Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021-03_MunicipalInsight-compressedmunicipal insightmunicipal insight “ “Keeping you informed about March/April 2021Keeping you informed about March/April 2021 your municipal government” your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this spring... Picture this... Water still top o' mind A rag is a rag is a rag Tourism Chester A snapshot into our Rags are still showing up launches new campaign water quality initiatives. our central sewer system. See Page 3. Page 4. See Page 7. Plans are underway for the 2021 growing sea- son at the Community Garden located beside the Municipal Office in Chester. The last couple of years have seen dramatic change to the original small plot. We have in- creased the number of garden beds, installed taller beds for residents with a range of mobility issues, implemented the Porch Produce Program that delivers ready-made vegetable containers to residents who find it difficult to get to the com- munity garden, and have a natural herb garden. Last year, a group approached the Municipal- ity to use the beds and proposed another expan- sion. Growing Friends is a community-led initia- tive partnering seniors with garden "buddies" to plant, care for, and harvest vegetables. OH MY GOURD! Community Garden prep underway The previous year's addition of taller beds was an added as- set as the taller garden beds are the perfect height for wheel- chair access and eliminates painful bending that comes with the lower beds. With a few slight adjustments to accommodate Public Health restrictions, Growing Friends had a successful season with all of the beds overflow- ing with produce and many friendships forged! After the season ended, the group offered a vir- tual cooking series on Facebook at facebook.com/ growingfriendsinchestermun. Visit their page for planting and harvesting tips too. We are looking to make this year just as success- ful. We will construct three new beds and are tak- ing bookings for raised beds and porch contain- ers. For more information, visit https://chester. ca/community/community-garden or email us at communications@chester.ca. Erin Gore, our Provincial Volunteer Representative. Volunteer WeekApril 18 to 24, 2021 Sunday, April 18 to Saturday, April 24, 2021 is National Volunteer Week. This is a time when we recognize the important contributions that volunteers make to our communities. The Municipality of Chester will celebrate the tremendous efforts of our local volunteers in April. Our celebrations will look a little different this year because of COVID-19 restrictions. Volunteers will be recognized every Thursday in April during Council/Committee of the Whole meetings, which are streamed live on Facebook. In the meantime, presenting our 2021 volunteer award nominees: • William Burns from Hubbards was nominat- ed by Hubbards Area Lions Club. • John Chandler from Chester was nominated by Clarke Lodge #61. • Dawn Curry from Chester Basin was nomi- nated by Cynthia Myers. • Erin Gore (photo on the right) from Chester was nominated by Lynne Ross and Judy Par- sons and several other community members representing various groups. • Anita Hume from East Chester was nomi- nated by Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #88 Ladies Auxiliary, Chester Basin. • Suzanne Isaacs from Chester was nominat- ed by Our Health Centre. • Cecil Joudrey from Martins Point was nomi- nated by Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #144 Western Shore. • Kelly McCann from Hubbards was nomi- nated by District #1 Community Centre in Blandford. • John Mosher from Chester Basin was nomi- nated by Aenon Baptist Church. • Marty Murphy from New Ross was nomi- nated by New Ross Farmers Association. • Carol Nauss from Chester was nominated by Chester Municipal Heritage Society. • Paul Rowe from Chester Basin was nomi- nated by Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #88 Chester Basin. • Rufus Sweet from Chester was nominated by Chester Minor Hockey. • Carol Vaughan from Hubbards was nomi- nated by Aspotogan Arts & Crafts. • Joanne Corbett & Greyson Corbett-Lumb (Family category) from Chester was nomi- nated by Bonny Lea Farm. • Roger & Christine Hirtle (Family category) from Chester Basin was nominated by Erroll Zwicker. • G & C Hughes Enterprises (Colin Hughes) from New Ross was nominated by New Ross Farmers Association. Please stay tuned to the Municipality of Chester Recreation & Parks Service new Facebook page or visit our website at www.chester.ca for updates on what our volunteer recognition, or tune into Facebook every Thursday! Congratulations to all of our nominees! Your ef- fort and love for your communities is evident by being nominated. We thank you for everything you do and everyone you help and recognize your hard work and dedication. A special congratulations to Erin Gore of Chester as she is selected to receive the Provincial