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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021-12_MunicipalInsight (2)-compressedmunicipal insightmunicipal insight “ “Keeping you informed about December 2021/January 2022Keeping you informed about December 2021/January 2022 your municipal government” your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter... Welcome Aboard! Let it Snow! Taking care of business... Derek Wells joins us Winter can be a fun time We have launced a website around the Council of year, but are you pre- focused on investment and table. See Page 2. pared for storms? Page 3. businesses (Page 4). It's no mystery how Oak Island continues to in- trigue people worldwide. The Island, and the history behind it, has been local legend for de- cades. You can find tidbits of lore, historical ac- counts, and artifacts throughout the area, and, at one time, a band called the Oak Island Mysteries played at local venues and even recorded an al- bum. Now, thanks to Rick and Marty Lagina, their team, and The Curse of Oak Island, the mystery is more alive than ever and fans can virtually wit- ness the thrill of treasure hunting via small screen. The Curse of Oak Island is in its ninth sea- son on the History Channel and doc- uments the victories and tribula- tions of Rick and Marty as they, along with their team, uncov- er the Island's past through science, research, and plenty of perseverance. Eyes around the world are on Oak Island, but what some people are not aware of is how the good work of Rick and his friends is benefitting charitable organizations around the Province. In 2017, Rick recognized a unique oppor- tunity. With the help of Geologist Terry Matheson, Rick collected discarded samples from The Curse of Oak Island's 2017 drill program. Documented samples were carefully selected and crafted into necklaces designed by Rick Lagina. These unique pieces were sold exclusively at the Oak Island In- terpretive Centre for the benefit of the IWK Chil- dren’s Hospital in Halifax. Demand for necklaces from Oak Island fans, who may never make it to the Island in person, was so great that Rick and Oak Island Tours gra- OAK ISLAND STILL HOLDS MYSTERY Treasure hunter and his team add a creative and charitable twist to the Oak Island legacy Waste Collection starts at 7:00 a.m. An aerial of Oak Island. Photo courtesy of Oak Island Resort and Conference Centre, Western Shore Inset: Smith's Cove ciously agreed to sell them online. Auctions are held annually with all profits given to local chari- ties (60% for local healthcare through the Health Services Foundation). The Oak Island Shares The Dream online auc- tions and Facebook Live streams may not have been as widely televised as the hit show, but re- sults have been just as spectacular. In October 2019, the Oak Island Shares the Dream Auction raised over $19,000 for the Health Services Foundation of the South Shore, the Col- chester East Hants Hospice Society, and the Nova Scotia Health Authority. Proceeds from the auction came from 200 drill core samples col- lected from Oak Island and signed by Rick Lagina, Marty Lagina, Craig Tester, and Dan Blankenship as well as 20 original stone necklaces de- signed and crafted by Rick himself. Rick collected the stones during his work on the Island, cut and polished them, and created each unique necklace. Despite COVID-19 putting a damper on pretty much all activities, the 2020 auction, Oak Island Shares the Dream: Take 2, raised over $31,000 for the Health Services Foundation of the South Shore and the Colchester East Hants Hos- pice Society. Mike Francis with the Colchester-East Hants Hospice worked closely with Rick and Terry Matheson in packing core samples for auctions. Both Terry and Charles Barkhouse hosted a live feed on the final night of the auction from the Interpretive Centre on Oak Island to auction off core samples from different holes and packed by the television series cast, necklaces designed and hand-crafted by Rick, shirts worn by Jack Bagley during the filming of The Curse of Oak Island, cast and crew yearbooks from 2013 to 2018, copies of the Money Pit map, and rustic picture frames. But the giving doesn't stop there. The Oak Island Memories store hosted on Etsy has sold 944 neck- laces, individual stones and key chains. All of the profits were given to local families in need, Atlan- tic Provinces Special Education Authority for the deaf, hard of hearing, and the visually blind (AP- SEA), and Brigadoon Village. So thank you, Mr. Lagina, for your contributions to various charities in Nova Scotia. Your commu- nity spirit and generosity have touched thousands of lives, and your legacy of superstar far surpasses your status of Oak Island celebrity! Thank you to Marty, Terry, Dan, Craig, Charles, Jack, and all of the cast members and contribu- tors of The Curse of Oak Island. We appreciate and have much respect for your work on Oak Island and your willingness to share your knowledge, stories, and experience with us and the world. For more information on The Curse of Oak Is- land, visit https.