to inform us of a location without internet access". Put an address pin on the map and drag it to your location, and we will record that there is no internet service at that site. More about the test The Internet Performance Test (IPT) was de- veloped by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) as a way to collect highly de- tailed information about the quality of internet service. The IPT measures some 100 different internet connection factors beyond the speed of the network, to give planners information on latency (how much delay is in a connection) and the ability of your computer to connect with the latest Internet Protocols. The IPT is being ad- ministered in Atlantic Canada by the non-profit group i-Valley, which also helped to develop the tool. The IPT will map the ‘digital divide’ for our rural communities, and help municipalities pri- oritize those areas with poorer service. The test analyzes more than 100 variables that range from speed to quality - all the factors that could be slowing a resident down or affecting the reliability of their service. The IPT results are displayed for everyone on a map of the re- gion, colour-coded to highlight service quality. A red zone is poor; a blue zone is good. The IPT ranges from zero to the new national speed goal of 50 Megabits per second (Mbps). The further the speed drops below 25 Mbps, the redder the map gets; the faster the speed, the bluer it gets. What next? Results of this test will provide evidence of performance, which will be used during the planning stage and will provide support for funding applications to the provincial and feder- al governments. Call or email Erin Lowe at 902- 275-2599 or elowe@chester.ca with questions. performance.cira.ca/SouthShore HELP US IMPROVE INTERNET SERVICE IN LUNENBURG & QUEENS COUNTY! C M Y CM MY CY CMY K POSTCARD_INTERNET TEST PERFORMANCE.pdf 1 2018-07-19 1:09 PM MUNICIPAL COUNCIL Message from the Warden Welcome back to our summer resi- dents and thanks to all of you for your continued support in making our communities so vibrant during the sum- mer months. Our Tourism Team has been out and about all across the region promoting all our Municipality has to offer and has been receiving some very positive com- ments. I would also like to express our appre- ciation to all of the business owners who have stepped up to the plate and agreed to become local tourism ambassadors in 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 Follow @chestermun on Twitter for live tweets from Council meetings!2 promoting our Municipality. Council recently approved a loan pro- gram to assist our residents who have water quantity or quality issues. Please read the details in this issue and see if it can be of assistance to you personally. The article is on page 7. We are also in partnership with other municipal units initiating an internet per- formance test to assist us in determin- ing the need for improvement and best path forward to improve service where required. Make sure when you take the test that you click on your own civic ad- dress to ensure the accuracy of the data collected. It's been a busy summer so far with lots of activities yet to come. Race Week has started, a big Community Fair in New Ross is happening August 18 and 19, and plan ahead for the ever-growing Commu- nity Fun Day in Chester Basin on Septem- ber 15. Take care, and enjoy the rest of the summer. Respectfully, Holiday Closure and Waste Collection: Municipal Offices will close on Monday, September 3 for Labour Day. This day, Kaizer Meadow Landfill will close as well, and waste collection is rescheduled to the previous Saturday - September 1. Staff change: The Engineering & Public Works Department welcomes Greg Jonah in the Engineering Technologist position. Greg started with the Municipality in July. Yay, Greg! East River Bridge design change: Council approved a design change made by NS Depart- ment of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Instead of sidewalks, there will be paved shoulders on both sides. Two new roads: We have two new roads in the Municipality of Chester. The first one is "Ten- Penny Lane", which is off Old Post Road in East Chester. The second one is "Victor's Lane" off of Forties Road in New Ross. Village of Chester Commission fire rate set: Council accepted the Commission's rate at $0.1517 and the fire boat rate at $0.95. They also approved a rate of $0.074 for outside areas serviced by the Chester Fire Department. All rates are applied to per $100 of assessment. Fire Commissions set proposed fire rates annually, and they are added to the property tax bill. When the money is collected, it is forwarded to each Commission. The Village of Chester Commission is a bit different as they undertake various projects (like the Lido Pool) and provide some services (like weekly green cart collection) within the Village. You have an opportunity for input at your area's ratepayers meetings, which are advertised by respective Commissions. Youth Sponsorship Grants: Congratulations to Isabella Noble of Chester for her participation on Team NS Under 15 Volleyball in the Eastern Elite Volleyball Championships in Halifax. Council funded Bella $350 towards her competition. Patrick Randall of Chester also received a sponsorship grant for his participation on the NS Bantam Young Guns Hockey Team, who played in a tournament in Lewiston, Maine. He received $650 from Council. Congratulations! Use of Vacated Fox Point Community Centre: We will issue an Expression of Interest to non- profit organizations for use or acquisition of the Fox Point Community Centre. Staff is preparing the EOI soon for distribution. Stay tuned! IN BRIEF... Below is a listing of grants given so far this fiscal