Volun- teer Award. She will represent the Municipality of Chester and all our volunteers at the Provincial Awards Ceremony on Monday, April 26. Given her volunteer history, it is a well-placed award! Kudos! COUNCIL & GOVERNANCEMessage from the WardenMarch certainly came in like a lion. Hopefully, it will exit like a lamb. I'm already eager to go trout fishing, start my garden and stop burning so much wood! Our community volunteers continue to be front and centre with the last edition of Municipal Insight recognizing the 20th anniversary of our Volunteer Week and this edition highlighting this year's nominees. Erin Gore was selected, very deservingly, as the provincial nominee representing Chester. We need to get creative in finding a way to thank all of the nominees in public, so stay tuned. We are working on a plan. Council has authorized a second round of emergency assistance for our community organizations to help them get through these challenging times and aid them in getting creative in helping us all find safe ways to enjoy and support our community. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff. This past year has been a challenge for them as well as the 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 Holiday Hours and Waste Collection Schedule: Municipal Offices will close on Friday, April 2 and Monday, April 5 for Good Friday and Easter Monday. Kaizer Meadow Landfill will close on Friday, April 2 and waste collection rescheduled to Sat- urday, April 3. The Landfill will reopen on Mon- day, April 5 and collection will proceed as usual. Site Assessment: An Environmental Site As- sessment will be carried out at Kaizer Meadow Eco-Industrial Park in preparation for certifica- tion under the Atlantic Canada Site Selection Program. Certification will give Kaizer Meadow the exposure it needs as a pre-qualified devel- opment location to attract industrial business. Equipment Replacement: Kaizer Meadow trad- ed in their D5 dozer for a D6 dozer. The dozer is one of the most used pieces of equipment and performs a variety of jobs, such as a stand- in for the compactor when it is out of service, maintains our roads, and moves construction and demolition waste, soil, wood and brush and more. It's also the only equipment that we can tow our hydroseeder with. Staff Changes: We have two staff people leav- ing us. First, our beloved Finance Director has decided to retire. Malcolm Pitman has been with us for the last four years and we'll miss him terribly, but we understand. Greg Jonah, our Engineer Technician in Public Works Services, will be taking another posi- tion in a neighbouring municipality. Don't be a stranger and good luck in your new role, Greg! Spring Tax Sale: The Tax Sale usually held in the Spring will be delayed. Once a date has been determined, we will post it on our website at https://chester.ca/government/property- taxes-and-rates/tax-sales. IN BRIEF... 2 public in trying to maintain a level of service consistent with your needs. Many working from home at first, then some days in the office, others developing safe protocol for necessary public interactions and all moving our ever-increasing workload forward in a productive way. Thank you. Next week, Council will try to complete a refresh of our Strategic Priorities for the next few years, identifying challenges and opportunities and the best approach for ensuring success. This exercise will help us develop the Capital and Operating Budget over the next several years. Stay engaged, support local business where possible, and thanks for your commitment to maintaining a thriving community. Sincerely, Your first line of defense against injury and death in the event of a fire is a work- ing smoke detector or smoke/fire alarm system. Properly placed and functioning detectors provide occupants with the best chance to escape without injury should a fire occur. However, false fire alarms issued by monitored systems are serious and, in many cases, prevent- able. In 2020, our seven district fire departments responded to over 60 false fire alarms. The volun- teer stations are located in Blandford, Hubbards, Chester, Chester Basin, Western Shore, New Ross, and Martins River. False fire alarms can put the whole community at risk. Our volunteer firefighters need to spend their time, funds and effort responding to non- existent fire conditions. Emergency first respond- ers, other road users and the public face unneces- sary risks due to emergency vehicles being on our streets. Also, there can be potential delays in re- sponse to real emergencies where people's lives are at stake. Although weather and other occurrences out of your control can cause false alarms, most of the time they can be avoided. The major causes of false alarms include fumes from cooking, steam from showers, dust from building work, insects in- PREVENT FALSE FIRE ALARMS Unnecessary calls risky and on the rise, but