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Home My Public Portal About2022-05_MunicipalInsight (2)-compressedmunicipal insightmunicipal insight “ “Keeping you informed about May/June 2022Keeping you informed about May/June 2022 your municipal government” your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this spring... Grants update - Part One Best Of Chester Municipality Budget anyone? Council invests in Time to VOTE! Pick your See what the 2022-23 communities through faves and give local biz Capital and Operating grant programs (Pg 2). what they deserve! Pg 3. Budget will bring (Pgs 4-5). Join us in celebrating our volunteer nominess for 2022.National Volunteer Week was April 24 to 30, 2022. A whole week dedicated to thanking volunteers across Canada. Of course, we recog- nize their contributions all year round, but this week especially because all volunteers are widely celebrated at once. • Over 24 million Canadians volunteer.* The theme of this year's National Volunteer Week celebration is "Volunteering is Empathy in Action". It sure is. Whether it's to raise money for a family in need, repair a community facility, or bring a smile to the faces of lonely people through music, there is no doubt that volunteering brings people together to do good in communities. Those community-minded people are caring enough to offer their time and skills for no compensation other than the satisfaction helping others brings. Well, we say let's give our volunteers a well- deserved pat on the back. Good job, volunteers! Thank you for helping out. Thanks for giving up your nights and weekends. Thanks for picking up your socks and gettin' 'er done. Thank you once again for cooking, organizing, lugging, fixing, call- ing bingo, playing the guitar, selling things, buying things, making things - whatever it is, you deserve thanks for it. We appreciate you, and we love that you care so much. • Canadians dedicate approximately 5 billion hours to volunteering* Each year, we ask organizations to nominate a volunteer from their organization to be formally recognized for their outstanding efforts. On April 28, our three nominees were honoured during a Council meeting. Our 2022 nominees were Bar- bara Zwicker, Nateleen Zinck, and Rick Parker. Barbara Zwicker, nominated by Lighthouse Food Bank, was also selected to represent the Munici- pality of Chester at the Provincial Awards Cere- mony in Halifax this Fall. Barb has volunteered at Lighthouse Food Bank for the last eight years. Barb is described as "loyal, hardworking, reliable, and up to any task" and "a great person overall!" Due to Barb’s leadership, the Christmas hamper program at the Food Bank provided for 98 fami- lies in 2021. Barb procured groceries, managed several other volunteers with packing and sort- ing, and oversaw distribution day. Barb is also a board member and works monthly to help those in need. Thank you, Barb! Nateleen Zinck, nominated by the Starfish Re- unite Project, is the co-chair of that organization. As co-chair, Nateleen spends countless hours organizing all of the events that the Committee puts together to bring the remaining Alouch fam- ily members to Nova Scotia. She is known to be a strong leader that never hesitates to do whatever is needed to support everyone. Nateleen also supports the members of the Alouch family that are in Canada. She tutors, of- fers guidance and support, and helps with the complicated application process. Hubbards Area Lions Club nominated Rick Park- er. Rick is an executive member of the Club where he spends many hours serving his community. He also volunteers with IBM, mentoring students at three high schools through TAP (Technology Ad- vantage Program). This program provides access to higher learning to disadvantaged students. Other work at IBM is with the employee engage- ment committee and introducing therapy dogs to employees. Rick is also involved with the United Way Days of Caring, including programs as Veith House, Mar- garite Centre, and Urban Farm. We are so proud of our 2022 volunteer nomi- nees. Definitely "Empathy in Action!" • Volunteering accounted for the equivalent of over 2.5 million full-time year-round jobs* *taken from Statistics Canada's 2018 data (last data before COVID-19). MEET OUR 2022 VOLUNTEERS Barbara Zwicker Nateleen Zinck Rick Parker COUNCIL & GOVERNANCEMessage from the Warden This year's operating and capital budget was approved on April 14, and as anticipated, we were able to hold the commercial and residential tax rates to the same level as last year. This year's budget is ambitious in terms of investing on our infrastructure, promoting growth economically, and community development across the entire Municipality. It is also the time of year for recognizing the Best of Chester Municipality in our business awards program and our volunteers of the year, both of which bring so much to our community on an ongoing basis. Two weeks ago, i was able to take the Environment Club students from Forest Heights Community School on a tour of Kaizer Meadow. We started with a tour of the landfill site and explained current best practices in managing waste. 