Region of Queens councillors want planning for an accessible washroom at the inclusive play park in Liverpool to begin this year. (Rick Conrad)
Region of Queens councillors want to move up plans for an accessible washroom at Liverpool’s universally designed inclusive play park.
The region set aside about $400,000 for the facilities in the 2025/26 capital improvement plan. But District 1 Coun. Kevin Muise urged councillors on Tuesday to move it up a year. Otherwise, he said he’s worried it won’t get built at all.
The $600,000 play park was opened next to Queens Place Emera Centre in October 2023. It was made possible by a combination of community fundraising and municipal and provincial funding.
The region rented an accessible portable toilet for the site last year.
Muise said he’d prefer planning for the accessible washroom facilities to begin sooner than later, especially with the $21.5-million Mount Pleasant water and sewer extension work due to begin this year.
“I’m not saying that it’s going to be built this summer. I know in reality it’s not going to happen, but if we don’t start doing some planning, … it’s not going to be built next summer either. … Put it on the budget for this year. But if we leave it till next year, we’re going to be having the same argument again. It’s not going to be there for next summer.”
Mayor Darlene Norman said she was worried about overwhelming the region’s already thinly stretched public works staff.
Councillors decided to add it to the 2024/25 capital plan and get as much planning work done on it this year as possible.
Kim Masland, Queens MLA and Nova Scotia’s public works minister, announces $10.7 million in provincial funding for a $21.5-million water and sewer expansion that gives the green light to two new housing developments in the Liverpool area. (Rick Conrad)
The Nova Scotia government and the Region of Queens are teaming up on a $21.5-million project to extend and improve water and sewer services in the Liverpool area.
Queens MLA Kim Masland on Monday announced $10.7 million in provincial funding to expand water and wastewater service to the Mount Pleasant area. The region will pitch in $10.8 million.
The project means that two new private housing developments will go ahead on more than 60 acres of land. About 325 new housing units will be built for up to 1,200 people. It will be a mix of sold and rented space. About a third of those units could be affordable housing.
Masland, who is also Nova Scotia’s public works minister, made the announcement at the region’s municipal offices in Liverpool on behalf of John Lohr, the minister of municipal affairs and housing.
“We need this funding, we know our community’s growing, we certainly need affordable and more housing stock within our community,” she said in an interview after the announcement.
“We’re attracting people to our community every day, there are med professionals that want to come here. This is a great project. This will allow us to build more houses.”
Masland said a municipal housing needs assessment found that Queens County needs 555 more housing units by the end of 2027. She said it’s difficult to recruit health care staff to move to the area if there’s nowhere to live.
“We need people building faster. We need homes up, we need places for people to live. We are in a housing crisis in the province and we’re going to do whatever we can to make sure we can help.”
The funding will also improve existing water and sewer services to more than 1,200 homes and businesses in the area, and help improve the amount of water available for firefighting efforts.
Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman emphasized that the funding will do more than help developers build new homes.
She said the current infrastructure is at or over capacity. The project will improve service for residents in Liverpool, Brooklyn and Milton.
“There are some really crucial repairs that need to be made to our system, so it can expand in all directions. This is not case-specific for specific people.”
The provincial portion of the funding comes from the $102-million Municipal Capital Growth Program. The region applied in December for the funding.
Norman said the region’s finance staff are working now to figure out how the municipal portion will be funded. The region is currently working on its 2024/25 budget.
Adam Grant, the region’s director of engineering and public works, said Monday he hopes the work will be finished in 24 to 36 months.
“So work is already underway. Following the feasibility study, we’ve migrated into some design work preliminary and that’s underway right now, looking at having designs rolled out in the fall and construction starting in the next 12 months ideally.”
The developers behind the two housing projects said Monday they were excited by the news. They’ve lobbied the municipality for the past few years to extend water and sewer services to those areas.
Both projects are near downtown Liverpool.
Larry Cochrane plans an 87-unit development on the old Dauphinee Farm property near Queens General Hospital, which would include a 24-unit apartment building.
He said he will soon begin the design phase of the project.