preventable side detectors, poorly trained users, lack of main- tenance, and incorrect or poorly designed and in- stalled systems. You can: • Make sure your alarm provider and monitor- ing company is reputable and qualified; • Always ask for detailed information and a complete demonstration of the system; • Maintain your fire alarms system annually us- ing authorized service companies. • Avoid placing your detector too close to kitchens, bathrooms, fireplaces or locations where high particulate matter - like dust, smoke, or steam - may interfere; • Pay close attention to surroundings and know what you are doing could impact the alarm system; • Cover detectors that may be affected by con- struction activities. Restore all detectors daily to proper functionality after construction or renovation activities. After construction or renovations are completed your alarm com- pany should be called to service your system; • Test your alarm system regularly. Advise your monitoring company before and after a test; • Complete a thorough investigation to deter- mine causes of activation; • Have local contacts available to immediately cancel accidental alarms and meet with the fire department at your location. The Municipality of Chester reminds all citizens of their responsibility to comply with the Alarm By–Law 141. Copies of this By-law are available at the Municipal Offices at 151 King Street Chester or on the Municipal web site at www.chester.ca Under the By-Law # 141, it is the responsibil- ity of the occupant, owner and their alarm com- pany to take all actions necessary to prevent any occurrence of false alarms. Violations of the By- Law may result in fines of a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $10,000. We would like to recognize the corrective and preventative actions that have been taken by many alarm system owners. It is truly in every- one’s interest to have fire alarms used for their intended purpose and to be maintained in proper working condition. We thank you for your con- tinuing assistance and ask that you be even more diligent in using and maintaining your alarm sys- tems in the proper operating conditions. Congratulations on the addition of your new furbaby to the family! To keep your canine furbaby safe, dog licenses can be purchased at the Municipality for $15. When you register your dog with the Municipal- ity, your contact information is recorded along with your dog's registration number. They are valid for five years and a cheap, easy way to avoid dog pound fees should you and your pet get sepa- rated. By registering, we can help you get recon- nected as quickly as possible. Visit our website at https://chester.ca/public- safety/animal-control for more information or call our Animal Control Officer, Brian Truelove, at 902- 277-0017 if you have any questions. DOGDOGTAGSTAGS 3 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Own a business in Own a business in the Municipality the Municipality of Chester?of Chester? Register with our Business Directory at chester.ca/business-directory and have access to thousands of views per month! Upload photos, link reviews, post your menu and link to your social media account. Edit your listing at anytime! For info, call 902-275-4161 or email ecodev@chester.ca PICTURE PERFECT!PICTURE PERFECT! Tourism Chester is embarking on a brand new social media advertising campaign! Called “Pic- EMERGENCY $ Council extends COVID grant Gathering limits and health guidelines due to the pandemic continue to restrict options in terms of fundraising events and rental income for many of our community groups and facilities. Therefore, Council extended the period in which eligible groups and facilities can recover some ba- sic operating costs and lost revenue. The period is from January to May 2021. There are two one-time grants available: a) community facilities and b) community groups without facilities. Please refer to our website for complete details on each grant as well as eligibil- ity criteria, deadlines, and applications. Organizations are still eligible to apply for regu- lar municipal grants, even if they have received emergency funding, providing they fit the criteria. Community Facilities Non-profit facilities located within the Mu- nicipality of Chester, including Legions and other member-based clubs, could apply for up to $1000 per month to a maximum of $5000 (January to May) if a negative financial impact caused by the pandemic can be demonstrated. Community Groups Without Facilities Municipality of Chester non-profit groups are also eligible for emergency funding for the period between January and May 2021. There are two options for groups without facilities: Option A - Financial Relief: Available to groups who experienced financial challenges due to lost revenue and/or increased expenses as a result of COVID-19. Groups can apply for up to $500 per month to a maximum of $2500 (January to May). Option B - Pandemic Response: Funding is avail- able to groups to develop a new program, event or activity that will lessen the pandemic's impact in the community while following health proto- cols. Groups can apply for a maximum of $2500. Visit https://chester.ca/government/grants- and-sponsorships for the full details and guide- lines or call Recreation and Parks Services at 902- 275-3490 to speak to someone. ture Perfect”, the campaign aims to engage with our Facebook and Instagram followers by helping them get a real feel of what it is like to experience our wonderful region. The campaign will fea- ture all the incredible assets we have and the many things to experi- ence in all seasons. The program will feature our outdoor activities (such as golf, cycling, sailing and kayaking), trails, beaches, Ross Farm Mu- seum, and food and din- ing. The campaign will also feature tourism as- sets from all seven dis- tricts. Our goal is to help visi- tors “picture” what it is like to visit our beautiful community. It’s about helping instill emotion and share that we have so much to see and do. We will promote to Nova Scotians, encouraging them to explore their own backyard. For information, contact Heather Hennigar, Eco- nomic Development Officer, at 902-275-4161. COMMUNITY INTERESTWATER QUALITY PROJECTS Municipality of Chester participates in several testing programs As residents of Nova Scotia, and especially of our own communities, we appreciate the value of clean water. We drink it, cook with it, and bathe in it - all fundamental uses. Some of us rely on water for our livelihood: lobster fishing, sea- weed harvesting, tourism, agriculture. Others re- treat to water to release stress: swimming, boat- ing, freshwater fishing, or just relaxing lakeside. Conditions that negatively impact the quality and quantity of our water, whether it is naturally occuring or manmade, threaten the critical rela- tionship we have with this life source. Blue algae, coliform bacteria, drought, flood, irresponsible landscaping, and pollutants are some of the ad- verse conditions our water bodies face. The Municipality of Chester acknowledges the importance of clean water, which is why we have taken steps in identifying some of the issues fac- ing our communities. Fox Point Lake Fox Point Lake has been monitored for changes to water quality since 2014, stemming from con- cerns around the potential impact from develop- ment around the lake. Trained volunteers and a specialist from Coastal Action test the water quar- terly and results are reported annually to the Fox Point Lake Water Quality Monitoring Committee and to Council. The budget for this water quality program is $13,000, historically shared by the Municipality and Aspotogan Heritage Trust. Sherbrooke Lake Council entered into an agreement with the Municipality of Lunenburg (MODL) to monitor the quality of Sherbrooke Lake after MODL started de- veloping a public park on the lake. A joint committee, with assistance from Coastal Action, tests the water and provides an annual report. Our share of the cost of this program is $7,000. Bayswater Beach This location was targeted in a series of water quality testing done over several months last sum- mer/early fall. While the tests came back fine, the Province has closed Bayswater Beach in the past because of bacteria present in the freshwater out- let that crosses the beach. Council expressed concern over this bacteria as well as what appears to be gas escaping from the sand. Therefore, they requested options for addi- tional testing by Coastal Action. This is ongoing. Rafuse Cove Rafuse Cove, located in Western Shore, was included in the same testing program done by Coastal Action at Bayswater Beach. One area in particular exceeded the provincial water quality standards for ocean water. Coastal Action provid- ed a report to Council that identified some pos- sible options, but cannot pinpoint without more investigation. Council asked Coastal Action to pro- vide some options and pricing. This is still ongoing. Municipal Water Strategy Municipal staff and Coastal Action have com- pleted a public survey and presented a report to Council. Using the survey results, we have out- lined an overview and are currently developing a final action plan and strategy scheduled to come 4 Community Events NEW ROSS LEGION (health protocols in place) Monday: Weekly Coffee Social, 9:00 - 11:00 am Monday: Chase the Ace draw 8:30 pm Thursday: Bingo 7:00 - 10:00 pm March 13: Roast Beef Supper take-out. Call 902-275-8585 to pre-order by March 10. Pick- up March 13, 4:00-6:00 pm. For info on events, call the Legion at 902-689- 2650 or visit their Facebook page. CHESTER LEGION March 21: Prime Rib Takeaway Meal. Fundraiser for Chester Municipal Heritage Society. For info or tickets, call 902-275-3826 or 902-228-2628. DISTRICT #1 COMMUNITY CENTRE March 27: Corned Beef & Cabbage