year. For a complete description of municipal grant programs, including criteria and deadlines, please contact the Recreation & Parks Department at 902-275-3490 or visit https://chester. GRANTS GRANTED SO FAR Council's support for local non-profits in 2018-19 ca/government/grants-and-sponsorships Council approved a budget of $398,020 in grants this year as well as increased the amounts for two FHCS Merits Awards to $1,000 each. Group Use Amount Aenon Baptist Church Chester Basin Community Fun Day Celebration $ 3,000.00 Aspotogan Heritage Trust Management/ownership Aspotogan Ridge Golf Course 100,000.00 Card Lake Park Maintenance 2,000.00 Chester & Area Family Resource Ctr Playground and facility equipment 2,500.00 Chester Drama Society Professional stage manager 4,000.00 Chester Legion, FE Butler Branch #44 Picnic event 500.00 Chester Merchants Group Saltscapes, brochure, marketing Gingerbread Festival 1,500.00 Chester Municipal Heritage Society Painting and step replacement, Lordly House Museum 6,000.00 Chester Municipal Relay for Life BBQ sponsorship 1,500.00 Chester Seaside Farmers & Artisans Market Picnic tables and canopies 600.00 Chester Yacht Club Chester Race Week 4,000.00 Christmas Daddies Annual donation 100.00 Church Memorial Park Beer garden fundraiser ($500); Annual grant ($50K); roof project ($20K)70,500.00 Community Wheels Annual contribution 8,000.00 Deep Cove Fireworks & Weiner Roast Canada Day event 500.00 District No. 1 Community Centre Generator 3,500.00 Forest Heights Community School Courtyard project 5,000.00 Forties Community Centre Oktoberfest 500.00 Hubbards Area Business Association Canada Day celebrations 1,000.00 Hubbards Area Lions Club Renovations for a new fitness area 1,000.00 Hubbards Community Waterfront Assoc.Waterfront Summer Movie Series 500.00 Lunenburg Co. Sport Heritage Society Sponsorship of local sport hall of fame 500.00 New Ross Family Resource Centre Operational costs 2,500.00 New Ross Farmers Association Minor improvements, equipment, maintenance 800.00 New Ross Legion, Branch #79 Canada Day celebrations 1,000.00 New Ross Preschool Society Equipment and renovations 24,876.95 New Ross Regional Development Society 25th Christmas Festival anniversary tourism project 11,765.00 New Ross Trails Society Trail development 3,500.00 NOW Lunenburg County Magazine, doctor recruitment, internet project 2,000.00 Our Health Centre Equipment for walk-in clinic 14,078.24 Prom Committee 2018 Forest Heights Community School prom expenses 500.00 St. Stephen's Anglican Church Musical Friends - professional musicians as instructors 3,000.00 South Shore Pipes and Drums Instruments 2,500.00 South Shore Safe Communities MODC portion of budget 6,086.00 Swissair 111 Anniversary Committee Memorial efforts for 20th Anniversary 500.00 The Village Hall Windows, doors, roof repair, remove external door 13,300.00 Together We Can Community Society Development of Gold River Park 15,000.00 United Way of Lunenburg County Employee match program up to 1,200.00 Western Shore & Area Improvement Hall Canada Day celebrations 833.00 Western Shore & District Fire Dept Annual parade 833.00 Western Shore Legion, Branch #144 Canada Day celebrations 833.00 "WhyHere" videos marketing our local businesses are online at www.chester.ca 3 Come, sit a spell... We have officially launched our new website, and, like any proud parent, we just have to show you a picture. We hope that you like the new format and invite you to visit and look around. A few highlights: • Our tourism site is gorgeous! Get there by clicking "Visit" on our front page, or through www.tourismchester.ca • Business owners! Help people find you by adding your business to our directory. Once we give it the "okay", add photos, links and your TripAdvi- sor review! Post hours, menus, a map, and a description. • Sign up for municipal notifications and always be in the know. Scroll down the front page for the link. STRATEGIC PRIORITIESStrategic Priorities Refresh South Shore Regional Enterprise Network: The SSREN will be terminated by September 30. Municipal units in Lunenburg County are moving ahead with plans to replace the Net- work on a smaller, more effective scale. Streetscape Plan: We confirmed with the De- partment of Transportation that we will coor- dinate paving the shoulders during Phase One repair work on Highway #3 from Chester Basin to Wakeup Hill. We are exploring other poten- tial projects supporting the Plan. Investment Strategy: We met with our bank- ing institution to discuss investment portfolio opportunities for the Municipality. Their rec- ommendations will be considered when de- veloping our investment strategy. Central Water System for Chester: As written in the previous edition, a presentation and report was made to Council in July. Following that, Council and the Village of Chester Com- mission met. Next is a plebescite, communi- cations strategy, and to find out what we will need for pre-design work including cost. The report will be uploaded to www.voicesand- choices.ca shortly as will updates and time- lines for this project. Keep an eye out! Shared Services: One of the two municipal councils we were waiting for has approved an inter-municipal agreement for shared build- ing/fire/dangerous and unsightly services. We are waiting for one more before we can pro- ceed. Well Upgrade Lending Program By-Law: Com- plete! This By-Law will allow residents to bor- row money from the Municipality to upgrade their wells. We are now accepting applications on a first come, first served basis. Visit our website at www.chester.ca, email ccollicutt@ chester.ca or call 902-275-4116. COMFIT: This project is off the table. The esti- mated revenue decreased by almost half and the timelines