“I wish it was faster of course, but we’ll take that because there’s lots of work I need to do to get ready to start a project like this.”
Graham van der Pas is a partner with Rumclo Developments. They plan a three-stage development on about 30 acres of land farther up the road from Cochrane’s project.
“We’re very, very excited. We’ve been lobbying for this for the past two years. So it’s amazing.”
The Rumclo development will feature The Point, which will have 124, two-bedroom homes for sale, The Curve, with 22 three-bedroom townhouses, and Birchwood Gardens, 82 affordable rental apartments. Van der Pas said the affordable rentals will be 80 per cent of the median market rate. A one-bedroom would be about $800 a month, a two-bedroom $1,000 and a three-bedroom would rent for $1,200.
A section of The Curve will also be reserved for staff from Queens General Hospital to rent.
“I think a community like this needs it,” van der Pas said.
“I think what our developments will bring to the town is … a significant amount of property taxes. The revenue will go up there, the economic revenue of people potentially starting businesses, new patrons for the businesses that are already existing. It’s significant.”
Ashley Christian, president of the South Queens Chamber of Commerce, said she’s happy that such a big investment is being made in Queens.
“We have been advocating through the chamber of commerce for more housing for a couple of years. So we’re so excited to see this huge investment, especially made by the municipality, really impressed by that.”
Christian said she’s especially happy that half the funding is coming from the province. She said she hopes that means the project won’t be a big burden on municipal taxpayers.
Region of Queens administration building. Photo Ed Halverson
The Region of Queens is expecting a budget surplus of $650,000 for the 2023/24 fiscal year, largely attributed to unfilled jobs, higher property assessments and a higher than expected take from the deed transfer tax.
Mayor Darlene Norman says the surplus isn’t all good news.
“Everyone’s a bit unhappy over that large surplus from last year, because that means we have staffing vacancies which is putting great pressures, especially on our Planning and our Public Works departments,” Norman said in an interview Wednesday.
“They are the two departments that have the greatest effect on people. Public Works we have projects that we were not able to do last year, such as the Liverpool bridge rail. The Old Burial Ground wall is in drastic need of a repair. The staffing vacancy is highly alarming. We hear as elected people from people who are waiting for the building permits, who are waiting for their inspections, who are having subdivision waits. That causes difficulty for our residents when they’re building and planning, be they commercial or residential.”
Queens councillors began their 2024/25 budget deliberations on Tuesday. Staff sent them details of the draft budget a few weeks ago. Councillors had a chance on Tuesday to ask questions about the proposed budget.
The budget process was delayed this year. All municipalities are supposed to have their budgets approved by March 31.
Norman said other municipalities in Nova Scotia have missed the March 31 deadline as well. Now that the region has filled the CAO position, she said she expects a more timely approach next year.
The proposed budget is just under $30 million, with an $8.5-million capital plan. There are no proposed tax rate increases at this time. But councillors are just beginning the process.
Councillors are set to offer additions or deletions to the budget at a meeting on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Next Tuesday (April 16) at 9 a.m., Norman said the region’s fire services are scheduled to make a presentation to council where they’re expected to ask for a boost in funding.
The vote on the final budget is scheduled for April 23 at 6 p.m. All meetings are open to the public and are held at council chambers on White Point Road. And they will also be livestreamed on the region’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
The region’s assessment roll increased by about 14 per cent or $148 million. That led to an estimated tax revenue increase of $1.6 million. But that meant that the amount the region pays the province for education services also went up by $500,000, for a net gain to the region of $1.1 million.
The higher-than-expected deed transfer tax revenue was about $340,000.
Staff are also budgeting a $440,000 vacancy allowance to try to account for the difficulty in filling positions.
“The thought is we are not going to be able to staff all those positions right away and there may be up to $440,000 of money that we have budgeted for this year that does not get spent on staffing,” Norman said.
“So we’re actually planning to be able to put that money into revenue rather than see it as an end-of-the-year surplus. It’s a tricky thing to do, because if there’s a miracle and we suddenly fill those vacant positions, then we’re going to be short that money on our revenue line on the budget. However, the last several years have not been conducive to filling some of those staff positions.”