//www.history.ca. Tina Connors, Councillor for District #6, approaches the Cenotaph in New Ross on November 11, 2021. Councillors are honoured to represent the Municipality of Chester every year during Remembrance Day services in Western Shore, Chester Basin, New Ross, Chester, and Hubbards. Photo credit: Hugh Harper COUNCIL & GOVERNANCEMessage from the Warden I would first like to start by welcoming Councillor Derek Wells to our team. Derek was sworn in as Councillor for District #3 on November 25. Congratulations on your successful campaign, Derek, and I look forward to working with you over the next three years. November 25 was a big day all around for our Municipality. Later that evening, we received an early Christmas present. I was invited to attend the Screen Nova Scotia Awards Ceremony where we received their Community Recognition Award. This award represents our ongoing willingness to welcome and support the film industry in our communities as well as our understanding of the overall economic and social value that it brings to the Municipality of Chester. We have a long-standing working 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 2 relationship with the film industry, and it was a pleasure to join them and meet so many of them in person for the first time. It takes the support of the whole community to make this successful and be recognized for our efforts. So, thanks and congratulations to you all. We hope to build on this relationship and will be having ongoing discussion with them on the challenges to overcome and build on our success. Well, Santa Claus is coming and our community organizations are gearing up for a wide variety of events all across the Municipality. Please get out and enjoy them. Stay safe and Merry Christmas to you all! Office Closures: Please refer to the back page for holiday hours and waste collection infor- mation. Christmas trees can be put out during regular collection. Tax Sale: The rescheduled Tax Sale will take place on Tuesday, January 11 at 10:00 a.m. at the Chester Legion. A storm date has been set for January 18, same time and place. Gold River Bridge: The Gold River Trail Bridge remains closed for public use. The assessment report that brought the safety issues to light is online at https://chester.ca/news/bridge- closure. We have applied for federal funding and hope to have options to present soon. Fire Services Drone: Council approved the pur- chase of a drone and operating costs. Drones can provide thermal and visual imagery to allow for rapid detection of fire locations. They can monitor hot spots during wildfires when crews cannot and provide critical information needed to attack the fire. During structural firefight- ing, the integrity of the building and the risk of second fires can be evaluated quickly. The cost of the drone, including HST, is $9,898.05 and is shared equipment between fire departments serving residents of the Municipality of Chester. Committee Appointments: Patricia Bates was appointed to the Recreation & Parks Committee for a three-year term. Carol Nauss and Robert Young are now members of the Heritage Advi- sory Committee, each for a one-year term, and Robert Mitchell is the newest member of the Landfill Advisory Committee (two-year term). We are grateful for citizen participation and thank all of you for giving your time, expertise, and insight for the benefit of our communities. IN BRIEF... WELCOME, COUNCILLOR WELLS! Derek Wells elected as municipal representative in District #3 A warm welcome to Derek Wells, newly elect- ed Councillor for District #3 (Village of Ches- ter and part of East Chester)! Derek served as the Municipality's Solicitor for over 20 years until he was elected as Member of Parliament in 1993. He returns to the Municipal- ity, this time as an elected official. The confirmed results of the November 13 Elec- tion are: Annette Collicutt 99 Jo-Ann Grant 164 Derek Wells 461 We thank all of the candidates for participating in the Election. Campaigning is hard work, and your commitment to your fellow residents has not gone unnoticed. It was a pleasure to work with you during the election, and we wish the best for you. Derek was sworn in at the November 25 Council meeting and began his work as your representa- tive