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Home My Public Portal About2023-11_MunicipalInsight_webmunicipal insightmunicipal insight “ “Keeping you informed about November/December 2023Keeping you informed about November/December 2023 your municipal government” your municipal government” The 49th Provincial Volunteer Awards were held in Halifax on Septmber 25, 2023. This annual event recognizes select Nova Scotians for their contributions in volunteerism that often spans decades. Guests included dignitaries from all levels of of- fice, government officials, and volunteers chosen for their exceptional dedication. Among these honoured guests, Karen MacKenzie-Stepner was named as Volunteer of the Year for the Municipal- ity of Chester. Nominated by her community, Karen was first recognized for her years of service during National Volunteer Week (April 16 to 22) by Chester Mu- nicipal Council at their meeting on April 20, 2023. Karen has had - and continues to have - a lengthy career in volunteering. Presently, she volunteers with St. Augustine's Church Guild, organizes and coordinates fundraising and outreach events, and oversees the Church's Christmas Families program as well as offers support to individuals in the area. Karen is a member of the Church's Maintenance Committee and the Prayer shawl knitting group, is a Church Reader, and prepares the weekly an- nouncements. In addition to her work at St. Augustine's, Karen serves in many other capacities, including: • as a member of the Bridgewater Red Cross Personal Disaster team assisting families in the first 72 hours following a disaster; • answering phones for the Red Cross during national emergencies, which led to an invi- tation to join the Lunenburg Disaster Plan- ning Committee; • as the member-at-large for the Chandler's VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Municipality of Chester resident presented provincial award Cove Condominium Board as well as several ad hoc working groups; • as a member of the Chester Basin, New Ross, and Chester Lions Club as the Club’s Secre- tary and apple and Christmas tree sales; • helping to establish a Comfort Centre at the Chester Basin Fire Station where she serves when the Centre opens in times of need; • tutoring new Canadians in English, Science, Math, Sign Language, Canadian culture and local knowledge; and • providing teaching assistance to Grade 4 stu- dents at Chester District Elementary School. Internationally, Karen represents Team Canada Healing Hands in Central and South America. She is on the Board of Directors and is the Director of In the Municipality of the District of Chester this fall... Be prepared for an emergency Congratulations on 30 years! Make way for first responders! Plan to use a generator New Ross Christmas Will your driveway during a power Festival is 30! Twig is accommodate an outage? Check Pg 3. celelbrating (Pg. 4). emergency vehicle? Pg. 7. Communications, traveling to Haiti, Belize, Peru and Guatemala. Her main task is to prepare and translate curriculum and to “Teach the Teachers”. In the past, Karen has worked internationally with Signs of Fun, the United Deaf Internation- al Services, and with the West Tennessee Haiti Medical Partnership. Her considerable inventory of volunteer work in developing countries and at home is incredibly impressive and compassionate. Karen received her award from His Honour the Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc, Lieutenant Gover- nor of Nova Scotia, and the Honourable Barbara Adams, Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care (photo above). Congratulations on your award, Karen! Your work in the world is an incredible tes- tament to your character! It was another fruitful year in the Community Gar- den in the Municipal Building yard. The 20 raised garden beds were overflowing with produce planted and nurtured by municipal residents. In what has become an annual tradition, Lisa Aiken led a group of enthusiastic students from the Chester District Elementary School to harvest their beds. After some digging, the kids were rewarded for their work by unearthing carrots and potatoes that the School's cafeteria staff will use in lunches. While the beds were provided by the Municipality of Chester, Growing Friends (based in the Village of Ches- GARDEN PARTY ter) organizes volunteers and assigns raised beds to residents who are otherwise unable to have their own garden. Whether the reason be reduced mobility, lack of their own space, or maybe an extra hand is needed, each grower is in good hands. Also on site is a seed library from which gardeners can take, trade, or donate seeds. The library was gra- ciously built and donated by Cynthia and Tom Myers. Growing Friends have installed raised beds in other locations across the Municipality including New Ross, Western Shore, and Chester that provide fresh food to those who need it. To complement this program, the