Norman said that a couple of big capital expenses are not in the 2024/25 capital budget. The region is still working on funding for the proposed $8-million outdoor pool at Queens Place. And it is still doing studies and investigating funding for the requested $21-million extension of water and sewer services to the Mount Pleasant area.
Region of Queens Municipality administration building. (Rick Conrad photo)
The Region of Queens hasn’t approved its budget yet, so councillors had to vote this week to approve interim spending limits so that the municipality’s bills will still get paid.
Council is supposed to have a budget approved by April 1 of each year.
That didn’t happen this year, so director of corporate services Joanne Veinotte asked councillors at Tuesday’s regular meeting to approve an amount of $7.59 million to provide “spending authority and business continuity” as the fiscal year begins April 1.
Veinotte said other municipalities follow a similar process.
These are operational funds and don’t apply to capital projects.
No reason was given by staff or councillors for why the budget hasn’t been presented or approved yet. Mayor Darlene Norman was not available for an interview Thursday.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, CAO Cody Joudry presented a tentative schedule for the region’s budget deliberations.
Under that timeline, councillors were supposed to receive a draft budget after their meeting on Tuesday, with April 2 as the deadline for councillors to submit budget questions.
The draft budget will be available publicly by April 5 at 4 p.m. in the council agenda. It will be presented at council’s regular meeting on April 9. Two special meetings to discuss the draft budget will be held April 11 and 16, with the final draft budget presented at council’s April 23 meeting for a vote.
Under Joudry’s proposed schedule, councillors would vote on the final budget at their April 23 meeting.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story had the incorrect date for the Region of Queens final draft budget to be presented and voted on by councillors. The story has been updated with the correct date.
The Region of Queens approved the next step Tuesday for Mersey River Wind farm development in Milton. (Mersey River Wind)
Queens County residents got one step closer on Tuesday to buying their electricity from wind power.
Region of Queens councillors approved a development agreement to allow a large-scale wind farm to go ahead in Milton.
Halifax-based Roswall Development Inc., the owners of Mersey River Wind, plans to build 33 wind turbines on about 80 hectares of Crown land west of the Mersey River.
Roswall promises to sell power from the wind farm directly to consumers, bypassing Nova Scotia Power, under the name Renewall Energy.
It will offer electricity to large customers on the South Shore first, and then to residential customers.
The company says its power rates would be lower than Nova Scotia Power’s. The project is expected to employ 100 people temporarily. It says it could employ up to 12 people full time after the farm is up and running.
David Howell is Roswall’s chief financial officer. He was at the council meeting on Tuesday.
“We will be delivering the electricity across Nova Sotia Power’s grid, paying for the use of the grid essentially. And people will have a choice, I hope, by the time we get to the end of 2025, to buy their power either from Nova Scotia Power or directly from our retail company.”
Roswall is the first in the province to be awarded a licence to sell power directly to consumers under the Renewable to Retail program introduced by the provincial government in 2015.
Under the municipality’s land use bylaw, large-scale wind farms are not automatically allowed in the area as it’s currently zoned. So the company had to apply for a separate agreement with the municipality.
As part of that process, the municipality held a public hearing on Tuesday morning before its regular council meeting. Only one member of the public spoke against the project. A Milton resident was concerned about the proximity of the turbines to houses in the area and an effect known as shadow flicker. That’s essentially the shadow cast by the turbines on properties on a sunny day.
Mitch Underhay, Roswall’s development manager, said after the meeting that all homes are at least two kilometres away from the development. And one woods camp is about a kilometre away, but the company has reached an agreement with that landowner.
“There are limits of how many hours per year and minutes per day the shadow flicker can land on a receptor, which is usually a home. All of the homes around Milton are well outside of that, so they shouldn’t experience any shadow flicker at all.”
Much of the land is on former Bowater Mersey property. Because of much of it is already cleared, Underhay said there should be minimal environmental impact on the site. Staff will be on site to clear any vegetation or trees that might interfere with power lines or turbines, he said. No chemical sprays will be used.