immediately. His committee and appoint- ment portfolio will be posted on our website once the Nominating Committee meets and gives their recommendations to the rest of Council. Residents can reach Derek by email at dwells@ chester.ca or by telephone at 902-277-2263. Wel- come, Derek! Council approved a list of J-Class roads to sub- mit to the Province for consideration under our cost-sharing agreement. The agreement allows the Municipality to sug- gest eligible roads for the NS Department of Public Works to resurface if their schedule permits. MOC pays 50% of the cost while the Province pays the other half. The Province will review our submission as well as those from other municipalities, and let us know if any of the roads will be added to their fu- ture work plan, which is dependent on budget and workforce. The roads submitted are listed below alphabetically. • Adams Rd., Western Shore • Brunswick St., Village of Chester ROAD REPAIR MOC offers list for 5-year plan • Myra Rd., Western Shore • Stevens Rd., East Chester • Walker Rd., Village of Chester • Valerie Ave., Chester Basin • Forest Village Rd., Simms Settlement • Main St., Village of Chester • Union St., Village of Chester ooopsies... We made a mistake in our last is- sue of municipal insight. On page 7, Boss or Bust (#6), we mistakenly said that Bell plans to complete an Inter- net project in the New Russell area in the summer of 2023. In fact, it is 2022. For updates on rural Internet, visit https://www.voicesandchoices. ca/ruralinternet 3 COUNCIL & GOVERNANCE WINTER PREPAREDNESS Are you prepared for potential power outages? Winter brings blizzards, cold weather, heavy snow, and freezing rain, and can cause power outages. Planning now for what to do in a winter power outage is important. Winter Power Outage Tips Power outages may leave you without heat, lights, hot water, or possibly running water. • If you have a landline, have a corded phone not just a cordless phone. Cordless landline phones may not work during an outage. • Monitor news broadcasts with a battery- powered or crank radio. • Install a non-electric heat source, like a stand-by stove or heating unit that is not de- pendent on electricity. • If you have a wood-burning stove/fireplace, clean the chimney every fall to eliminate creosote build-up which could ignite and cause a chimney fire. That's the last thing you need during a winter storm. • Things to consider when using an emergen- cy generator: • Generators produce carbon monoxide (CO), a poisonous, toxic engine exhaust, so it's important to operate generators outdoors in a well-ventilated area, away from the garage, doors, windows, and vents. • Turn the generator off and let it cool down before refueling. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could ignite. • Generators do not need to run constant- ly. For example, fridges and freezers can be on the generator every 3-6 hours to keep things cold. Life-Saving Electrical Devices People who require electricity to sustain life, (for example those who require power for their medical devices) should take extra precautions to prepare for a power outage. • Create a power outage safety plan. • Plan for a backup power supply for essential medical equipment. • Establish a self-help network to assist and check on you during an emergency. • Know which family/friend/neighbours have power or back-up power so you can go there. • Keep a flashlight and a cell phone handy to signal for help. • Know your evacuation route without eleva- tor service (if applicable). • Enroll in a medical alert program that will signal for help if you are immobilized. • Keep a list of medical conditions and treat- ments. • Call your electric utility provider and get added to their Critical Customer List. • If you live in an apartment, advise the prop- erty management that you may need assis- tance or that you must be evacuated if there is a power outage. The Regional Emergency Management Organi- zation serves the Municipality of Chester and has launched a new comprehensive website along with a Facebook page and refreshed Twitter ac- count. Please follow or search Lunenburg REMO online to get invaluable information about pre- paring for emergencies, staying-in-place, status updates, and tips for any type of potential emer- gency, including winter storms and power out- ages. For information on preparing for 72 hours and comfort centres, you can also visit https://chester. ca/public-safety/emergency-measures/comfort- centres-and-preparing-for-72-hours. Chester Municipal Grant Programs. “Fun”ding communities. Every year, the Municipality of Chester improves communities by funding many non-profit community