Municipality offers a program that delivers pre-planted portable gardens to residents around the Municipality who cannot have their own garden. It produces a small amount of vege- tables or herbs in the convenience of your own porch. For info on these programs or to have your name put on the growing list of participants, contact Jennifer at 902-275-4107 or communications@chester.ca. COUNCIL & GOVERNANCEMessage from the Warden Well, garden season is over, and it was a pleasure to see the kids from Chester District Elementary School out harvesting the vegetables from our community garden. A big thank you to Lisa Aiken for helping them understand the value of the tradition of gardening. Volunteers are so important to our community, and I congratulate Karen MacKenzie-Stepner for being recognized at the provincial level as the Municipality of Chester's Volunteer of the Year. There is an interesting discussion taking place across the Municipality on the future of Church Memorial Park. This historic facility has played an important role for all age groups across the Municipality for generations. Should it be maintained and/or expanded? Can it meet our future needs? Is a new facility the best approach? These 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 are the questions that we need addressed from both a technical and community point of view. I urge you to participate in these discussions as the consequences of the path forward are significant to our communities. The holiday season is fast approaching and, as usual, there are many activities taking place across the Municipality. Get out and enjoy them! It is the season for celebration, and this year perhaps more than ever, we can be thankful for where we live and all those community members we have the pleasure to call our friends and neighbours. Take care and all the best, Holiday & Observances: Remembrance Day falls on Saturday, November 11. Kaizer Meadow Landfill will close while Municipal Offices will observe the day by closing on Monday, November 13. Waste collection will not be affected. The December holiday schedule is listed in detail on the back page. Council Meeting at Forest Heights: Municipal Council will hold a Special Council Meeting at For- est Heights Community School on November 30 at 9:00am. Student Council will also be present. Employment Opportunities: We are looking to fill two vacancies: Senior Economic Development Officer and Skilled Labourer for Public Works. For information, please visit www.chester.ca/employ- ment or contact the Director of Human Resources at 902-275-3554 or employment@chester.ca. Support for Church Memorial Park: The Board for Church Memorial Park is discussing whether its fa- cility (ice hockey and curling rinks) should be reno- vated or if a new facility should be built. So that their decision is data-driven, the group is looking to complete a feasiblity study to provide an assessment of the existing structure as well as what the needs (and potential needs) of the community and users are. Council contributed $100,000 from its Wind Revenue Fund under the Community Development stream in support of the study as the facility serves all residents within the Municipality as well as hosts many visitors. Sponsorships: Council awarded $1000 to Sean Gif- fin of Chester and Jason Rafuse of Chester Basin for their participation in the Special Olympics Na- tional Curling Games happening in Calgary, Alberta from February 27 to March 1, 2024. Municipal Planning Advisory Committee Meet- ing: This Committee will meet to discuss a staff report and draft amendments to add Small Option Homes as a permitted land use in the Municipal Land Use By-Law. The meeting will be on Novem- ber 15 at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 151 King Street, Chester. Meetings are open to the public if you are interested in observing this process. If you wish to address the Committee, please call 902- 275-2599 or email planning@chester.ca. Upcoming Meetings: The meeting schedule for Committee of the Whole (all Councillors) and Mu- nicipal Council is as follows: Thursday, Nov. 16 - Council Thursday, Nov. 23 - Committee of the Whole Thursday, Nov. 30 - Council (at Forest Heights Community School) Thursday, Dec. 7 - Committee of the Whole Thursday, Dec. 14 - Council Thursday, Dec. 21 - CANCELLED Thursday, Dec. 28 - Office closed, no meetings scheduled Meetings are open to the public. If you wish to address Council, 15 minutes is available during the Public Input section of each meeting. If you need longer, you can make an appointment and be put on the agenda. Please contact the Municipal Clerk at 902-275-3554 one week before. You can subscribe to have meeting agendas emailed directly to your inbox by calling 902- 275-4107 or signing up at https://chester.ca/ contact/municipal-notifications. You can also get notified of the distribution of newsletters and recreation guides, waste collection notices, and proposed regulatory changes (by- law and policy amendments, including that of planning documents, Public Hearings, and Public Information Meetings). IN BRIEF... 