The owners of two concrete companies spoke in favour of the development agreement. Bridgewater Ready Mix and South Shore Ready Mix hope to win some work with the project.
Joel Westin, president and owner of Bridgewater Ready Mix, told councillors there are many advantages to the project – local jobs, greener energy and potentially lower power rates.
“We in the ready mix industry also have a commitment to net zero and to achieve that we need renewable power. And we intend to become customers of the Mersey Wind project once it starts.”
Mayor Darlene Norman said the project could eventually generate up to $800,000 in tax revenue for the municipality.
“It is a good thing for Queens County and it was wonderful to have 100 per cent approval from council on this matter,” she said in an interview.
“It’s a big project for Queens and it is one that should be welcomed by people who understand that green energy is the important energy.”
Securing the development agreement with Queens County was one the last steps before the company can begin construction. Howell said it is in the final stages of working out a lease agreement for the Crown land in Milton.
The development agreement approval is still subject to an appeal process, until April 4.
Howell said they hope to begin construction by this summer.
Region of Queens CAO Cody Joudry and Mayor Darlene Norman before Tuesday’s council meeting. (Rick Conrad photo)
Library users in Liverpool will be checking out books in a new location by the end of the year.
Region of Queens councillors voted Tuesday night to move the Thomas H. Raddall library to the Liverpool Business Development Centre until a permanent site can be found and built.
The Global Empire call centre and Belliveau Veinotte accountants are the current tenants at the building, just off the White Point Road. The municipality owns the building.
The call centre currently uses about 18,000 square feet of the space, while Belliveau Veinotte leases 4,800. That leaves about 9,200 square feet for the library’s temporary location.
First, though, regional staff have to renovate to add washrooms and program rooms and to accommodate the library’s collection. The plan is to move the library there before the end of the current lease in December. It’s currently in the Rossignol Centre in downtown Liverpool, which is for sale.
Susan DeChamp, who was one of three members of the region’s library steering committee, was at the council meeting Tuesday evening. She said it’s probably the best option for now.
“So for what we have to work with, it’s not a bad blank slate,” she said in an interview after the meeting. “There is still the issue of some of our walking people getting to it. … There is some concern that library usage could suffer a bit for that. We need a library and this is our best option at this point.”
Finding a new home for the library has been fraught with delays and controversy since 2022, when the region allocated $3 million from an unexpected budget surplus to its construction. CAO Cody Joudry says a new library would likely cost much more than that.
The library steering committee twice recommended a site near Queens Place Emera Centre. Council rejected it the first time but decided to accept the recommendation a second time.
But councillors nixed that plan once more when they learned that connecting the site to existing road and infrastructure would cost close to a million dollars.
And then at a December meeting, after hearing from residents, councillors rejected a staff recommendation to move the library to the call centre building permanently.
District 4 Coun. Vicki Amirault, who chaired the library committee but voted against its recommendations, said Tuesday it’s a good solution to ensure library services continue.
“This has been a long process to say the least,” Amirault said. “It’s been quite a process but I just think we need to overhaul a little bit and move on.”
The vote on the temporary location was not unanimous. Mayor Darlene Norman voted against it. She said the region could have bought the building where the library is now, and keep it there until a developer could be found to put housing in that location.
“However, it was not a wish of council to do that,” she said.
“One would hope that during that refit that the CEO of the library and the library staff are consulted very closely and that we’re simply not creating office space, because it’s my feeling that once the library is there, the library will stay there. It would be very difficult for a future council to justify a million plus on renovation and then flip around to build a new library.”
CAO Cody Joudry estimates the work on the call centre will cost from $1.05 to $1.26 million. He says that he’ll work with the library’s CEO to ensure users and the rest of the community are consulted on the design and renovation of the space.
He said that with this council’s term ending in October, it would be difficult to complete consultation, site selection, design and tendering before then. Joudry suggests letting a newly elected council develop a long-term plan for the library.
But some councillors want the process to begin before a new council is elected in October.
District 6 Coun. David Brown said he wants public consultation to “start sooner rather than later” so that the incoming council will have something to work with.