Supper Drive Thru Take-out, 4:30 - 6:00 pm. Call 902- 403-4339 by March 20 to reserve. Email events to recreation@chester.ca to have them included on our website and this newsletter. We will resume our weekly events column published in a local newspaper when restrictions are eased and there are more events happening to advertise. Meanwhile, let's enjoy some take-out and stay safe! out in April. Find the survey report and other in- formation on our engagement website at https:// www.voicesandchoices.ca/waterstrategy Any times that testing has revealed unsafe wa- ter conditions, residents have been notified. If you are interested in reading any of the reports men- tioned or learning more about testing programs, visit our website at https://chester.ca/water-sew- er/municipal-water-strategy 5 There is no question about it. We love Tan- cook. We would just about flip over back- wards and hang upside down to have them in our Municipality. For decades residents and visitors of Chester have had the pleasure of boarding the William G. Ernst for the ferry ride to Big and Little Tancook Islands. On a nice day, many a passenger has enjoyed the top deck. A day-trip to Tancook is so popular, that often the ferry is full and passengers are turned away to await a later boarding. Recreation & Parks Servic- es has planned successful (and usually full) work- shops and programs on Tancook. Last November, the Province of Nova Scotia an- nounced that residents will be getting a $4.9 mil- lion ferry to replace the aging William G. Ernst. The new ferry can accommodate 18 cars and will mean that residents can take their vehicles home TANCOOK New ferry brings route change instead of parking them in Chester or elsewhere. It also means that once residents land, transport- ing purchases and heavy items, like firewood, could be less of a burden. Presently, there are vehicles on Tancook, but not everyone has one and some are in disrepair. Also, getting groceries, furniture, appliances, etc. to the ferry for transport and then off the ferry to homes can be a challenge. True, Islanders help each other out and true, there's always a way, but having the option to take a vehicle back and forth (continued from "Tancook") will certainly make things easier. Not to mention that emergency ve- hicles can respond. From a visitor's perspective, taking a vehicle over is significant if you're unfamiliar with the Is- land or don't know anyone who lives there. In addition to the switch to a vehicle ferry, the number of crossings has increased to 11 per day and the route has shortened by 20 minutes. The wharf in Chester cannot accommodate the new ferry, so the new ferry will dock in Blandford, which is actually closer to Tancook than Chester. There is definitely a transition period to these new changes. Chester is used to having Islanders coming to the Village and Islanders are used to going to Chester. Decades-long routines are be- ing affected, not to mention the tourists that the Tancook Islands attracted to the Chester area will be rerouted. On the plus side, Blandford and sur- rounding areas will benefit. The Municipality of Chester is on board with the advantages a vehicle ferry will bring, the shorter commute and an increase to service for residents and visitors. We are excited to see how the new Blandford ferry wharf will turn out and what that will mean for the area. While the Village will cer- tainly miss the Ferry and its occupants, our rela- tionship isn't over, it's just different. The ferry should be completed by 2022. For more information, visit the Government of Nova Scotia's website at https://novascotia.ca/news/ and search "Tancook" under the 2020 releases. For information about the Tancook Islands, visit https://www.tancookcommunitynews.com/. Of course we miss you. We just want you to be safe, that's all. Please consider using online or drop-off options for municipal services. www.chester.ca for payments, applications, tax rebate forms, and contact information. WANTEDsummer staff Mobile Ambassador We are taking an exciting, new approach to Tourism, and we’re looking for someone who loves meeting people and who enjoys visiting a different community each day. We need someone who enjoys social media and is eager to learn new skills in online marketing. If you’re up for a ‘one of a kind’ kind of summer - join the Tourism Chester Team and be our Mobile Ambassador. Send your resume by April 30 at 4:00 p.m. ATTN: Pamela Myra, Municipal Clerk 151 King Street, P O Box 369 Chester NS B0J 1J0 employment@chester.ca 902-275-4771 fax Recreation & Parks - Summer Team Recreation & Parks is accepting applications from students who would like to be part of our Summer Staff Team. Specifically, we need four Youth Leaders to start in late June. You will organize special events and plan summer recreation programs. So, if you are a student, creative, outgoing, energetic and enjoy working