groups and youth through our grant programs. • Council Grants - application deadlines of May 31 and October 31. • Council District Grants - contact the Councillor for your district. • Economic Development Sponsorship - contact Economic Development at 902-275-4138. • Tourism Grants - application deadlines of May 31 and October 31. • Major Projects Grants - application deadline for 2022 is January 31. • Recreation Grants - application deadline for 2022 is October 1. • PRO Kids - applications received all year round. • Youth Sponsorship Grants - applications received all year round. All grant programs have eligibility requirements. Download the guidelines and applications at www.chester.ca/government/grants-and-sponsorship or telephone 902-275-3490 and let us help you choose the grant program that’s right for you. Like many other organizations, we need staff. Visit chester.ca/ employment or call 902-275-4109. We need: Financial analyst | Systems analyst Public Works Director | Wastewater Engineer | Landfill Labourer | Director of Infrastructure/Operations EMERGENCY MEASURES 4 COMMUNITY INTEREST Friday, Dec. 10 Community Variety Show Chester Legion, 7:30pm. Call the Chester Playhouse Box Office at 902-275-3933. Saturday, Dec. 11 Christmas at the Barn Hubbards Barn, 9am-1pm. Visit www. hubbardsbarn.org. Sunday, Dec. 12 Giving Tree Final day for giving to Christmas Daddies program at Chester United Baptist Church. Sunday, Dec. 15 Sing Choirs, Concert of Seasonal Music St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Chester, 7:30pm. Saturday, Dec. 18 Food & Toy Drop-off (Pet Supplies too!) Chester Basin Volunteer Fire Department, 2-4pm. Santa will be there! Sweets for the Holiday Season Fundraiser for New Ross Legion. Pick-up 1-4pm. Call 902-877-4222. Order by Dec. 11 Sunday, Dec. 19 Breakfast with Santa Forties Community Centre, 8-11am. Reemy Smith Chester Legion, 7:30pm. For tickets, call the Playhouse Box Office at 902-275-3933. Special Christmas Music Chester United Baptis Church, 10:30am Friday, Dec. 24 Candlelight Service Canaan United Baptist Church, 5pm. Chester United Baptist Church, 7pm. Saturday, Jan. 1 New Year's Day Levee New Ross Legion, 1-4pm. Saturday, Jan. 15 Take-Out Supper New Ross Legion, 4-6pm. Deadline to pre- order is Jan. 12. Call 902-275-8585. Mondays Social Tea New Ross Legion. Mondays & Thursdays Public Skate Chester Rink, 10-11am, until mid-March. Wednesdays Public Skate Chester Rink, 2:15-3:30pm, until mid-March. Thursdays Bingo New Ross Legion, 7-10pm. Saturdays Public Skate Chester Rink, 6:30-7:45pm, until mid-March. Sundays Advent Services Chester United Baptist Church, 10:30am. COVID PROTOCOLS APPLY TO COMMUNITY EVENTS. Please prepare to show proof of vaccine and wear your mask. Email events and posters to recreation@chester.ca to have them included on our website, this newsletter, Recreation & Parks' Facebook page, and in a weekly events column published in a local newspaper. THE 4-H CONNECTION 4-H Clubs valuable to communities and kidsIt's always nice to see members of the com- munity using a public facility, like the New Ross Fairgrounds' outdoor rink on the right. This picture was taken last season and, as luck would have it, we not only captured kids from the com- munity, but also a few 4-H members. Members of the local Handy Hands 4H Club as well as neighbouring Hill n' Dale 4H Club were out enjoying the weather when they agreed to stop for a quick chat and photo. If you're not familiar with 4-H, it is a nationwide youth organization whose motto is "Learn To Do by Doing". The first 4-H club in NS was organized in Heatherton, Antigonish County, in 1922. Today, there are 75 clubs in Nova Scotia with over 2,400 members! Katie Hirtle, leader for the Handy Hands 4-H Club, feels that 4-H provides youth with valuable and positive experiences, encourages community involvement, and teaches skills that members car- ry with them throughout their life. She, herself, was involved in 4-H as a child and developed life- long friendships. Photo contributed by Tina Connors, Councillor for District #6. Katie explained that the 4-H program is accredited national- ly and has more to offer today's youth than the traditional agri- cultural programming. In addi- tion to regional events, such as skating parties at local outdoor rinks, there are various projects and competitions available to 4-H clubs participants. Projects and competitions are designed to develop skills, advance technical ability, and build life experiences. Some of the project options for members are sewing, crafts, small engines, veterinary science, welding, woodworking, photography, heritage, scrapbook- ing, and livestock. Competitions