were too tight. Work on this has stopped. Road Upgrade Policy: This was originally added to the "next priorties" list, but moved up. Council will prepare a policy on how we will select eligible roads for improvement and what kind of improvements we are allowed to make as well as payment options. • Service inventory: This has begun, and will be completed as time permits. • Internal process/control review: Our Finance Staff plans to review the Depart- ment's internal processes. The newly- formed Audit Committee will review the results first. • Purchase order module: Not started. • Tax rate and debt strategy: Not started. • Human resources succession strategy: Not started. • Business retention/engagement: This will be determined by the outcomes of the Sector Strategy work as well as the Regional Enterprise Network. Our Eco- nomic Development Officer continues to work with businesses in the Municipality. • Website upgrade - phase two: Complet- ed! Visit www.chester.ca • GIS database awareness initiative: This is complete. Directors learned how GIS can improve decision-making and will use it to its full advantage. • IT risk mitigation plan: We completed our "cyber insurance application" and will develop a Cyber Risk Policy...those dang hackers just won't let up! • Sherbrooke Lake park design: The Municipality of Lunenburg awarded the design Request for Proposals to EDM. • Western Shore/Mill Cove sewer: West- ern Shore is near completion, but the effluent (sewer water) test at Mill Cove is not sufficient so further work is needed. • Fire inspection policy: A revised draft of this policy is completed. • Sustane Transition: This has moved from the immediate priorities list to the "other things" list as we take the next year to get a feel for impact once the facility is operational in Fall 2018 (tentatively). • Portable signage amendment: Council passed an amendment addressing por- table signage issues in the Village. • Sewer system assessments and annual reports: Every year, we must show that we are doing what the Province needs us to do in order to keep our sewer plants operating. Success! We are complying! • Business Park commercial entrance ap- proval: Granted in February 2018. • Shatford's by the Sea development agreement and amendment: This has been taken off the list as the develop- ment is no longer taking place. • Planning staff recruitment: Completed! The Community Development Depart- ment is at full strength at last and ready to take on all of your planning needs. • Public participation policy/program: Complete! The Municipality opted to use www.voicesandchoices.ca as an- other tool to engage you on some of our larger projects. Plan Review was the first projects to use the tool, and the Chester Village Water Supply project will be next. Top 8 Wow, you finished your list so here are some other things Next Priorities • Sector strategy: This project is broken into three phases: prioritizing our target growth sectors, creating sector-specific marketing plans to attract those particu- lar businesses, and then putting those plans into action. We have awarded Phase One work to Gardner Pinfold Con- sultants Inc. Development is underway and a report will be provided to Council when it's completed. • Marketing strategy: This is Phase Two of the Sector Strategy. • Business/industrial and EcoPark devel- opment plan: A piece of property was purchased in Robinsons Corner. A traffic impact analysis was completed and we are awaiting review and comments from the Dept of Transportation and Infra- structure Renewal. A conceptual plan for infrastructure will follow. • Village Land Use By-Law and Secondary Planning Strategy: This will proceed after our Municipal review has wrapped up. • Open spaces plan: The main topics covered by the plan include: working to update the database of municipal prop- erties, develop a plan for "gem" proper- ties, update the subdivision by-law, and identify gaps in open space. We have visited nine of our "priority" properties and a staff report is pending. • Asset management: This is required by municipalities who access federal Gas Tax Program funding. We are developing the policy and strategy followed by complet- ing an inventory and data collection. Still working on this! • Active Living Strategy: The plan is to up- date this document this year. The current strategy covers the period of 2014-2017. • Code of Conduct and Expense Policy for Council: A draft of this policy is in development, and we await the Province to approve their own regulations around this so we can be sure that we are meet- ing their requirements as well. • Salary/remuneration/benefit review: Council will decide if this will proceed. • Plan Review - public engagement: Meet- ing notes and the final report are avail- able on www.voicesandchoices.ca. • Community use of New Ross Con- solidated School: This is complete. An agreement was drafted between MODC and the Province, and September is the start date. • Sewer capacity analysis: A Request for Proposals is being prepared for a strategy that could increase the capacity of the Chester, Chester Basin and New Ross sewer systems. • Signage by-law program: This is pending. • Wastewater management by-law: Work for this is scheduled for later in the Fall. • Rural Internet: See the front page. Care to see our Strategic Priorities List? You can find it at https://chester.ca/ government/council/councils- strategic-priorities Last issue, we briefly described Council's top priorities for 2018-19. Below is an update on those priorities as well as a bit more detail on the "next priorities" and the rest of the "wow, you finished your list so here are some other things" list. Follow us on social media for updates on employment opportunites, current