30th New Ross Christmas Festival December 1 - 3, 2023 www.newross.ca/christmas-festival December 1, 2023 • Christmas Tree Lighting • Celebration on the Hill • Community Supper December 2, 2023 • Firefighters' Breakfast • Festival Craft & Gift Fair • O Christmas Tree Exhibit • Christmas Country Craft Fair • Fun Actvities at Family Resource Centre • Sanders Tree Farm Supplies • Scotian Ironworks • Festival Concert • Dance December 2 & 3, 2023 • Ross Farm Museum Christmas in the Country • Wreaths by Charmaine • Festival Art Show • Christmas Tree Decorating Contest • Stephe's Woodburning and Crafts • Twig's Chalet • Traditional christmas Dinner December 3, 2023 • Ecumenical Church Service • Ross Farm Museum Craft & Gift Market Christmas Trees in New Ross • Bar M Ranch U-Pick • Hughes U-Pick • Karl Veinot's U-Pick • T & A Keddy Trees • Keddy's U-Pick Restaurants in New Ross • Vittles Cafe • Peasant's Pantry • Smoke & Smith Food Truck (by Post Office) Other things... • Raffle tickets are available on a handmade quilt throughout the Festival. Draw is December 3 at 4pm. • Outdoor toilet located across from the school in the picnic park • Check http://newross.ca/things-to-do/ christmas-festival/for full details. 3 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS We are looking to hire a Senior Economic Development Officer to implement actions in our Economic Development Strategy. The successful candidate will also develop and maintain strong relationships with the local business community and other groups. To view the job description, visit https:// chester.ca/employment, call 902-275- 3554, or email employment@chester.ca A special message from the National Fire Protection Association: Downed utility lines, power company blackouts, heavy snow falls or summer storms can all lead to power outages. Portable generators are a tem- porary solution to power appliances. It’s impor- tant to know that portable generators emit car- bon monoxide (CO) - a poisonous, deadly gas. Use these tips to avoid CO exposure: • Use portable generators outdoors in well- ventilated areas at least 20 feet (7 metres) from all doors, windows, and vent openings. Measure the 20-foot (7 metre) distance from the generator to the building. • Never use a generator in an attached garage, even with the door open. • Place generators so that exhaust fumes can’t enter the home through windows, doors or other openings in the building. The exhaust must be directed away from the building. • Make sure to install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home. Follow manufactur- GeneratorGenerator SafetySafety er’s instructions for correct placement and mounting height. • Turn off generators and let them cool down before refueling. Never refuel a generator while it is hot. • Store fuel for the generator in a container that is intended for the purpose and is cor- rectly labeled as such. Store the containers outside of living areas. When plugging in appliances, make sure they are plugged directly into the generator or a heavy duty outdoor-rated extension cord. The cords should be checked for cuts, tears and that the plug has all three prongs, especially a grounding pin. If you must connect the generator to the house wiring to power appliances, have a qualified elec- trician install a properly rated transfer switch in accordance with the National Electrical Code® (NEC) and all other applicable electrical codes. FACT: Portable generator exhaust is toxic and deadly. Do not stand or sit downwind of generator exhaust. If you can smell exhaust, you are inhal- ing it. For more, visit nfpa.org/education In the event of an emergency, please remember to always use 1) your civic NUMBER, 2) your ROAD name, and 3) your COMMUNITY name. Please use all three of these components of your civic address when making an emergency call. Also remember that your community’s name can not be substituted for a highway name. For example, if you live in the community of Windsor Road use your full address (## Highway 14 in the community of Windsor Road). Other examples include substituting the community name of Deep Cove for Highway 329 or the community of East Chester for Highway 3. Seconds matter in an emergency. Please make sure that your civic number sign is visible. Without clearly posted civic numbers to guide them, emergency service responders can sometimes have difficulty locating the address of a 911 emergency. Emergency Services are most familiar with, and prefer, the clearly visible blue and white reflective civic number signs. You can purchase these civic number signs at the Municipal Office. Order forms are available on the Civic Addressing page of our website. Signs cost $14.00 (prepaid). If you would like a sign mailed to you, please add $3.00 