Brian and Cathie Mourre live in Eagle Head. (Rick Conrad photo)
Nova Scotia’s coastline now has even less protection after the province announced Monday that the Coastal Protection Act is dead, some Queens County residents say.
Tim Halman, Nova Scotia’s minister of environment and climate change, announced the government would not proclaim the long-delayed act, effectively killing it.
The legislation was passed with all-party support in 2019. Instead, Halman introduced plans, tools and other legislation that would have property owners, municipalities and the province share responsibility for protecting coastal property.
He said the government wants to empower coastal property owners to make informed decisions. As part of that, the government introduced a new online coastal hazard map that shows projected sea levels, storm surges and flooding potential to the year 2100.
Residents who have been waiting for stronger coastal protections were disappointed, but not surprised. Len Michalik lives in Eagle Head.
“I was somewhere between disappointed and vindicated in my thoughts that wow this is really where they’re going with this,” Michalik said.
“They’ve kicked this can so far down the road that it’s in the ditch and unrecoverable. They promised they were in full support of this when in opposition. … And ever since they’ve come into power, they’ve done seemingly everything they can to make themselves look good while pushing it to the side.”
Michalik is part of the group Protecting Eagle Head Beach.
It was formed in June 2022 when former Halifax mayor Peter Kelly bought a property on Eagle Head Beach and immediately blocked the road through the property which people used as one way onto the beach. The community was also upset that he was damaging the beach and wetlands on the property.
Despite many appeals to and meetings with Environment and Natural Resources officials, as well as with Queens MLA and Public Works Minister Kim Masland and her staff, the development was allowed to go ahead.
Cathie Mourre lives in Eagle Head. She is also a member of Protecting Eagle Head Beach. She said the Tories could have committed to enforcing current environment protections and making them stronger with the new act.
“But instead they took the easy way out and put it in our hands. We’re not experts, we don’t know how to protect the coastline.”
Mourre said she’s worried that more of that job will now fall to smaller municipalities like Queens, who have limited resources.
“And the thing is Nova Scotia is a coastal province. So what happens in the municipality of Queens isn’t necessarily the same that’s going to happen in the municipality of Lunenburg. So we have two coastlines butting up against one another and we’ve got two different sets of rules, well that’s crazy.
“The municipality had bylaws set out and we know they didn’t follow them. The Environment (department) has tons of rules. They didn’t follow their own rules.”
Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman joined 11 other municipalities last year calling on the government to enact the new legislation.
She said that while she is disappointed, the region’s municipal planning strategy and land use bylaw, passed in 2022, has some of the strongest protections in the province.
She said she’s more concerned with neighbouring municipalities like Shelburne or the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg having minimal or weaker protections. The Coastal Protection Act would have levelled the playing field across the province.
Mourre says she believes property owners should be able to build on their own land. But they should be forced to follow the rules.
In the meantime, she says she wants a moratorium on coastal development.
“And permitting on a beach is totally different than permitting in a subdivision,” she says.
“So when this permitting along the coastline happens, (staff) should be getting out from behind their desks and they should be going and looking at the piece of land that people want ot develop. It’s as simple as that.”
Michalik says he’d like to see the municipality resurrect and integrate the Coastal Protection Act into its own bylaws.
“However, I have my doubts that that will happen. We don’t have the resources or the manpower to actually do the investigation, do the research and do all the enforcement on it. I hope for the best but I fear the worst.”
Both Michalik and Mourre said, however, that maybe this will spur more people to pressure governments to do more to protect Nova Scotia’s coastline.
“We’re also in danger of having our licence plate motto which is known across the country and around the world, Canada’s Ocean Playground, is going to become the playground for those who can afford it.
“The rest of us are going to have to stay in our designated areas and keep quiet.”
The Gorham Street sidewalk next to the Astor Theatre was impassable on Thursday. (Rick Conrad photo)
By Rick Conrad
Some users of the Astor Theatre in Liverpool say the Region of Queens is not doing enough to ensure the building is accessible, especially after this week’s snowstorm.