events, project news, and much more.4 COMMUNITY INTEREST Lettuce Help You We have already-made container vegetable gardens for those who are a) unable to tend to their own garden and b) unable to visit the Community Garden in Chester. Call Jen at 902-275-3554. Limited supplies! Sponsored by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. Memo from the NS Health Authority (NSHA): Dr. Karen Cox's practice will close on August 27, 2018. NSHA has recruited a new physician to work in the Chester Community Clinic at OHC start- ing in September. To help move patients through the process of getting on with the new physician, all current patients of Dr. Cox must register with "Need a Family Practice" by emailing needafami- lypratice@nshealth.ca or calling 811, Monday through Friday between 10am and 6pm. If you require routine healthcare, please • call 811 to speak with a registered nurse for health care advice; • visit the walk-in clinic at OHC , South Shore Re- gional Hospital Walk-in Clinic or the Tantallon Walk-In Clinic; or • for mental health concerns, call the 24-hour mental health crisis line at 1-888-429-8167. If you require emergency health services, please • call 911 or • proceed to Fisherman’s Memorial Hospital or South Shore Regional Emergency Department. Were you aware that the Municipality of Ches- ter offers permanent and summer residents a boat pump-out service? We do. It operates Monday to Friday from 7:00am to 3:00pm at the Back Harbour Wharf in Chester (aka the Red Cross Wharf). To schedule a time, please call the Engineering and Public Works Office at 902-275-1312. When getting your boat pumped out: • Make sure your boat is securely tied up to the wharf with bumpers in place. • It is easier to do a pump out when the tide is high. • If your sailboat has an extra long keel, tie up at the end of the wharf during high tide. • Any vessels blocking the boat pump-out lo- cation at the wharf will be asked to move. Also, our Berthage Policy P-13 states that boats are not allowed to dock for longer than 24 hours at a time at our wharves, AND if you are blocking a "municipal facility", like the boat pump-out when in operation, your boat might be removed with or without you. We would also like to stress the importance of preventing fuel spills while you enjoy touring our coastal waters. Let's make all boaters' expe- riences a pleasurable one on unpolluted waters. Before You Start Refueling • Make sure your boat is securely moored to the dock. • Turn off the engine to avoid any risk of a fire. • Have absorbent pads handy during fueling. • Assign at least two spotters to watch the tanks to indicate when they are full. Make a date with your mailbox. Our Fall Explore Life Brochure arrives Tuesday, September 11. OUR HEALTH CENTRE NEWS While Refueling • Do not leave the nozzle unattended. • Use caution and pay close attention not to overfill your tank. Listen to your boat; it will bubble when the tank is full. • Use a vent collection device. If the tank is topped off without a ventilation device then the fumes will rise into the air. • Install a “whistle” to indicate when the tank is nearly full. After Refueling • Return the hose and nozzle to the gas pump. • Replace the fuel cap on the boat, securing tightly. • Clean up all spills immediately. If a spill occurs • Terminate the source of the spill. • If you overfill your tank, wipe up excess fuel with a rag. Put the rag in a sealed, metal con- tainer (like a paint can) filled with water until ready for disposal. • DO NOT hose the extra fuel into the water. • If the spill is small, use dry clean-up methods such as oil absorbent pads. • DO NOT apply detergents or soaps to clean up the spill. Applying these products merely masks the spill and sinks the oil to the sea floor making clean up difficult. • If the spill is large and out of control contact the Canadian Coast Guard at 1-800-565- 1633, or on VHF channel 16. Safe boating everyone! WHAT FLOATS YOUR BOAT? A public service announcement from your friendly, neighbourhood municipal government Well, once again, the community has shown tremendous support for PRO Kids during the overwhelming attendance at the 3rd Annual Robert Myra Memorial Ball Tournament/Musical Tribute that was held at BOB'S FIELD OF DREAMS Annual tribute gains overwhelming support from community the Western Shore Le- gion on August 4 and 5. Robert "Bob" Myra, was a former Mu- nicipal Councillor for District 5 for many years. Bob was also a big supporter of PRO Kids, and a very active community volunteer with many ties to the Western Shore Legion and the ball field un- til his passing a little over two years ago. To honour him, Bob’s family and friends pulled to- gether to organize the Robert Myra Memo- rial Ball Tournament/ Musical Tribute, and have successfully celebrat- ed his memory for the third straight year. This year, eight teams participated in the Ball Tournament with the Basin Lakers (shown in the photo on the left) winning the final game on Sunday. When they were not on the field play- ing ball, players savoured freshly barbequed food, participated in many raffles, 50/50, etc. and took the time to enjoy a musical tribute to Bob inside the Legion. The final tally is not in yet, but the approxi- mate amount raised at this event was $6,700. This would not have been possible without many dedicated volunteers, the generosity of lo- cal businesses, and the tremendous support of the community. Bob would be thrilled to know the community continues to honour him by tak- ing part in this event and to support a cause that was so dear to his heart. We have so many thanks to give. First to Bob's family who remind us of Bob's good nature and kindness through their own actions. We thank all of the volunteers that donated their time so willingly. Thank you to the sponsors of this event, such as Spidle's Independent in Chester, the Western Shore Legion, and Bridgewater Honda, as well as all of those who donated prizes. We thank the generous individuals who made food and not to mention the talented musicians who made it so much fun. We continue to thank all of the individuals, businesses and organizations who have supported and continue to support our PRO Kids program. 