to cover postage. COMMUNITY NAMES CIVIC ADDRESSING&& Contact Planning and Development Services at (902) 275-2599 or email civicaddress@chester. ca if you have any questions regarding your civic address. It is with appreciation and hearts full of gratitude that we extend our sincere thanks to Candace Bremner, Leeona Guy-Bergey and Chantel Dodge for organizing a successful golf tournament support- ing PRO Kids. Your efforts in raising an impressive $10,000 will help many kids in our Municipality be participants instead of spectators. We are so grateful for members of the community who support PRO Kids as 100% of the proceeds go back into making a difference for local youth. From organizers to donors to players and supportors, we give you all the thanks in the world because without your kind- ness, the PRO Kids program would not be the success it is. THANK YOU! 4 Sunday, Nov. 12 Christmas Craft Show Hubbards Lions Club, 10am-2pm. For information, 902-718-7591. Crib Tournament Little Red School, 1pm. Call 902-275-3496. Saturday, Nov. 18 French Toast Breakfast Hubbards Area Lions Club, 8-11am. Community Centre Breakfast District #1 Community Centre, 9-11am. Christmas Market Hubbards Barn, 9am-1pm. Visit www. hubbardsbarn.org for information. Annual Christmas Craft Fair Chester Basin Legion, 10am-2pm. Sunday, Nov. 19 Canada and the James Webb Telescope is presented by the Athenaeum Society of Nova Scotia at Ocean Swells Community Centre, 2:30pm. Call 902-476-4465. Thursday, Nov. 23 Oh Me Nerves - The Holiday Nutcrackers Comedy with Tina Randell and Michelle Rex at the District #1 Community Centre, 8:00pm. Reserve tickets by calling 902-980-0012. Saturday, Nov. 25 Christmas Market Hubbards Barn, 9am-1pm. Visit www. hubbardsbarn.org Christmas Craft Market Chester United Baptist Church, 9am-2pm. Call 902-277-1043 or 902-275-8347. Christmas Bazaar St. Stephen's Church Hall, 10:30am-1:00pm. Sunday, Nov. 26 Crib Tournament Western Shore Legion, 1pm. For information, call 902-627-2570. Saturday, Dec. 2 Christmas Market Hubbards Barn, 9am-1pm. Visit www. hubbardsbarn.org Prize Bingo District #1 Community Centre, 6pm. Saturday, Dec. 2 Sunday, Dec. 3 Christmas Festival Turkey Dinner Forties Community Centre, 12-2pm and 3:00-4:30pm. Call 902-689-2000 or email fortiescc@gmail.com. Sunday, Dec. 3 Memory Tree Lighting & Music Show Little Red School, 1pm. Call 902-275-3496 or 902-275-3667 to purchase a bulb. Sunday, Dec. 10 Crib Tournament Little Red School, 1pm. Call 902-275-3496. Sunday, Dec. 17 Breakfast with Santa Forties Community Centre, 8-11am. For more information, call 902-689-2000 or email fortiescc@gmail.com. Mondays Coffee & Breakfast Hubbards Area Lions Club. TOPS meeting New Ross Legion, 5:45-7:00pm. Auction 45s Western Shore Legion. Call 902-627-2570 for more information. Tuesdays Heritage Handwork Drop-in District #1 Community Centre on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 10am-4pm. Bring your own mug along with portable handwork. Wednesdays Auction 45s Little Red School, 7:30pm. Thursdays Two Coves Café St. Luke's Anglican Parish Hall (10 Shore Club Road), 9-11am. Free refreshments. Visit twocoves.ca or @TwoCovesHubbards on Facebook. Bingo Hubbards Area Lions Club, 7:00pm. Mini- bingo starts at 6:30pm. Bingo New Ross Legion, 7-10pm. Fridays Friday Night Live New Ross Legion, 8:30pm. COMMUNITY INTEREST TWIG HOUSEWARMING Twig the Elf made his magical debut in a short video released by the Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia a couple of years ago. As caretaker of the Nova Scotian Balsam Fir for- est where he lives, Twig warmed our hearts with his generous spirit and caring nature. SPOILER ALERT: Twig saves the day with a blue button and sparks a family tradition that would melt the heart of the Grinch himself. If you haven't seen it, search 'Bring Christmas Home - Blue Button Cam- paign' on YouTube or use the link https://youtu. be/dRv80fgd5Hs. Building on the popular video, Twig has been brought to 'life', and has agreed to become the Ambassador of the New Ross Christmas Festival! To celebrate the Festival's 30th Anniversary, a real-life replica of Twig's Chalet was constructed and sits on Ruby's Trail in New Ross and will be a feature during the Festival (December 1 to 3). The quaint elf-sized home is complete with fireplace, furniture, and bookshelf. Leading up to the Festival, please join the com- munity on November 27 at 1:00 pm as everyone is welcomed to the Grand Opening of Twig's Cha- let, located on Ruby's Trail in New Ross. Access to Ruby's Trail is behind the New Ross Credit Union. Join Twig as he shares his Nova Scotia Christmas tree industry journey in New Ross! Twig the Elf's Chalet on Ruby's Trail in New Ross Photo credit: Judy O'Leary 5 COMMUNITY INTEREST DROP - O F F L O C A T E D A T OUR H E A L T H C E N T R E It has been three years since Council approved the installa- tion of a community flagpole. Since that