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 We then moved on to a tour of Sustane Technologies, where we demonstrated the future of waste management and the positive impact on the environment it will have moving forward. We ended the tour by stopping at our wind turbine project and talking about the future of renewable energy. Both students and the Municipality have roles to play now and into the future. The students had a lot of questions about all three site visits, and I believe that they have a much better understanding of how it all works now and the opportunities available going forward. Summer is on the way, and I hope to see you at our many upcomong community events. Take care and all the best. Drop-off Boxes: If you prefer to drop off your applications, plans, payments, etc. during or af- ter regular office hours, we have three drop-off boxes to choose from. They are located outside of the front entrance of the Municipal Building (151 King St.), Recreation Services (186 Central St. back parking lot), and Community Develop- ment (186 Central St. front entrance). E-transfers: We now accept e-transfers! Pay taxes, PRO Kids donations, program registra- tion, permit applications, invoices, etc. Include a description of why you are sending your pay- ment (tax account number, name of program, etc.) and send to payments@chester.ca. Increased funding: Council approved an in- crease towards the Lunenburg County Seniors' Safety Program. MOC's portion (now $10,651) is less than 10% of the overall budget. The pro- gram is operated through the Lunenburg Coun- ty Seniors' Safety Partnership Society and helps seniors in our area defend against abuse, fraud, and injury. Visit Lunenburg County Seniors' Safety Program on Facebook for more details and contact information. Holiday Hours: Municipal Offices are closed on Monday, May 23 for Victoria Day. Kaizer Mead- ow is open and waste will be collected as usual. Employment Opportunity: We are looking for a Mobile Ambassador! The position is 35 hours a week for June, July, and August with travel in and out of the Municipality. Visit www.chester. ca/employment, email ocorkum@chester.ca, or call 902-277-1571. IN BRIEF... THE 2021-2022 MUNICIPAL GRANT REPORT Where were last fiscal year's community dollars invested? The first of a two-part series. The Municpiality of Chester (MOC) has one of the most robust grant programs in the Province. Last year, Council invested $381,584 in community projects, programs, facilities, and events - an valuable part of our quality of life. In this newsletter and the next, we will report to you which organizations and individuals received funding and how they are using that money to contribute to our com- munities. If you belong to a non-profit organization that is in the Municipality of Chester, or serves the Municipality region- ally, you might be eligible to receive a grant under one of our programs. We also fund individuals through Leadership grants or Sponsorship. Read below, visit www.chester.ca, or call Recreation & Parks Services at 902-275-3490. Council grants: Maximum of $10,000 for non-profit orga- nizations that benefit residents of MOC. District grants: Please contact your District Councillor (info on back page). Economic Development Sponsorship: This grant is intend- ed to sponsor events or initiatives within MOC that support business growth and employment, increase visitor attrac- tion, and/or promote MOC to residents and visitors. Tourism grants: For non-profit organizations that benefit the residents of MOC, but whose activities and initiatives are tourism-related. Major Projects grants: Available once every two years to non-profit groups for project amounts of $10,000 or more. MOC contribution is up to 70% (max of $100,000). Funding for this grant comes from the Wind Revenue Reserve. Recreation Grants: Available as support to non-profit groups within the Municipality who offer recreational op- portunities to the community. PRO Kids: provides financial assistance to those aged 18 years and under living in MOC who cannot participate in sport or recreational activities due to lack of funds. Youth Sponsorship: For youth aged 21 years and under who have won their way or are selected to attend a recog- nized event at provincial, national, or international levels. Leadership Training: These funds cover up to 50% of registration fees associated with training or certification in coaching and leadership positions. Skills and knowledge gained must be shared within the Municipality. ORGANIZATION APPROVED GRANT USED TOWARDS . . . Aspotogan Arts & Crafts $1,300 Emergency funding and clay workshops Aspotogan Fitness Club $2,620 Gym mirror and commercial treadmill Aspotogan Recreation Association $1,500 Recreational activities Canaan & District Hall Association $5,000 Emergency funding Card Lake Park $2,000 Annual operating grant Charing Cross Garden Club $500 Hanging baskets Chester & Area Family Resource Centre $5,000 Annual operating grant Chester Area Middle School $900 Christmas dinner Chester Art Centre $6,000 Emergency funding and two art festivals Chester Basin Fire Department $500 Everyday Heroes