Kim Lees lives in Liverpool. Her knitting group meets at the Astor every Thursday. She said when they arrived in the early afternoon, it was difficult to find an easy way to enter the building. It was especially difficult for anyone with mobility issues.
“I don’t think the municipality is doing a very great job considering you can’t get up the wheelchair ramp and you can’t get in the front of the building easily either because there’s no clear pathway.
“It’s horrible and if this is the municipality’s property and it is a public building then it should be accessible to everybody.”
The sidewalk on Main Street in front of the Astor had been cleared Thursday afternoon. But the pathway from that sidewalk to the front of Astor had not. The narrow Gorham Street sidewalk on the side of the building was not cleared either, forcing people to walk in the street from the rear parking lot, or use the sidewalk on the other side of Gorham.
The accessible entrance at the back of the building cannot be used. While part of the wheelchair ramp to the back entrance is cleared, the rest of the ramp is blocked by a chain and filled with snow.
Part of the ramp to the malfunctioning accessible entrance at the back of the Astor Theatre is blocked by a chain and snow. (Rick Conrad photo)
The automatic accessible door at the top of the ramp has not been working at least since the fall, Lees said. The Astor has kept it locked because it has been malfunctioning.
The region owns the Astor and Town Hall Arts and Cultural Centre. It leases the building to the Astor Theatre Society. The municipality is responsible for keeping the sidewalks and the entrances to the Astor clear.
Jerri Southcott took over as executive director of the Astor last week.
After concerns about access were raised, she asked one of the Astor’s staff to clear the walkway in front of the building.
Southcott has sent a letter to the region’s accessibility co-ordinator detailing some of the concerns with the building. She has a meeting set with municipal officials on Friday.
“We have made them aware of the issues with the ramp and we’re all working together to try to get that done as soon as possible,” she said Thursday.
Astor Theatre staff cleared the walkway in front of the building Thursday afternoon after people raised concerns about access. (Rick Conrad photo)
Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman thanked the Astor’s staff for clearing a pathway to the theatre. She said the region’s staff were busy Thursday clearing streets, sidewalks, parking spaces and other areas around Liverpool.
She said that as mayor she can’t tell staff what to do. Adam Grant is the director of engineering and public works, the department responsible for the maintenance of municipal infrastructure.
Norman did not know why municipal staff didn’t get to the Astor. She said the sidewalk on Gorham Street next to the Astor is too narrow for the region’s sidewalk plows, so it has to be shovelled. She suggested people cross Gorham and use the wider sidewalk to Main Street.
“And presently staff are clearing parking stalls and ensuring fire hydrants and accessible parks and roadways and all those things are clear,” Norman said. “Again, thank you to the Astor Theatre staff who shovelled out their walkway today before the region’s crew were able to get there.
“There’s many issues with snow removal. That sidewalk on the other side of the street is better for anybody with mobility issues. It’s a few steps more.”
As for the blocked accessible entrance, Norman says the region is working on it. She said she doesn’t know how long staff has been aware it isn’t working. She said she found out about it five days ago.
“We try our best in the Region of Queens to make our properties as accessible as best we can. Sometimes we run into these unexpected matters. Council budgeted a fair amount of money to make that accessible and how unfortunate it is that we are now having issues with that door. But we are trying our very best to ensure that a building we own is indeed accessible for the public and for those who work there.”
In the meantime, Norman suggests people call the Astor ahead of time if they need help getting into the building.
“But there should be a way in which if someone’s going and they truly need to get in through that door as an accessible doorway, that they’ll be able to make contact with the Astor.”
Kim Lees says she wants the municipality to make sure its own properties are accessible.
“I want them to get off their hands and clear the snow. There is an issue in Canada where accessibility is a problem. And if it’s a public building, especially if the municipality owns it, I think that it should be cleaned. It should be accessible to everyone no matter if you are on foot, in a wheelchair, on crutches, canes. It should be accessible to everybody.”
The owner of 90 Common St. in Liverpool has been ordered to demolish the buildings and clean up the property. (Rick Conrad photo)
By Rick Conrad
A rundown Liverpool property that has been the subject of numerous complaints since 2009 will be torn down in the next 30 days.