time, many flags have been hoisted to commemmorate events, promote aware- ness campaigns, and express solidarity. Non-profit organizations can request to have a special-pur- pose flag flown on the community flagpole at the Municipal Office by submitting an application for Council's approval. The criteria and application are found on our website at https:// chester.ca/community/flag-raising-protocol. If a group is interested in organizing a flag raising event, please reach out to the Municipality at communications@chester.ca or call 902-275-4107 as we can offer the use of a portable sound system, livestreaming equipment, communciations support, and tables/chairs, if needed. Using flags to honour a community or bring awareness to a cause is important, but not the only way that the Municipality can demonstrate support. Non-profit organizations can also re- quest that the Municipal Office be illuminated with spotlights, coloured to represent a provincial or national observance. For example, purple lights for Epilepsy Awareness or blue lights for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Proclamations are a more formal option for showing support. Proclamations are made by Council through resolution (formal motion) and then a signed copy posted in the Municipal Building and posted online. Proclamations are a good option to describe the purpose and brief background of an observance. Some ex- amples of proclamations are found on our website at https:// chester.ca/government/proclamations-and-observances The application to request one or more of these options can be found at https://chester.ca/community/flag-raising-protocol or by contacting Emily Lennox at 902-275-4147 or elennox@ chester.ca. Please submit requests two weeks prior to the event. RAISE THE FLAG Municipality offers options for community Treaty Education Nova Scotia has published an excellent booklet, We are all Treaty People, about the Peace and Friendship Treaties that remain in effect today. In that booklet is a section about allyship and describes how non-indigenous people can become allies to Indigenous people. The excerpt reads, "An ally steps in when needed to educate others about the realities and histories of marginalized people. For example, you might find yourself at a social gathering where another person says something inappropriate or makes a joke about Indigenous people. As an ally, you would break into that con- versation to educate the others who are present." The booklet goes on to describe actions to take as an ally, "As an ally you will • actively support the struggle • transfer the benefits of your privilege to those who have less • speak up, even if you feel scared • acknowledge that the conversation is not about you." Not everyone may want an ally either. Allyship is supporting and acknowledging, and it's also about self-reflection and just being present. Being informed about our shared history goes a long way with understanding and raising levels of cultural awareness. There are many free and credible sources of information out there. If you are interested in learning more about being an ally, treaties and the Mi'kmaq culture, visit novascotia.ca/treaty- education or follow Treaty Education Nova Scotia on Facebook. Access the booklet We are all Treaty People at https://novas- cotia.ca/treaty-education/treaty-education-brochure.pdf. WHAT IS AN ALLY? An important excerpt about cultural learning PROPERTY SERVICES 6 NEW PROGRAM FOR HOMEOWNERS Improve home energy efficiency with Clean Energy Financing Homeowners in the Municipality of Ches- ter who want to improve their home’s energy efficiency and reduce their power bills can now apply to the Municipality’s new Clean Energy Financing (CEF) program. Upgrades eligible for financing could in- clude installing heat pumps, improving your home’s insulation, and much more. Clean Energy Financing might be right for you if: • You own a detached, semi-detached, or row house (multi-unit buildings are not eligible for the program). • You are worried about the cost of heat- ing your home. • You are not sure which energy up- grades might be right for you. • You would prefer to finance any up- grades you make. • You need help applying for rebates. Through CEF, you can finance up to $40,000 in home energy upgrades. The financing term is 10 years, but there’s no penalty for paying off the financing early, and the program makes sure you get access to all the rebates you are eligible for. To learn more about the program and apply online, visit cleanenergyfinancing.ca/chester or call 1-844-727-7818. GIVE ME A BREAK... ON TAXES! Do you qualify for an exemption or reduction on property taxes? The Municipality has set the income level and exemption amount required to determine eli- gibility for property tax exemptions. You may qualify if ALL of the following applies: 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 household income together is less than $30,803. 