and Wildfire Preparedness event Chester Brass Band $1,300 Summer concert series Chester Castaways $5,000 Emergency funding and ice time Chester Curling Club $2,000 Youth programs Chester District Soccer Association $3,500 Jerseys, equipment upgrades, training, and topsail Chester Farmers & Artisans Market $800 Storage shed Chester Garden Club $550 Garden beautification Chester Junior Sail Program $2,500 Equipment trailer, dolly wheels, and coach boats Chester Merchants Association $1,500 Chester Village Christmas Festival Chester Minor Hockey $2,000 Development hockey ice time Chester Municipal Heritage Society $2,500 Farmers' market pavilion Chester Playhouse $3,000 Projection equipment Chester Theatre Council $1,000 Summer programs Chester United Baptist Church $1,000 Comfort centre Chester Yacht Club $3,500 Race Week adaptations Christmas Daddies $100 Program donation Church Memorial Park $75,000 Annual operating grant Community Wheels $8,000 Annual operating grant District 1 Community Centre $9,047 Parking lot repairs, water softener, emergency funding East Chester Recreation Association $11,952 Water system, rain gutters, signage, emergency funding Forest Heights Community School $2,459 Christmas dinner, artwork, grad banners, prom Forties Community Centre $3,500 Oktoberfest, emergency funding Forties Garden Club $550 Garden beautification TOTAL $166,078 3 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT fish on the side to The Galley, Campbell House, and Clipper Cay – Didier also worked in Christmas trees. Q: How did you land on Chester as homebase? A: Lynda Flynn, owner of the Kiwi Café who had worked at The Galley, and Didier used to talk about pastry all the time because she had studied pastry abroad. Lynda said, ‘you should open in Chester’ and that's how we ended up coming here. We rented half of the building downtown (current site of Chester’s Café), then we bought that building for ourselves which housed the bakery and café. We later pur- chased the Stanford Lake location in 2008 since we had outgrown our baking space downtown. Chester is a great loca- tion as it’s close to Hali- fax, but also to Lunen- burg and Liverpool where we frequented markets. After much pleading, we got into the busy Hali- fax Brewery market. We were then invited to open a store at the newly developed Hydrostone market in the North End of Halifax in 1993. Q: What makes Chester special as a business owner? A: Chester has such a variety of people. When the café was operational, we would serve all kinds of folks; painters and contractors that would come in for their coffee and sandwiches, summer people, movie peo- ple, older couples who would come every single day, captains of industry, the lunch crowd, and many oth- ers. There were people I could count on to arrive every year. We watched families grow – couples having kids, their kids having kids and suddenly those babies are hedge fund managers earning more money than you. Q: What is your biggest piece of wisdom to impart on someone in the process of opening a small busi- ness in the area? A: It's never going to be easy, but you can ask for help. Help doesn't always have to be money; it can be advice or a babysitter for a few hours – people in this community are very willing to help. A successful busi- ness is also not going to happen overnight, and with- out a loyal team of people it’s never going to happen. Q: What’s next for you and Didier? A: A motorcycle for Didier, specifically a Harley Da- vidson, and I'd like to do more volunteering in the com- munity. Didier’s brother is a pastry chef in the South of France, so if he gets really bored, he can do that and perhaps I’ll write that book folks keep asking for! Q: Is there anything you would like to say to your customers? A: We will miss them greatly, and we hope to see them in the Village. Each market had its own charac- ters and favourite treats, each week was different and the energy could change from week to week. It is going to be strange for sure, but you can bet that we will be dropping by. ***************** While Julien’s will no longer be producing sweet treats, they will forever be embedded in Chester through former patrons, employees and friendships founded over their palatable pastries. We thank Laura, Didier, and their family for their decades of hard work and wish them the best in retirement. Julien’s Bakery has been an institution in Chester and surrounding areas for decades. After many years of providing the community with baked goods at a number of locations, including their former down- town Chester café and various markets in the region, owner/operators Laura Mulrooney and Didier Julien are retiring. To mark the end of an era, our Community Economic Development Officer – and former Julien’s employee – sat down with Laura and Didier to talk about the business, Chester, and what the next chap- ter holds. Q: Could you provide a bit of history on Julien’s? When did the business begin? A: In 1989, we were invited to take over a restaurant in a rustic inn in Bridgewater, which had definitely seen better days. We didn't know much about Bridgewater or the South Shore, but we worked hard at the restau- rant and met some really fine people. In 1991, a friend suggested we sell a few baguettes at the Bridgewater Farmers’ Market. When that caught on, we started selling at Lunenburg. To make ends meet, we also sold Ph o t o v i a F a c e b o o k - D r . R o b e r t L a R o c h e Photo via Facebook In 25 years, has... used 2,500,000 lbs of flour, spent $2,000,000 on milk, prepared over 250,000 sandwiches on their own bread. 