take place across the province and can range between entertainment, local foods, public speaking, recycling, and agriculture. Besides projects and competitions, members can attend camps and courses as well as have opportunities for high school credits and scholar- ships. There is plenty to "Learn To Do by Doing"! The Municipality of Chester is fortunate to be home to two 4-H Clubs: Handy Hands and Two Bays. For more information about 4-H, to find a club, or to find out about volunteering, visit https://4hnovascotia.ca. Special thanks to Katie Hirtle for speaking with us and to Tina Connors, Councillor for District #6, for bringing us into the conversation! The Municipality of Chester (MOC) has an ongoing commitment to investment attraction, business support services, and commercial infrastructure. This commitment encourages entrepreneurship, supports sustainable development, and strengthens the commercial tax base. One of our goals is to become "investment ready" by promoting our economic sectors, such as arts/culture and construc- tion, and positioning MOC as a community of choice for residents, businesses, and organizations. Visit www.investchester.ca to learn more about how we are attracting new business, like Nanotech Eco Solutions CDN Inc who are showcased below! The Municipality of Chester is in business! www.investchester.ca If you own a commeri- cal property and want to sell or lease, contact us to have it added to www.invest- chester.ca under the ‘Sites and Buildings’ page. Commercial realtors with clients looking for commercial properties will often frequent our site for potential sites. Please con- tact Erin Lowe, Senior Economic Development Officer, at 902- 275-4138 or ecodev@ chester.ca. CE N T R E CE N T R E S T A G E S T A G E Shout out to Nanotech Eco Solutions CDN Inc.! Nanotech is locally owned and operated on Windsor Road (near the RCMP Detachment) and has recently opened their virtual doors at https://nescdn.ca. Their cleaning products - PUREnes - are 100% organic, completely non-toxic, and biodegrad- able, cleaning with "technology, not chemistry!" Browse the wide selection of products on their new online store or follow them on Instagram @nescanada. Watch for more business profiles in future editions of municipal insight! PROPERTY SERVICES 6 Dear Shabby, I ordered a green cart because mine is broken, but the Municipality tells me that I can't get another one right now because they are on back-order. To top it off, they don't even have an ETA. What kind of operation are you guys running over there anyways? ~ signed Up to My Eyeballs in Beech Hill Dear “Eyeballs”: It's true. We have no green carts and won't have any for the forseeable future. I'd love to pass the Dear Shabby Friendly waste disposal advice buck, but how can you blame a virus? Like the hon- eybadger, it just don't care. We have a back order of more than enough, but like many other municipali- ties and retail outlets, we are waiting on delays in the supply chain. In the meantime, you can use pa- per yard bags for your compost as long as they aren't too heavy, an alternate container (bucket or tote), your existing cart if possible (secure with bungees or cover until just before collection), or we can lend you a smaller cart (40L) to return later. *********************************************** Dear Shabby, What's up with Christmas tree collection this year? Is there one? ~ signed Preparing for the Needle Storm on Windsor Road Dear "Preparing": No special collection for trees. Just put it out with your regular waste on your regular day. Happy holidays to all my waste-reducing friends out there! I did not buy you gifts, but I did make you something from the heart. Recyclable paper is like eating OreosTM. Clean plastic is like brushing your teeth. The two don't mix. (hint: put your clean paper in a separate recycling bag) DRAFT LAKESIDE ZONE PROPOSED The Municipality is interested in learning what your think about it In recent years Council has heard increasing requests from residents and property owner associations seeking protection for residential lakefront communi- ties. This type of development, sometimes referred to as “cottage country” is found on many lakes in the Mu- nicipality and has seen steady growth in recent years. Typically, these developments are clusters of seasonal and year-round homes built near lakeshores and often accessed by one or more private roads. The requests to Council have been seeking pro- tection from large commercial uses (such as camp- grounds, RV parks and other uses that increase traffic and pressure on the lake) as well as calls for regula- tions aimed at environmental protection. These