5Add your community event to the Municipality's website at www.chester.ca/events Wed., Aug 15 to Sat., Aug 18 Indoor Yard Sale Chester Baptist Church, 9am-2pm. Call 902-275-4049 or 902-275-3011. Mary Poppins Jr. Presented by Summer Theatre School at the Playhouse, 7:30pm with a 2:00pm matinee on Saturday. Call 902-275-3933 or visit www.chesterplayhouse.ca Fri., Aug. 17 Afternoon Tea with Raymond Chow Lordly House, Chester, 2-4pm Outdoor Summer Movie Hubbards Community Waterfront, 8:30pm. Raindate is August 24. Fri., Aug. 17 and Sat., Aug. 18 New Ross Community Fair New Ross Fairgrounds. Call 902-689- 2737 or 902-689-2115 during the Fair. Sun., Aug. 19 Summer Concert Chester Bandstand, 7pm. For info, call 902-299-0139. Sun., Aug. 26 Summer Concert Chester Bandstand, 7pm. For info, call 902-299-0139. Fri., Aug. 31 Outdoor Summer Movie Hubbards Community Waterfront, 8:30pm. Raindate is September 7. Sat., Sept. 1 Firefighters Breakfast Chester Basin Fire Department, 7:30- 10:30am. Mon., Sept. 3 Blood Donor Clinic Chester Legion, 4:30-8:30pm. For info, call 1-888-236-6283. Wed., Sept. 5 Elderfit Aquacise Atlantica Oak Island Resort, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:30- 11:30am. Call 902-275-4245 or 902-527- 1887 or visit www.elderfitlunenburg.ca Sat., Sept. 8 Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Sat., Sept. 15 Community Fun Day Aenon Baptist Church, 11am-3pm. Pig roast, music, games, dunk tank, BBQ, fireworks (9pm) Hog the Covers playing at Chester Legion, 9pm. Call 902-275-3315. 2nd Annual End of Summer Fundraise Beer Garden Chester Curling Club, 9pm-1am. 19 years and over. 902-275-7522, 902-275-7458, 902-275-980-1103, or 902-275-8966. Sun., Sept. 16 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm. Every Monday Auction East Chester Recreation Hall, 1pm. Craft Circle Until August 27 at Station 20 Craft Shoppe in the Old Train Station in Chester, 1-3pm. Pre-register and get schedule at 902-275-2592. Every Tuesday Craft Demonstration Until August 28 at Station 20 Craft Shoppe in the Old Train Station in Chester. Picnic in the Park Live music at Lordly Park, Chester, 6-8pm until August 28. Bingo Chester Legion, 7pm. 902-275-3315. Every Thursday Bingo New Ross Legion, 7-10pm. 902-689-2650 45's Card Games District #1 Community Centre, Blandford, 7:30pm. Every Friday Chester Farmers' & Artisan Market Chester Train Station, 9am-1pm (rain or shine). chesterfarmersmarket. wordpress.com or find us on Facebook. Live Music New Ross Legion, 9pm in August and 8:30pm in September. 902-689-2650. Every Saturday Hubbards Farmers' Market Until Oct 27. 8am-12pm, Hubbards Barn & Community Park. hubbardsbarn.org New Ross Country Market Until Thanksgiving, 9am-12pm, New Ross Community Fairgrounds. Call 902- 681-3171 or 902-689-2147. Rural Roots Market Until Sept. 10, 10am-2pm, at entrance of Ross Farm Museum. Call 902-599-1207 or visit www.ruralrootsmarket.ca Bingo East Chester Recreation Hall, 7pm. Daily except Wednesdays The Station 20 Handicraft Shoppe Old Train Station in Chester, 10am-4pm except on Sundays, 12-4pm. Monday to Saturday until August 18 is Christmas at the Station. Forward your community event to recreation@chester.ca to have it included on our website, Facebook page, municipal newsletter, and newspaper events listing. COMMUNITY INTEREST Thank you Grandma! Thank you for loving the planet and introducing us to the "Writing Instru- ment Recycling Project". The Municipality has partnered with Claudia Zinck-Gilroy, member of the Blandford Parish, for this rather interesting project to collect pens, markers, and pretty much all things that write for recycling. The program originates with Staples Canada and TerraCycle®. Together, with partners like Claudia, 1.4 million writing instruments have been recyled Canada-wide. People like you, who strive to recycle as much as they can, have the option to save and drop off pens, any type of markers, highlighters, and me- chanical pencils at over 300 drop-off sites across Canada (like the Municipality) where they are collected and taken to a near Staples store (in our case, it's the store in Bridgewater). Claudia has been participating successfully in this program and has secured six collection loca- tions, including us. She recently dropped off two boxes; one for the main Municipal Office at 151 King Street and the other for the Annex Building, 186 Central Street. Her goal? To recycle 10,000 pens and markers. When our boxes are full, they will be returned to Staples so the plastic can be recycled into new writing instruments instead of making new plastic. This program is just one project led by Claudia for the Parish of Blandford. She is responsible for Planting Night that incorporates homemade seed packets, bird feeders, and newspaper planting pots to use for yourself or the Bland- ford community garden. Bottle cap recycling, repurposing projects like origami from recyclable paper, green tips, and a community garden are among Claudia's do- ing. For more information on what the "Green Grandma" has going on, visit her website at PEN-CYCLING?http://www.grandmasgoinggreen.com. She is also on Facebook - search Grandma's Going Green. Look for this box at either Municipal Office in Chester to drop off your old