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. • District Grants - contact the Councillor for your district. Deadline is February 28. • 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. • Leadership Training - 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. MUNICIPAL BUDGET 4 4 Revenue $2 9 , 3 6 6 , 0 0 9 The revenue that the Municipality receives can be broken down into two categories: Tax Revenue and Non-Tax Revenue. Tax Revenue Sources $22,399,683 % of TOTAL REVENUE Property Tax $ 14,812,799 Area Rates*5,796,884 Deed Transfer Tax 1,790,000 *Area rates are for streetlights, sewer charges, fire protection (which is returned to fire commissions and valued at $2,279,662), and waste collection. Non-Tax Revenue Sources $6,966,326 Landfill*$ 3,469,402 Reserves transfers 1,158,607 Wind turbine 762,500 Transfers from other levels of government 739,852 Sale of services**458,052 Other revenue 371,894 Private roads***6,019 *Landfill revenue is from commercial tip fees and from our other municipal customers and partners, like Valley Waste. **Sale of services is when we work for other municipalities or for permit application fees. ***Private road revenue is collected from homeowners who want to improve their road. We charge a rate to their taxes, hold it in a reserve, and then return it to them when they are ready to start their improvements. 2.52% %50.44 19.74% 6.10% 11.81% 3.95% 2.60% 1.56% TOP 5 Expenses TOP 5 Expenses for MOCfor MOC These are the five largest expenses in the Municipal Budget (not including our mandatory contributions) #4 Waste Collection $1,525,934 #5 Taxation Services are expenses related to property taxes as well as all of MOC’s finances. $1,253,065 Property Services $1,718,150 Property services incur costs related to engineering and public works, municipal properties, public spaces, and planning services. We will work on, • Village Plan Review • continuation of well upgrade lending program • trail maintenance (with Recreation Services) • signage • Wild Rose Park washroom renovation Transportation Services $548,471 Transporation services include municipal roads, sidewalks, and streetlights. This year, we also earmarked money for J-class road upgrades. OPERATING & CAPITAL BUDGET Off the top, we pay mandatory contributions for certain provincial services and certain mu- nicipal services provided by other agencies. Required contributions towards provincial services equals $5.57 million: Education $ 5,306,924 Corrections $ 233,337 Housing Authority $ 30,900 Municipal services provided by others equals $2.84 million: RCMP $ 2,211,780 Assessment $ 345,781 Library $ 85,700 Provincial roads $ 198,123 1.26% 2022-23 Capital Budget $12,794,394 + Some of the capital projects scheduled for the upcoming year. • Trail bridge repairs and inspections • Active Transportation (paved shoulders from Western Shore to Chester Basin and sidewalks in various locations) 0.02% MUNICIPAL BUDGET 5 5 FISCALYEAR2022-23 *excludes depreciation costs $29,366,009Expenses TOP 5 Expenses TOP 5 Expenses for MOCfor MOC These are the five largest expenses in the Municipal Budget (not including our mandatory contributions) #1 Transfers to Reserves This is all of the money that we are saving for future projects, such sewer system repairs. $3,656,113 #3 Fire Protection, which includes all of the funds collected on behalf of fire commissions. $2,450,776 #4 Waste Collection $1,525,934 Environmental Services $1,546,665 These are services related to sewer, solid waste, and our wind turbine. At the land- fill, projects include a leachate treatment plant upgrade, renovations at the public drop-off, and heavy equipment (#2 expense on the left). Sewer projects will see manhole repairs, pump replacements, increased service in Mill Cove for proposed development, and a biofilter at Mill Cove. Government Services $2,127,969 Government services incur costs related to Council, Administration, Taxation, and IT services. This year, in addition to regular operations, we will continue to work on our Acces- siblity Plan, Wastewater Strategy, IT infrastructure upgrades, procurement improve- ments. Property Services $1,718,150 Property services incur costs related to engineering and public works, municipal properties, public spaces, and planning services. We will work on, • Village Plan Review • continuation of well upgrade lending program • trail maintenance (with Recreation Services) • signage • Wild Rose Park washroom renovation Transportation Services $548,471 Transporation services include municipal roads, sidewalks, and streetlights. This year, we also earmarked money for J-class road upgrades. Recreation & Cultural Services $1,572,157 These services incur