calls are in response to noted decreases in water quality, including more frequent algal blooms, which can pose a serious health risk to lake users, pets and wildlife. In response to these requests, staff have created a new zone to provide protection from commercial uses and to implement environmental protections. The zone is being created as a “floating zone” meaning that it will only be considered upon a request from an individual or group of residents. Council would consid- er the request and determine whether a staff report should be prepared to move forward with rezoning. Although anyone can request rezoning, Council will be looking for support from neighbours and other prop- erty owners in making a decision whether to proceed with rezoning. The Lakeside Zone has been drafted with the follow- ing policy objectives: • To protect water quality (the primary purpose of the Lakeside (LS) zone); • To safeguard essential character of lakefront residential areas; • To prohibit commercial and industrial uses; • To provide for and protect lakefront residential communities comprised of detached, single- family homes, and residential use types compat- ible with quiet, family-living environment; • To enable low density residential development on lands surrounding lakes while protecting the sensitive riparian environment; • To provide flexibility to recognize pre-existing development patterns and the hardship of strict limitations on property owners; and • The protection of water quality in the Lakeside (LS) zone shall take priority in the event of a con- flict between residential and recreational uses and water quality. Key regulations that would be introduced to proper- ties which are rezoned to the Lakeside Zone include: • A limit of 1-2 dwelling units per lot; • No commercial or industrial use (except the home-based businesses described below); • Home-based businesses permitted, such as home offices, craft workshops, and professional services; • Maintain vegetation within 10m of high water mark. This is known as a vegetated buffer, with allowances to clear up to 30% of the area to pro- vide access to the lake and to remove any dis- eased or dead vegetation; • Newly created lots must be at least 0.4 hectares (1 acre) in area; • Forestry processing, defined as processing raw materials into a product (ie. milling), will be reg- ulated and permitted in the zone. Note: forestry processing does not include cutting and hauling trees, which is a provincially-regulated activity. These activities may occur in compliance with any applicable provincial regulations; • Farm animals permitted but regulated to ensure adequate lot size and setbacks are in place; • Recreational vehicles (RVs) permitted with appli- cation for a Development Permit. RVs are limited to one per lot, unless there are no other dwell- ing units, in which case two RVs are permitted; On October 28, 2021 Council gave First Reading to the draft Lakeside Zone. This is the first step in adopt- ing the new zone. Council also set a date for a Pub- lic Hearing for Thursday, January 27, 2022, beginning at 6:30pm in Municipal Council Chambers, 151 King Street, Chester. The Public Hearing is an opportunity for members of the public to speak in favour or against the draft zone. Residents may also submit written comments for con- sideration at the Public Hearing. Written submissions should be addressed to Pam Myra, Municipal Clerk, PO Box 369, Chester, NS B0J 1J0 and must be received no later than Thursday January 21 at 4:00pm. For information or to obtain a copy of the staff re- port and draft amendments, please contact the Com- munity Development Department at 902-275-2599 or email planning@chester.ca. PROPERTY SERVICES 7 GIVE ME A BREAK... ON TAXES! Do you qualify for an exemption or reduction on property taxes? Do you qualify for a property tax exemption? You may if both of the following apply: 1. The total income from all assessed owners, including spouses and common law spouses, residing at the property, and total income from those persons who hold an interest in the property and contribute to the house- hold income together is less than $27,203 in the 2020 calendar year. 2. Although all owners do not have to live in the residence, it must be a principal dwell- ing of the owner applying for the exemption. Exemptions are only for the residential and waste collection portion of your current property tax on your principal residence. The maximum exemption amount is $771 based on total income and determined at the Munici- pal Office. The exemption for the current fiscal year (April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022) will expire on March 31, 2022. Proof