2. Although all owners do not have to live in the residence, it must be a principal dwelling 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. Your maximum exemption amount is determined at the Municipal Office upon applying, but will not exceed $865, which is the maximum for an income level below $17,092. Proof of income is required and you will need a copy of your 2022 Notice of As- sessment from Revenue Canada. Please contact the Municipal Office at 902-275- 3554 for information. The deadline to apply for an exemption is March 29, 2024. Provincial Seniors Property Tax Rebate This program is administered by Service Nova Sco- tia and designed to help eligible seniors remain in their homes by providing them with an annual re- bate 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 29, 2023. You must meet the following conditions to qualify under this program: • 2022/23 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. • Applicants must be at least 65 years of age and receive, or be eligible to receive, the Guaran- teed Income Supplement (GIS) or be between 60 and 64 and receive, or be eligible to re- ceive, the Allowance in 2023. For more information or to see if you qualify, please call 1-800-670-4357. Preparations for construction of four new side- walks in the Municipality started this spring with the work awarded to Dexter's Construction at a cost of $2,904,469. Locations for the new sidewalks are: • Hubbards from the Trail Head to the inter- section of Highway 3 and Highway 329 (near Aspotogan Heritage Trust). • Chester from 3769 Highway 3 (Our Health Centre) to the intersection of Pig Loop Road and Highway 3. • Chester from the intersection of Valley Road and Highway 3 to the intersection of Duke Street and Highway 3. • Chester Basin along Route 12 from Highway 3 to the Trail (near Aenon United Baptist Church). The section of sidewalk in Hubbards is complete with Chester's sections under construction now. All construction is expected to be complete by the spring of 2024. Sidewalks support our Active Transportation Strategy to improve and increase access to safe spaces for pedestrians. SIDEWALKS Status report on projects The Best Of Nova Scotia in one place... www.investchester.ca PROPERTY SERVICES 7 Recyclable paper is like a metal fork. Clean plastic is like an electrical outlet. The two don't mix. (hint: put your clean paper in a separate recycling bag) Since our last report, we received these online inquiries. Parking at Fox Point Beach: We received a complaint from a long-time resident about the scarcity of parking at Fox Point Beach and the potential it creates for unsafe conditions as vehicles are parked on both sides of the road. We are delighted that our local public spaces are being used by so many people but ask users to be mindful of safety when parking. Nuisance parking on municipal road: We were notified a resident was having difficulty accessing their driveway due to other people's vehicles parked on the street. Our By-Law Enforcement Officer will monitor and provide information. Requests: We received some other online requests that are more routine, including • green cart replacement/repair x 15 • request for waste collection information x 1 • report of waste left behind x 1 • request for property information x 1 • address change x 2 • questions about zoning x 1 • Building Code inquiries x 2 Sometimes we receive requests that belong to other organizations so we do not have authority to act. We generally recommend reaching out to those organizations. We had these requests: REGISTER A COMPLIMENT OR COMPLAINT BY: Calling 902-275-3554. Leaving your name is optional. Emailing the Clerk at pmyra@chester.ca Filling in our online form on our website at www. chester.ca/uhoh Coming to see us at 151 King Street in Chester. BOSSBOSS oror BUSTBUST • Culvert replacement (NS Dept of Public Works) • Damage to vehicle incurred by road condition (NS Dept of Public Works) TOP55 Our Public Works Office (part of the Department of Infrastructure & Operations) often gets phone calls, emails, and visits from residents with ques- tions that we can't help them with. In case you have similar questions or requests, perhaps this list of 'Top 5 Most Common Inquiries and Their Solutions' can help you, too. 1. Snow Plowing - Snow clearing on most roads is carried out by NS Department of Public Works. If you experience damage, want to know when your road will be plowed, or a road conditions update, please visit https:// novascotia.ca/tran/winter/ 2. Ditching and Culverts - Call NS Department of Public Works to request ditching or cul- vert replacement. 3. Potholes and Road Repairs - The only roads that we can suggest that the NS Department of Public Works should repair are J-class roads. The only roads that we can repair without asking are our own. Check chester. ca for a list of municipal and J-class roads. 