costs related to recreation programming and opportunites, grants, and heritage and cultural properties. This year, some of our focus will be on the trail with surface upgrades and trail bridge evaluations. We will also work on active transportation initiatives, have increased grants to community groups, and will begin to implement our Plan for Open Spaces. Economic Development $759,989 Services related to economic development include programs and supports for com- mercial sector, business retention/attraction, the EcoPark and tourism. This year, attention is on an Exit 6 growth strategy, business retention and expan- sion, and tourism initiatives. OPERATING & CAPITAL BUDGET Protective Services $539,954 Protective services incur costs related to animal control, by-law enforcement, building and fire inspection, emergency measures, and fire protection. + 2022-23 Capital Budget $12,794,394 + #2 Kaizer Meadow Landfill is the largest municipal operational expense we have. Fortunately, it is offset by almost as much revenue. $3,254,221 Some of the capital projects scheduled for the upcoming year. • Trail bridge repairs and inspections • Active Transportation (paved shoulders from Western Shore to Chester Basin and sidewalks in various locations) • Landfill Cell 3B at Kaizer Meadow • Leachate system design work • Wastewater system pump replacements • J-Class Road rehabilitation (cost-share program with Province) • Wild Rose Park washroom renovation • Repairs to Annex Building • Compactor replacement at Kaizer Meadow • Biofilter at Mill Cove sewer treatment plant • Trail surface upgrades PROPERTY SERVICES 6 Recyclable paper is like white leather. Clean plastic is like a permanent marker. The two don't mix. (hint: put your clean paper in a separate recycling bag) WASTEWATER STRATEGY UPDATE Wastewater renewal and expansion strategy coming together. Council’s 2021-24 strategic priorities include an ambitious wastewater strategy that will renew and expand wastewater service through- out the Municipality over the next two decades. As a first step, the Municipality secured a Provin- cial Capital Assistance Program (PCAP) grant last spring to contract the development of a waste- water infrastructure study. We’re pleased to re- port that EXP engineering consultancy completed the comprehensive Wastewater Service Study in March, and Council has already taken action based on key recommendations. Briefly, the Wastewater Service Study (all 765 pages of it!) consolidates all our current data about wastewater systems (capacity, condition, age, risk) as well as potential demand (develop- ment pressure, demographic changes, etc.) for future levels of service. The overall objective for the Wastewater Service Study is to determine constraints for the existing wastewater systems at Chester Basin, Otter Point, Mill Cove, New Ross, Village of Chester, and Western Shore, identify options for renewal and expansion, and provide a strategic framework for long-term expansion of wastewater infrastructure. Staff will use the Study as a ‘living document’ to document further infor- mation about our wastewater systems and to de- termine capital projects, refine operating & main- tenance programs, and so on. Completion of the Study coincided with the April 1 deadline for applications to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Green - En- vironmental Quality Stream. The project submit- ted, which focuses on the renewal and expansion of the Village of Chester wastewater system, was identified as the most project-ready of several immediate recommendations in the Wastewater Service Study. This project readily meets several ICIP outcomes: increased capacity to treat and manage wastewater, climate resiliency and green- house gas emissions reduction in project activity and resulting operations, and improved regula- tory compliance for effluent. The application also demonstrated how the system expansion could help advance provincial priorities around housing stock. The ICIP project submission is only the begin- ning. Council also asked staff to develop draft ac- tion plans that outline scope, timing, sequencing, and financial planning to advance several waste- water projects identified in the Wastewater Ser- vice Study over the next five (5) years. Staff will bring these draft plans to Council for discussion and direction in the coming weeks. WASTE AWAY General waste collection and disposal advice for all to enjoy! Take mini and regular-sized propane tanks to Kaizer Meadow Landfill (KML). Chester Home Hardware is no longer drop-off. Batteries do not belong in regular garbage. They can cause fires. Please return them to KML or the Municipal Office. Items containing Freon cannot be placed curbside for pick up. Please bring them to KML. Empty green carts regularly to avoid attracting nasty visitors. Take old electronics to Adams Bottle Exchange. E-waste cannot be collected curbside. Visit www.recyclemyelectronics.ca for a list of items to recycle. Proper waste sorting doesn't take a vacation. Recycling rules still apply when at the cottage. DO NOT LITTER. EVER. GOLF 4 CHARITY FUNDRAISER Third annual event set to raise