of income is required. Please bring your 2020 Notice of Assessment from Revenue Canada with you. Please contact the Municipal Office at 902-275- 3554 to see if you qualify. Provincial Seniors Property Tax Rebate This program is administered by Service Nova Scotia and designed to help eligible seniors re- main in their homes by providing them with an annual rebate on their municipal property taxes. The rebate provides eligible homeowners with a 50% rebate of their municipal property taxes paid the previous year, up to a maximum of $800. The deadline to apply is December 31, 2021. You must meet the following conditions to qual- ify under this program: • Applicants must be on the Guaranteed In- come Supplement (GIS) or the Allowance (or eligible as of January 2021). To find out if you qualify for the GIS or the Allowance, call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914. • 2020/21 property taxes must be paid in full. • At the time of application, applicants must be an owner of - and regularly reside at - the property for which the rebate is being claimed. For more information regarding the Seniors Property Tax Rebate (or if you are a new appli- cant), please call 1-800-670-4357. Since our last report, we received nine complaints. Frustrated with login: Although it can be frustrating, we have "ReCaptcha" enabled on some of our online applications to prevent bots from spamming or hacking us. One of the applications we have to take this step with is ActiveNet, our online registration platform for Recreation programming. ReCAPTCHA shows the user a series of photos, from which the user has to click certain images. While it's an extra step, ReCAPTCHA helps us block a significant number of webcrawlers and bots. Trail bridges in disrepair: We received two complaints about the deterioration of two trail bridges in Goat Lake. Thank you for the messages! Both bridges were repaired and the file closed. Unsightly Premises: These complaints are given to our By-Law Enforcement Officer, and a solution is usually worked out with the property owner. Barking dog: Our Animal Control Officer is available by calling 902-275-0017. Bike lanes suggested: We received a suggestion to install bike lanes on Highway 329. We are meeting with the staff of the NS Department of Public Works (formerly Transportation) as they own and control roads. DPW has been open to working with us during past paving projects to include options for active transportation funded by MOC. We have provided funding to support this type of project in the past in the Chester and Chester Basin areas and will plan to continue this practice in the future. Fallen trees: We were alerted to a large tree that fell in the new parking lot and trail in East River and at the trail entrance on Regent Street, Chester. Thank you! Between Public Works and Recreation staff, both trees were removed. Green carts: We are still awaiting delivery of our green cart order. If you need to order one, please call us at 902-275-2330 and we will add you to the list. Sometimes we receive complaints that belong to other organizations as we do not have authority to 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 on our website at www.chester.ca/uhoh Coming in to see us at 151 King Street in Chester. BOSSBOSS oror BUSTBUST act. We generally recommend reaching out to those organizations. These complaints were: • Provincial road sign missing (NS Department of Public Works) • Public location not accessible (non-profit organization) • Offensive lighting (private business) • Dead wildlife on trail (NS Department of Lands and Forestry) SERVICE DELIVERY ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE HUBBARDS AREA: If you are planning to replace your business sign, or put one up for the first time, the Municipality of Chester is starting a uniform signage pilot project in that area. Before purchasing and erecting a new sign, please call Erin Lowe at 902-275-4138 to discuss your options. SOLID WASTE GENERAL REMINDERS Some things to remember when dealing with your waste In case you forget about some of the more in- frequently asked questions about solid waste, let us remind you. Below is a reference to waste situations that you may not come across too of- ten, but are still important to know. Boxed paper should NOT be delivered to Kaizer Meadow Landfill. Recyclable paper needs to be bagged. If not, it creates a litter issue when staff dump the bin at Public Drop-off into the container that goes for processing. Ammunition, smoke canisters and flares of any kind do NOT belong in the garbage, blue bag or green cart. Please take these potentially danger- ous items to local RCMP. Aerosol