with youth and the public, we have been looking for you! Send your resume by April 16. ATTN: Jody Conrad 151 King Street, P O Box 369 Chester NS B0J 1J0 jconrad@chester.ca 902-275-3630 fax Call 902-275-2712 for information. COMMUNITY INTEREST Visit www.chester.ca/ government/employment WASTE MANAGEMENT 6 Download theR6RECYCLES app and never miss another collection day. Create a personalized collection calendar Find out "What Goes Where" Receive notifications by email, text or phone Receive real time alerts on weather-related service disruptions Play our "What Goes Where" sorting game No smart phone or tablet? No problem! Visit https://chester.ca/waste-recycling/ r6recycles for the same features. Dear Shabby, The waste collector hates me. I just know it. This is the third time I put an old propane tank and desktop computer out for collection and he keeps leaving it. Why does he hate me? Why? WHY?? Please, I'm begging you, ask him to forgive me! ~ signed Brokenhearted in Chester Grant Dear “Brokenhearted”: I think you are being a little dramatic. The waste collector doesn't hate you. He doesn't even know you for Heavensakes. He isn't collecting your propane tank or your computer because he can't. Propane tanks have the potential to explode if compressed in a garbage truck. Those must go to Kaizer Meadow's Hazardous Waste site. Com- puters are recyclable. Just drop electronics off at Dear Shabby Friendly waste disposal advice Adam's Bottle Exchange in Gold River. Ta da! *********************************************** Dear Shabby, What a time to be alive! My favourite day of the year is coming up: Earth Day! I spend all year plan- ning for this huge, blowout party. Of course, the pan- demic is putting a cramp in my style, and I can only invite my bubble, but that isn't stopping me! Stream- ers, fireworks, confetti guns, pinatas with individually wrapped candies, and plenty of balloons - plenty, I said. Don't worry, I am using disposable plates and cups so it won't take too long to clean up. My question is, how many bags of garbage can I put out for collection? ~ signed Party It Up in Goat Lake Dear "Party": While I admire your enthusiasm, I think you are miss- ing the point of Earth Day. Earth Day is a day we honour the Earth by reducing our consumption, picking up polluting litter, and not producing waste. For example, if you and your bubble want to truly celebrate the Earth, grab a handful of free bags from the Municipality and clean up the ditches instead of littering them with confetti. There is no limit on bags of litter you put out for collection if you register for Earth Day with us. Call me at 902-275-2330. *********************************************** Hey Shabs, What up? ~ signed Dude in Bayswater Dear "Dude": Not our disposal rate, that's for sure! The Munici- pality is recycling like a boss! Our disposal rate is 332 kg/person/year, well below the Provincial average of 399 kg/person/year.. Waste Collection starts at 7:00 a.m. SOLID INFORMATION ABOUT WASTE This isn't just a bunch of garbage... Below are some reminders about waste pro- gram changes that might not affect you often enough to stick in your mind. Protective equipment: If you plan on visiting the Landfill and need personal protective equipment, please bring your own. We are not lending equip- ment because of COVID- 19. You don't need pro- tective equipment to visit the Public Drop-Off or Household Hazardous Waste site, but if you are disposing of construction and demolition waste, you will be directed to the collection area near the Landfill itself. Protective equipment ( hard hat, safety boots, glasses, and vest) are needed in areas beyond the Administration Building. Used oil and antifreeze containers: These con- tainers are now banned from landfills but can be dropped off at our House- hold Hazardous Waste site instead. The ban includes used oil containers (50L or less), used antifreeze con- tainers (50L or less), oil filters, diesel exhaust fluid containers (50L or less), lubricating aerosols, and automotive parts cleaner. Paint and paint cans: In addition to paint, resi- dents can bring empty paint cans and empty aero- sol paint cans to Kaizer Meadow for disposal. An alternate location is Adam' s Bottle Exchange in Gold River, which is also the ENVIRODEPOTTM. Paper recycling: Please do not bring boxes of recyclable paper to the Public Drop-Off at Kai- Recyclable paper is like a warm summer breeze. Clean plastic is like the stench of burning plastic. The two don't mix. (hint: put your clean paper in a separate recycling bag) zer Meadow. When we dump the recycling bins at the Drop-Off into the container that goes to Halifax Regional Municipality for processing, the boxes open and the loose paper creates a litter issue. We have enough litter to pick up as it is! Please bag your recyclable paper when you bring it to Kaizer Meadow. Items with Freon: Appliances or items with