money for non-profit organizations Robert Stevens and Tony Cohoon are trying something different this year. Similar as last year and the year before, they will raise money for charities close to their hearts. And, yes, they will do it by "power-golfing" 100 holes in only one day. This year, though, they will be doing it with no pandemic restrictions. The one-day event is scheduled for June 20, rain or shine, at the Chester Golf Course. Robert and Tony are long-time friends and have raised thou- sands of dollars together over the last two years. Last year, they raised a whopping $11,200 be- tween sponsors, donations, and an online auction The year before, they raised $12,095. This year, their charities of choice are Heart & Stroke Canada, Alzheimers/Dementia Canada, Integrity's Haven Equine Rescue Centre Society (IHERC), and the Chester Lido Swim Program in memory of lifetime volunteer, Viola Hiltz. With your support and the support of local busi- nesses, the duo can once again tee up for a suc- cessful fundraiser. To become a sponsor, you or your business can advertise on a tee box for $100. Robert and Tony accept any and all donations, Chester Sewer Plant and there is no donation too small (or too big...). If you're in the donating mood, or if you or a fam- ily member has had cause to use one of the chari- ties on this year's giving list and you want to help, cheques can be made out to Golf 4 Charity and mailed to 243 Old Truck 3, East Chester NS B0J 1J0 or e-transfers sent to rlstevens@eastlink.ca. If sponsorship or donations aren't your thing, you can contribute items to the upcoming online auction, or make a bid on the items listed. So far, prizes such as green fees and cart rentals from all our local golf courses and the Valley have been do- nated. The auction will soon be posted on www. chestergolfclub.ca, the Chester Golf Club website. We look forward to hearing about your day, Robert and Tony! PROPERTY SERVICES 7 Since our last report, we received these online inquiries. Waste collection: A resident inquired about black bags and blue bags being thrown into the same truck. This is a common complaint, and we're happy people are concerned about recycling. If you live on a side street, whichever truck is ahead will pick up all the waste and put it at the end of the road for the truck coming up behind. It saves time. Website notification: A complaint was received about the lack of date on notifications that are automatically generated by our website when a cancellation is posted. The date on the email notification should be the same date as when the cancellation is posted. Since technology does funny things sometimes, we will also endeavour to include the date in the body of our post. Trail sign theft: A trail user reported that some of the signage was taken on the trail by Goat Lake. Litter was also left in the area. We will take an inventory and replace it. Green Gym equipment broken: A bolt broke off of the butterfly weight machine and hit someone. The person is okay, and the equipment is roped off awaiting repairs. Streetlight burned out: A resident reported that one of the decorative streetlights was out at Wild Rose Park. We submitted a service ticket to Nova Scotia Power and hope it is fixed soon! Downed tree: A tree was reported to have fallen across the trail between East River and Hubbards. It's all cleared away, and the trail is open. Requests: We received several requests including • a green cart replacement x 3 • results of the most recent tax sale • Building Code and permit information • post community event on our Facebook page • information on recreation programs 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 see us at 151 King Street in Chester. BOSSBOSS oror BUSTBUST Sometimes we receive complaints that belong to other organizations so we do not have authority to act. We generally recommend reaching out to those organizations. These complaints were: • Dumping into the ocean (NS Department of Environment) • Wetland development (NS Department of Environment) SERVICE DELIVERY ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE HUBBARDS AREA: If you plan to replace your business sign, or put one up for the first time, the Municipality of Chester is starting a uniform signage pilot project around Exit 6. Before purchasing, please call 902-275-2599 or email development@chester.ca to discuss your options or visit www.chester.ca/uniform-signage-program 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. FIREWORKS: ARE YOU PREPARED? Fireworks incident with family pet sparks conversation With Canada Day approaching, there has been some talk of the negative affects fireworks have on animals, like family pets, live- stock, and wildlife. Besides animals, there are a couple other things to consider before lighting the match if you are planning celebrations that include fireworks in the back yard. Chat with your neighbours to let them know ahead of time so they are prepared. The abrupt and loud noise from fireworks causes stress, fear, and anxiety in animals and some of those suffer- ing from PTSD. Maybe consider silent fireworks as an option. They are just as