4. Tree Cutting and Fallen Trees - If you need a tree cut down or cleaned up in your yard, there are several private arbourists or gen- eral contractors that can do that work for you. If a tree is on provincial land and falls on your property, contact NS Public Works. 5. Moorings - You need a permit from Natural Resources to place a mooring on Crown land submerged in the ocean. NS Public Works 1-844-696-7737 Road Conditions 511 NS Natural Resources 902-634-7555 Homeowners need to do what they can to ensure their driveway is accessible to fire, rescue and EHS vehicles. When an emergency strikes, getting an emergency response vehicle up a driveway quickly and close to a home is CRITICAL. If first responders cannot quickly and safely access your residence, they will need to find an alternative way to get responders and their equipment to you. This will take extra time and, in an emergency, every second counts. Following are some steps you can follow to assure firefighters and other first responders reach you in a time of need. 1. Have your civic sign posted and visible from the road from either direction. 2. Have your home visible from the road so emergency personnel know it is safe to enter the area. 3. Establish a safe route to your home with WILL A FIRE TRUCK FIT DOWN YOUR DRIVEWAY adequate driveway access. We need a BARE MINIMUM of 12 feet of driveway width and a clear height of 13.5 feet. Consider removing trees close to the driveway, especially on tight turns. Consider the width of any culvert or bridge over your driveway. Not only do we have to get trucks up your driveway, we also need to run hose up your driveway and have enough room to work around our truck. 4. Fire trucks can weigh upwards of 50,000 lbs. Please assure that your driveway has a surface that can support that weight and that bridges and culverts are strong enough. If a bridge or culvert will not support our weight, we will not cross it and will have to hand stretch all the hose to your house. 5. Consider the grade on your driveway. Typically a grade or 12%-14% is about the maximum a fire truck can manage. 6. Consider having the entry to your driveway from the road as close to 90 degrees as possible and have turnouts on both ends wide enough, usually around 20 feet, to let trucks with a larger turn radius swing into your driveway. 7. Gates should be far back enough as to not obstruct the turn into the driveway and allow emergency access to the residence. A fire may double in size every 30 seconds. In an emergency, having quick and safe access to your residence is critical to save lives and reduce property damage. Contact your local fire department for more information. They will be most willing to assist you in accessing your driveway access. 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: We deactivated our Twitter account at the end of July due to low engagement and viewer restrictions. Please follow us on our other social media platforms. 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 chestermunicipality 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! You can also catch the latest Council and Committee of the Whole meetings under the 'Live' tab. Municipal subscriptions: Sign up for the latest municipal news about Regulatory Changes (by-law and policy including Planning), Waste Collection, Council Agendas, and more at 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 Services/By-Law 902-275-3080 Planning/Fire Inspection 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 902-275-4147 WALK-IN CLINIC HOURS (November) Mondays CLOSED (every Monday) Tuesdays 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. (Nov. 7, 21 & 28) CLOSED (Nov. 14) Wednesdays 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. (every Wednesday) Thursdays 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. (every Thursday) Fridays CLOSED (every Friday) Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Nov. 4, 18 & 25) CLOSED (Nov. 11) Sundays CLOSED (every Sunday) 1-902-273-2098 • Call 30 minutes before each shift • appointment required • wear a mask 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. Administration Offices are observing the following holiday schedule: Friday, December 22, 2023 CLOSING at noon Monday, December 25, 2023 CLOSED for Christmas Day Tuesday, December 26, 2023 CLOSED for Boxing Day Wednesday, December 27, 2023 CLOSED Thursday, December 28, 2023 CLOSED Friday, December 29, 2023 CLOSED Monday, January 1, 2024 CLOSED for New Year’s Day Tuesday, January 2, 2024 OPEN for regular hours The waste collection and Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre (Landfill) schedule over the holiday season is: Monday, December 25, 2023 CLOSED for Christmas Day Waste will not be collected. Place waste out on Saturday, December 23 Monday, January 1, 2024 CLOSED for New Year's Day Waste will not be collected. Place waste out on Saturday, December 30 Happy Holidays from Council and Staff