pens, markers and highlighters. PROPERTY SERVICES 6Subscribe to municipal email notifications and alerts at www.chester.ca on the homepage. Dear Shabby, I'm all for being a "waste disposal leader" and all, but surely you do not expect me to drive a lone aerosol can or AA battery all the way to the Landfill for disposal. The non- renewable fossil fuel I would burn for the trip outweighs any benefit there is. ~ signed Too Much Gas in Hubbards Dear “Too Much”: You are 100% right, and I admire your grasp on ecological footprints. I have a couple of options for you and some food for thought. First, may I suggest holding your hazard- ous waste (like compact fluourescent bulbs), recyclable-but- dangerous-when-compacted aerosols, paint, batteries, and any other landfill-bound items until you have an amount significant enough to warrant a trip to Kaizer Meadow? If you just want the items gone, we have depots for various things that have reached the end of their useful life, but that can't be put in the garbage. Adam's ENVIRO-Depot in Gold River collects all sorts of things, CFL bulbs can be dropped off at any Home Hardware in the Municipality, and rechargeable and disposable household batteries can be brought to the Municipal Office. Check page 20 of the Waste Collection Calendar for alternate drop-off locations. Finally, don't get discouraged. Items like batteries don't be- long in the landfill for a reason. Batteries can cause fires; fluourescent bulbs contain mercury, which is a hazardous material; aerosol containers can explode; and all of those things create safety concerns for the collector and munici- pal landfill staff. So although driving to the landfill may not Dear Shabby Friendly waste disposal advice be the option you choose every time, there are other things you can do to reach the same result! ******************************************************** Dear Shabby, So, I've got a bear hanging out in my yard. Believe me when I tell you that they are NOT as cuddly as they look! When they look at you with those cute little eyes, they aren't begging for a good scratching behind the ears. After a month-long recovery, I'm able to walk again and have almost regained the full use of my left arm. Turns out, she was looking for food, not affection. How can I keep com- posting without attracting her? ~ signed My Wild Life Upper Blandford Dear “Wild”: For the benefit of my readers, I would like to point out that it is NEVER a good idea to approach a wild animal unless you know what you're doing. NEVERRRR! Okay, now that that's out of the way. You can still compost even with a bear hanging around. All it takes is planning. First, the only reason a bear is pestering you is because she sees your property as a food source. So remove the food. Only put out compost the day of collection (store it in your freezer) and the same goes for garbage bags. Don't put cooked food or meat in your backyard compost and ap- ply lime to reduce smell. Rinse your green cart and put it out for collection often. Visit https://novascotia.ca/natr/ wildlife/nuisance/bears.asp for many more tips. Summer is now fully upon us and so are the complaints of unsightly properties and illegal dumping. Unsightly Properties It is so easy for a few odds and ends left in a yard to accumulate into so much more; a little wood, some construction debris from those ‘DIY projects’, some garbage that was a little too much for regular pick- up. Before long, the By-law Enforcement Officer is knocking at the door. Every property owner has a responsibility under Provincial law to maintain their property. What this means is that garbage, piles of rubbish and derelict vehicles, just to name a few items, are not permit- ILLEGAL DUMPING STRIKES AGAIN Irresponsible waste disposal costs time and money Recyclable paper is like a bull.Clean plastic is like a china shop.The two don't mix. (hint: please put your clean paper in a separate recycling bag) We have opted to include information on bulky waste collection again in this issue in case you have been away, have just arrived for your vacation, or missed it in the last issue. Rules for biweekly, bulky collection are the same as that for special collection, except the rules apply to one item. As a refresher, we've listed them here: • An item can be placed at the curb 24 hours before collection day. • It cannot exceed 50lbs in weight, 4' in length (except for furniture), and 46 cubic feet in volume. BULKY COLLECTION UNDERWAY The new biweekly collection of large items has started • Put small items in a box or bag. • Bagged garbage still must be in clear bags. We will collect: • large appliances (stoves, hot water tanks, etc.) • furniture and mattresses • metal (small car part, mower with gas removed, etc.) • SMALL amount of wood (cannot exceed 4' in length or 50lbs in weight, and must be bundled, boxed or bagged) • SMALL amount of drywall (cannot exceed 4' in length, 50lbs in weight and must be bundled, boxed or bagged) • SMALL amount of asphalt shingles (cannot exceed 4' in length, 50lbs in weight and must be bundled, boxed or bagged) • one lobster trap • one pallet We will NOT collect: • electronics • tires (remove from rim and take to Kaizer Meadow or up to four to a tire retailer) • household hazardous waste • propane tanks (take to Kaizer Meadow) • items containing Freon® (refrigerators, freezers, etc.) • large amounts of wood, asphalt shingles or drywall If you live in the Village of Chester, bulky collection will still occur once every two weeks, on the municipal collec- tion day and not on the alternate green cart collection day provided by the Village of Chester Commission. All residential waste up to 1500 lbs per trip can be brought to Kaizer Meadow for free, Monday