Freon in them cannot be placed curbside for collection, even if the Freon is removed. Air conditioners, re- frigerators, freezers, some water coolers, and de- humidifiers are examples of appliances with Freon in them. All of those items can be taken to the Kaizer Meadow Landfill for disposal. Compact Fluourescent Bulbs: Bring your CFLs to the hardware stores in Hubbards and New Ross as well as Kaizer Meadow. Spring Weight Restric- tions: Weight restrictions on roads are in place any day now. This will not change waste collection as we will ad- just by using a smaller truck. Waste Collection Calendar: The 2021 Waste Collection Calendar was sent to residents through Canada Post in December. You can access it, along with other valuable information, on our website at https:// chester. ca/ waste- recycling. If you would like a paper copy but didn't receive one, contact Solid Waste Services at 902-275- 2330 or email solidwaste@chester. ca. If you want important waste collection information delivered right to your inbox, sign up for Waste Collection Notices on our website at www.chester.ca and click on "MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS" on the front page. PROPERTY SERVICES 7 MUNICIPAL Q & A - CONSTRUCTION Some of the most common questions posed to Building Services Spring Building Season is upon us and we are here to help. Before beginning your project, we encourage you to ask us lots of questions. Our goal is to ensure your project meets the minimum Building Code requirements and to help guide you through the permitting process. Q. I have a small project, but I am not sure what permits I might need. A. We encourage lots of questions and are here to give you as much guidance as possible. Please call us at 902-275-3080. Q. How long does it take to get a building permit? A. Once a completed application is received, including any possible permits from other agen- cies or department, relevant drawings, and con- struction details, generally a permit can be issued within two weeks. Q. How do inspections work? A. You or your contractor request an inspec- tion based on the stage of construction. To pre- vent delays, please call a day or two in advance. Q. For how long are permits valid? What if I have an outstanding building permit? A. Permits are good for 18 months after the date of issue. If you think your permit has expired, VILLAGE PLAN REVIEW Update on the status of the Review and what's happening next Despite the challenges of 2020, progress on the Village Review, the update and rewrite of the Chester Village Secondary Planning Strat- egy and Land Use By-law continues. The Chester Village Planning Advisory Com- mittee meets monthly to discuss and consider various planning matters related to the Village Review. These meetings have been held online but are open to the public to view or make an ap- pointment to speak (contact us at 902-275-2599 or email planning@chester.ca to attend a meet- ing). Minutes and meeting materials are available online following each meeting at https://chester. ca/government/committees-and-appointments. Alongside the work of the Committee, staff have begun drafting the revised Secondary Planning Strategy and met with several stakeholder groups. The schedule for public engagement in 2021 is not yet finalized and will depend on public health guidelines, likely requiring flexibility and adapta- tion. Preliminary plans include public open house sessions and question-answer sessions. Drafts of the revised Secondary Plan will be made available for review and comment once complete. Staff and the Committee will focus on revising the Land Use By-law regulations for the majority of 2021 and drafts of the new Land Use By-law will receive a similar public process once complete. The project website - www.voicesandchoices. ca/villagereview - is a great place to keep up to date and provide comments and feedback. Com- plete a survey, view a video or ask us a question! Staff are also always happy to speak with any indi- viduals or groups who want more information or want to contribute ideas or thoughts toward the Village Review. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us! Getting a civic address for your building Municipalities assign civic addresses. New buildings are issued civic numbers during the building permit process. If you have an existing building, and you are not sure of its civic address, please call Planning and Development Services at 902-275-2599 or email civicaddress@chester.ca Did you know you can purchase civic number signs at the Municipal Office? Order forms are available on the Civic Addressing page of our website. The signs cost $14.00 (prepaid). If you would like a sign mailed to you, just add $3.00 to cover postage. please contact us and we can renew your permit. It is very important to keep permits renewed and current. Q. I’ve been issued a building permit, but I’m not sure if a final