festive but without the noise concerns. Protect against damage by lighting fireworks well away from structures, woods, and anything else you value. Fireworks burn at over 6000C. Are you insured in case things go awry? Be safe, not sorry. Clear a flat, sturdy area to set off fireworks that is 40m away from your house. Keep them away from kids and people under the influence. Also, if there's a dud, wait a good 10 minutes before going near it or disposing it. Don't forget a fire extinguisher. OUTDOOR BURNING BY-LAW Amendments are approved and the By-Law is in effect The amended Outdoor Burning By-Law #142 came into effect on February 9, 2022. What is updated? First, a distinction was made between Chester Village, (Chester Village Fire Control Area), sur- rounding areas of higher building/population density (Chester Outer Fire Control Area), and the rest of MOC. Islands are not included in the re- vised By-Law. Second, the By-Law now presents general re- quirements for outdoor burning, such as to: • prohibit burning of prohibited materials or any household hazardous waste; • prohibit fires that create a recognized nui- sance or hazard; • require that fires comply with permits and conditions imposed by Department of Nat- ural Resources and Renewables and with any other Federal or Provincial regulations; • require that fires for the purposes of build- ing demolition must have prior approval of the Department of Environment; • require that fires be attended by an adult of 19 years of age with suitable fire suppres- sion resources readily available; and • require that outdoor furnaces meet re- quirements of MOC development permits. Third, within the Chester Outer Fire Control Area, the By-Law now permits recreational, open- air fires and, within limits, the burning of garden waste and brush from land clearing, such as to: • require that outdoor furnaces meet re- quirements of MOC development permits; • place limits on the size of the fire for garden waste and land clearing of 3 meters in diam- eter and 2 meters in height, 9 meters from other combustibles and property lines; • permit recreational fires of up to 1 meter in diameter, burning solid fuel (dry wood materials), either open air, in an acceptable burning pit, or in an approved appliance, 4.5 meters from combustibles and property lines; and • permit only one fire on a property at one time. Lastly, within the Chester Village Fire Control Area, the By-Law now permits recreational open- air fires and fires contained within acceptable burn pits and appliances (within limits). The use of outdoor furnaces continues to be prohibited. The By-Law does now: • permit small (0.75 meters in diameter) rec- reational open-air fires burning solid fuel (dry wood materials) 3 meters from com- bustibles and property lines; • permit fires (1 meter in diameter) within acceptable fire pits and appliances burn- ing solid fuel (dry wood materials) 3 meters from combustibles and property lines; • permit only one fire on a property at one time. The By-Law Enforcement Officer for MOC is re- sponsible for enforcing this By-law. Where the By- Law Enforcement Officer (or someone they des- ignate) determines that a hazard or nuisance to persons or property exists, an Order will be issued to the property owner to extinguish the fire and/ or take other remedial action required to meet the provisions of the By-Law. Also, a Fire Chief may ex- tinguish the fire, or order the fire extinguished, if it's considered a hazard. For questions, please contact our By-Law En- forcement Officer, Brendan Mosher, at 902-275- 3080 or email bmosher@chester.ca 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 The Best Of Nova Scotia in one place... www.investchester.ca We are hoping the residents of the Municipality of Chester - and the rest of Lunenburg County - will make their move and share it to win! We're celebrating you for "making your move" with an 8-week contest starting May 9. Share your moves with us on social media, and you could win a free t-shirt. In the last Municipal Insight, we shared that Nova Scotians are less active than most Canadians and we want to turn those stats around! Sedentary behaviour has increasingly been cited as a risk fac- tor for poor health and the development of chronic diseases among adults, and as a risk for negative mental health outcomes and reduced cognitive function. Adding more movement to your day can help you start feeling better almost imme- diately. Go for a 15-minute walk on your lunch break, park in the spot furthest from the door in the parking lot, take the stairs, walk with a friend, take a break from your computer screen and do some yoga or stretching for 10 minutes! Make Your Move is meant to inspire Nova Scotians to think about movement differently and recognize that it’s easy to do. It is put together by the Healthy To- morrow Foundation, created by Doctors Nova Scotia. Visit www.makeyourmovens.ca for in- spiring stories of Nova Scotians and sim- ple tips on ways you can easily add more movement to your day. Simple changes can have big impacts! MAKE YOUR MOVE CHALLENGE Increase your physical activity in 8-week challenge