to Saturday from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Call 902-275-2330. After 2018, bulky collection will fully replace the traditional special collection that happened three times per year. ted to accumulate. This does not mean, however, that property has to be in pristine condition at all times by keep- ing grass at a uniform specific height or child’s toys hidden away at all times. The Municipality of Chester has a complaint-driven system so keeping an untidy mess away from view of passers- by is also a great idea. To help, we offer residents free waste disposal at Kaizer Meadow Landfill of up to 1500 lbs (680 kg) per load. There is no limit to the number of trips a person can make to get rid of those unwanted items. Should you have derelict vehicles in your yard that need to be removed, there are a number of com- panies and individuals who will haul away a derelict vehicle for free or for a small fee. Illegal Dumping Every year, complaints about illegal dumping continue to come in, both from our own residents as well as from those who live outside the area. It's a burden on tax dollars and municipal resources as we spend time and money to clean up the dump site. Many times, residents report of bags thrown from a vehicle to a large accumulation of items dumped somewhere. Without proof of who is do- ing the dumping, sadly, these messes are left for the listed property owner to clean up. Other times, calls are about our "community" waste containers and sites. Specifically this season, we are having difficulty at the Lakeshore Drive site in New Russell. After a report late on Friday, July 13, we made a trip to the Lakeshore Drive community waste site (as seen in photo) only to find the site had been mis- used. We cleaned up the mess, only to have to re- turn the following Monday to clean up more waste that was left over the weekend. These bins are intended for use by the private road residents in the Whalen Lake area who do not have regular end-of-driveway pick-up. All residents in the Municipality are required to follow the solid waste collection rules. Disregarding the rules because users feel they can get away with irresponsibly and anonymously disposing waste only makes it costly for taxpayers and causes an eyesore in the community. Things to remember For each household, • waste is collected once every two weeks; • there is a maximum of six bags of garbage al- lowed (one black bag and the rest clear); • there is a maximum of ten blue or clear bags of recyclables correctly separated; • there is a maximum of one green cart PLUS up to three paper yard waste bags OR three bun- dles of 3’ branches; • one ‘bulky waste’ item is allowed; • all waste must be bagged or bundles as re- quired; • industrial size bags (31” x 42”) are too large for curbside pick-up and not allowed. Community waste bins are labelled to indicate where to correctly place waste. Used electronics can be dropped off at Adam’s Bottle Exchange in Gold River. Items, such as hazardous waste materials and used car parts, belong at the Kaizer Meadow Envi- ronmental Management Centre for proper disposal and recycling. Please remember that illegal dumping affects the entire community, and, if you are caught illegally dumping or in violation of the Solid Waste By-Law, can also come with a fine from $100 up to $10,000. If you see someone dumping illegally, please con- tact the By-Law Enforcement Officer at 902-275- 3080 or email bylaw@chester.ca. Don’t be afraid to report! Unlike the illegal dumper, you will remain anonymous. Lakeshore Drive in New Russell is one of a few community waste sites where anonymous illegal dumpers get away with depositing their unsorted, ripped open and excessive waste. We may not be available 24/7, but our website is. Visit us at www.chester.ca 7 BOSS or BUST 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 "Contact" or https://webfiche. district.chester.ns.ca/Forms/CCRegister Coming in to see us at 151 King Street in Chester. Since the last report in June, we received one complaint and one compliment. • Once again, litter and illegal dumping are the topic of discussion. The complaint we received was about a seemingly regular individual or group who eats lunch at the Hutt Lake fire hydrant supply (despite a no parking sign). Doesn't sound so bad except they leave their garbage strewn around a folding table they have set up. Possibilities to consider are a camera, RCMP involvement, signage and/or a waste container. Another possiblity is that the people littering can responsibly deal with their own garbage so we don't have to spend your money. Just a suggestion. • Our compliment, as are all our compli- ments, was lovely! A resident took her bike on a couple of trails to Castle Rock, and found the experience to be "fantastic!" We are thrilled when any of the Munici- pality's trails get used. They are beautiful and easy to access. Please don't thank us, we should be thanking you for using them! ATTENTION MORTGAGE HOLDERS: Starting last April, the Municipality issued property tax bills to ALL customers - even those who hold mortgages with a bank that pays their property taxes on their behalf. If your property taxes are included in your mortgage payment, and the bank pays us on your behalf, you will now receive a copy of your property tax bill for your own records only. DO NOT PAY IT as the bank will continue to pay your property taxes for you until your mortgage agreement expires. The copy of your property tax bill that you will receive in September is for your own information ONLY. We issue property tax bills twice a year: April and September. When you receive it, you do not have to take any action except to file it with your other papers. If you have