occupancy permit has been is- sued or if the file has been closed. A. We can do a quick search and see if any permits are outstanding on your property. It is very important to have an occupancy permit is- sued for any building permits you have to ensure code compliance and that no issues arise if you have a claim through homeowner’s insurance. Ensure a final inspection is completed before the final payment was paid to your contractor just in- case there are any building code concerns. Please call Building Services at 902-275-3080 or email us at building@chester.ca. Renovating or Building? Whatever your plans, if it involves a sewer line connection or disconnection to a Municipal Central Sewer System, you need to see us. 1. Please contact Public Works Services PRIOR to starting. 2. To connect, pick up an application at the Municipal Office or visit https://chester.ca/water-sewer/central-sewer. Submit the signed application and deposit for review (capacity, as-built drawings, sewer by-laws, and site). Approvals are usually issued within seven days. We will forward approvals to Building Services to accompany your building permit, if needed. 3. In some cases an application for a Breaking Soils Permit will be required through Nova Scotia Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Upon re- ceipt of this approval, a work order to the Maintenance Supervisor will be issued to schedule construction. 4. The Municipality schedules contractors, traffic control, and delivery of materials. An inspection to confirm installation meets the recent version of Standard Specifications for Municipal services will be conducted. The private portion of the service connection can be connected at this time. If it is not completed immediately, the public portion will be capped and marked. 5. Once the work is complete, Public Works will calculate the costs and deduct the total from the deposit. Any money left over will be returned to the person who paid it, or if further payment is required, we will send an invoice. 6. A final letter of approval for the service connection will be sent to Building Services and Finance Services, and the file will be closed once refund is issued or final payment is received. 7. If you have any questions, contact Public Works Services any time at 902-275-1312. RAGS ARE DRAGS Yes, we're still dealing with rags Shop towels, disposable wipes, cloth rags, microfibre cloths. None of those things be- long in a sewer pipe. They are destructive when it comes to central sewer systems as they wind themselves around the pump causing expensive malfunctions and unnecessary shutdowns. Strong cloths are great for cleaning, wiping up nasty materials, cutting grease or whatever else you can think of. They are not great in the sewer. The more durable the material is, the larger the risk of clogs. Depending where the blockage occurs, it could also put your home at risk of a sewer backup. That is a risk very few people want to take. Once the cloth is stuck it will collect other things, such as toilet paper, which then creates the block- age and sooner rather than later a back-up can occur resulting in issues for the property owner along with infrastructure costs to the Municipal- ity's system and to taxpayers; money going down the drain. So if you are unsure if wipes are flushable or if rags are harmless, there is only one solution; when in doubt, throw it out. For the love of all things good, please throw rags and disposable wipes in the garbage, where they belong! If you would like more information about cen- tral sewer systems or rags, call Public Works Ser- vices at 902-275-1312. Tweet of the Week Our most popular post for January/February... We welcome more pop-up test sites, by the way! LinkedIn: Find us on LinkedIn by searching "Municipality of Chester" and get the latest updates on municipal careers, opportunities for business and development, and community investment news. 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: Search ChesterMunicipality or ChesterRecParks 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! District #1 East Chester, East River to Northwest Cove Andre Veinotte 902-277-1409 District #2 Simms Settlement, Hubbards to The Lodge Floyd Shatford 902-275-7868 District #3 Chester and part of East Chester Danielle Barkhouse 902-277-1624 District #4 Chester Basin and Chester Grant Allen Webber 902-275-8373 District #5 Gold River to Martins River, including Beech Hill Abdella Assaff 902-277-2765 District #6 New Ross Tina Connors 902-277-1095 District #7 Middle River to Haddon Hill/Windsor Road to Sherwood Sharon Church 902-277-1301 Municipal Districts Municipal Districts and Councillorsand Councillors Spring is coming. So is Explore Life. Look in your mailbox for your copy on April 7. Municipal Bulletin Board Are you prepared for 72 hours? www.emergencymeasures.ca/ shelter-in-place Look who's on Facebook! Follow today!