cans (empty or full), propane tanks (small and large), and batteries do NOT belong in garbage. Kaizer Meadow accepts these items. Items with Freon cannot be placed curbside for pick up. Those items have to be brought to Kaizer Meadow Landfill. Secure your load before coming to Kaizer Mead- ow. Blowing waste is a hazard. Collection sites (Mill Lake, Lakeshore Drive in particular) are meant for the residents who live on these roads, not illegal dumping. Frozen green carts are a pain to deal with. To keep your cart contents from freezing solid and sticking, consider using paper liners, spraying the inside of your cart with vegetable oil, straining liq- uids from compostable items before placing in the cart, or wrapping your wet stuff in newspaper. New Waste Collection Calendar for 2022 will soon be in your mailbox. Empty paint cans are now accepted by our paint program. Please bring your empty cans to Kaizer Meadow Landfill or Adams' Bottle Exchange. Used oil and antifreeze containers cannot be thrown in the regular garbage. Used oil and glycol containers can be dropped off at Kaizer Meadow's household hazardous waste site. Protective equipment is no longer on loan at Kaizer Meadow. Please bring the required PPE if you are visiting the non-public area of the Landfill. 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 alerts on 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. Tweet of the Week Our most popular post for October/November... For more information on pregnancy and infant loss, visit https:// www.iwk.nshealth.ca/page/pregnancy-and-newborn-loss or call 211. You can also find support at http://www.gardensofgrace.ca/ 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 updates and notifications about municipal issues. 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 Derek Wells 902-277-2263 District #4 Chester Basin and Chester Grant Allen Webber 902-275-8373 Municipal Districts and CouncillorsMunicipal Districts and Councillors 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 Contact Us!Contact Us! Community Development & Recreation Building/Fire Inspection Services 902-275-3080 Planning Services 902-275-2599 Recreation & Parks 902-275-3490 Finance & Information Services General Inquiries 902-275-3554 Taxation Services (incl Rebates) 902-275-3554 FOIPOP Officer 902-275-3554 Infrastructure & Operations Public Works/Wastewater 902-275-1312 Solid Waste/Landfill 902-275-2330 Corporate & Strategic Management General Inquiries 902-275-4147 Communications 902-275-4107 Council Inquiries 902-275-4109 Economic Development 902-275-4138 Administration Offices are observing the following holiday schedule: Friday, December 24, 2021 CLOSING at noon Monday, December 27, 2021 CLOSED in lieu of Christmas Day Tuesday, December 28, 2021 CLOSED in lieu of Boxing Day Wednesday, December 29, 2021 CLOSED Thursday, December 30, 2021 CLOSED Friday, December 31, 2021 CLOSED Monday, January 3, 2022 CLOSED in lieu of New Year’s Day Tuesday, January 4, 2022 OPEN for regular hours The Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre (Landfill) schedule over the holiday season is: Saturday, December 25, 2021 CLOSED for Christmas Day Saturday, January 1, 2022 CLOSED for New Year's Day Waste collection will not be impacted over the holidays. Happy Holidays from Council and Staff Thanks to a BELL Lets Talk Community Fund grant, a Mental Health Walk-In Clinic happens every Tuesday from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Our Health Centre. At this clinic, we • provide FREE 50 minute therapeutic appoint- ments for individuals struggling with mild to moderate mental health concerns who are not currently connected to a therapist; • provide a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space for individuals who are struggling; • connect individuals to local community organi- zations, resources and supports; • offer resources and strategies to effectively manage and cope with concerns such as anxiety, depression, grief and addiction; • offer virtual or telephone appointments for in- dividuals who are not able to attend in person; • refer to community partners and agencies best suited to provide support on an on-going basis; • provide psycho-education related to mental health care and treatment. This is not an emergency service. If you are experi- encing a mental health crisis, you will be redirected to the nearest emergency room. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis DO NOT report to our clinic; please call 911 or report to your local emergency room. To book an appointment and to find out more about the program, please call Erin at 902-273-2098 on Tues- days starting at 3:00 pm.