any questions, please call us at 902-275-3554 or email us at finance@chester.ca PROPERTY SERVICES The Municipality has just finished polishing up a brand new by-law that will help home owners improve their water supplies. The Water Supply Upgrade Lending Program By-Law #148 became affective August 1, 2018 and provides home owners with access to low- cost financing for improvements made to a drinkable water supply. The By-Law allows owners to apply for a low- interest loan through the Municipality for eligi- ble upgrades that can include: • construction of a new dug or drilled well; • upgrade to an existing well that sources drinking water to the property; • installation of equipment, such as a well pump, water line and electrical connec- tion that supports the function of a new or upgraded well; • other equipment like cisterns or contain- ers that collect water; or • labour costs associated with construction or installation. Council has set aside up to $150,000 in the 2018/19 budget for upgrade loans, with a maxi- mum of $10,000 per application. If you are interested in applying to the Munici- pality to finance upgrades to your water supply A BY-LAW THAT HOLDS WATER Municipal loans available for upgrades to on-site water and need more information, please contact us at 902-275-3554 or visit us at the Municipal Of- fice, 151 King Street, Chester. To apply, complete the registration form and checklist that can be picked up at our office or downloaded at https://chester.ca/water-sewer/ water-supply-upgrade-lending-program. Return it to us along with a contractor's quote, and we will review it. Upon approval, these conditions must be met: • property taxes, rates and charges cannot be in default or have been in default for the last two years; • the proposed water supply must meet provincial and federal regulations; • the proposed contractor must have a val- id Department of Environment licence to carry out a water supply upgrade; and • conditions listed in the Financing Agree- ment. If approved, we will ask you to come in and complete a financing agreement and draw up a payment schedule. Payment schedules can be over a period of 10 years (maximum), but you can opt for less. Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis. The Chester Basin/New Ross/ Chester Lions Club will not have their annual Apple Sale in the Fall. Their supplier was hit heavily by frost and left them with no apples. Please contact Sandy Zwicker at 902-275-3629 for information. VOICES & CHOICES is an online engagement platform just for you. Visit www.voicesandchoices.ca to keep up- to-date on municipal projects. Leave comments, ask us questions, or even participate in a poll every now and then. Visit the site to look around or create an account in one easy step to leave a comment. Questions about VOICES & CHOICES? Please email communications@chester.ca or call Jennifer at 902-275-3554. If you qualify, you could receive insulation or other energy efficiency upgrades for your home. We help Nova Scotian home- owners living on low incomes save money – and feel warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. If we discover that upgrades will help reduce your heating and power bills, we will install them at no cost to you. For free. Seriously, there’s no catch. www.HomeWarming.ca or call 1-855-478-4445. To see if you qualify, go to Tweet of the Week Our most popular post on Twitter in July... 16 hours + 13 fire departments + determination = gratitude x relief x admiration x appreciation 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 updates, 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 area. If you have something 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! YouTube: Subscribe to modcvideo for our latest videos. We have a channel showcasing some of our outstanding attractions and businesses, and we are hoping to add more! 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 Public Works Department 902-275-1312 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 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 Taxes Finance Department 902-275-3554 Waste Collection Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/902-275-1312 Wharves Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490 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 Marshal Hector 902-277-2982 #2 Simms Settlement, Hubbards to The Lodge Floyd Shatford 902-275-7868 #3 Chester and part of East Chester Danielle Barkhouse 902-277-1624 #4 Chester Basin and Chester Grant Allen Webber 902-275-8373 #5 Gold River to Martins River Abdella Assaff 902-277-2765 #6 New Ross Tina Connors 902-277-1095 #7 Middle River to Haddon Hill, Windsor Road to Sherwood Sharon Church 902-277-1301 For exact district boundaries, call the Municipal Office at 902-275-3554. Provincial/Federal Contacts Nova Scotia Department of Environment ..........................................................902-543-4685 Labour ...................................................................902-543-0665 Natural Resources .................................................902-634-7555 Public Health .........................................................902-543-0850 Transportation (Bridgewater) ................................902-543-4121 Transportation (Marriott’s Cove)...........................902-275-3221 Property Valuation Services (Assessments) ...........1-800-380-7775 Bernadette Jordan, MP .............................................902-527-5655 ...............................................................................1-888-816-4446 Hugh MacKay, MLA ...................................................902-826-0222 ...............................................................................1-833-826-0222