Queens regional councillors voted on Tuesday to issue a demolition order to the owner of 90 Common St. in Liverpool.
The property used to be known as the Wesleyan Church. In 2009, Chris Currie and a friend bought the property. Currie is now the sole owner.
Neighbours had lodged many complaints over the years with Queens bylaw enforcement officers, saying the property is dangerous and unsightly.
Bylaw enforcement officer Jason Hartung told councillors Tuesday that since 2009, neighbours have continued to file complaints and the property has continued to deteriorate. He recommended that council declare it dangerous and unsightly and issue an order for the owner within 30 days to demolish the main building and an out building, and clean up all construction and demolition materials and all other miscellaneous debris like glass, metals, shingles and plastics.
If the owner doesn’t comply, the municipality may do the work and bill him for it.
“It appears to be collapsing in on itself and it presents a clear and present danger to the public,” Hartung said. “The owner has had numerous years to address these concerns.”
Queens bylaw enforcement officers say 90 Common St. in Liverpool ‘is a possible threat to public safety’. (Rick Conrad photo)
The owner told bylaw enforcement in 2015 that he would tear down the property, but that never happened. Hartung said Currie complied with several requests to clean up the property, but the building continued to deteriorate.
In 2017, a fire inside the structure damaged it further. Despite the property being mostly boarded up, people were breaking in and vandalizing it. Even the RCMP contacted the municipality with concerns about their officers’ safety, Hartung said.
In April 2020, the region’s building inspector recommended it be demolished as soon as possible.
Currie told the municipality in May 2021 that he would demolish the building and build a new rental property on the land. Hartung said that when that didn’t happen, Currie blamed Covid lockdowns.
Hartung said municipal staff gave him more time to fix the problems. In May 2023, bylaw enforcement again inspected and found that the property was still dangerous and unsightly. In December, they received yet another complaint about dangerous conditions on the property and saw that an exterior wall at the back of the building had collapsed. Parts of the roof were also caved in.
Hartung said Currie has said he would apply for various permits to develop the property over the years or promised to demolish it, but never followed through.
“This property can no longer be secured,” he said. “The building is a possible threat to public safety.”
Currie’s wife Karen Gilmour asked councillors Tuesday to give him more time. She said he plans to build a three-unit affordable rental on the property. She said he couldn’t be there because he was away working.
She asked them to extend the 30-day demolition order to 90 to 120 days to give Currie time to fix it up and secure funding for the affordable housing project.
“There have been numerous times where he’s tried to do something with that property,” she said in an interview after the meeting.
“He’s just a private landowner. He bought a building that was in disrepair, was hoping to do something with it and … it hasn’t really worked out. He’s done the best that he could to ensure that he was complying with bylaw enforcement in terms of cleanup and covering up graffiti.”
District 2 Coun. Ralph Gidney said that while he sympathizes with what Gilmour told councillors, he said it’s obvious the buildings can no longer stand.
“With everything that’s transpired in the last nine years (since 2015), I can’t see holding this off any longer. But history is repeating itself here. And I think we’d better do something now.”
Gilmour said her husband will go ahead with his plan to develop affordable housing on the site.
“It’s only been in recent weeks that we’ve been able to explore the options available for affordable housing, which this community is in desperate need of. I was really hoping that council would consider that. And it’s a little bit disappointing that that didn’t even get discussed.
“It’s quite a viable project. … It’s just unfortunate that we’re not going to be given the additional time needed to secure the property.”
Mayor Darlene Norman said council is always hesitant to issue a demolition order. But it’s been 14 years and “it is a huge concern to people in the community.
“I do believe the owners are responsible people and they will work with staff to get that building down and get the place cleaned up within 30 days of the date of the order.”
Region of Queens Municipality administration building. (Rick Conrad photo)
By Rick Conrad
Residents in Liverpool and parts of Brooklyn should brace for water rate hikes but not right away, Mayor Darlene Norman said Tuesday.
“Please be prepared for a water utility rate study and a very probable increase in water utility rates,” Norman said in an interview.
Regional council got a better picture on Tuesday of the budget impact of the boil water advisory for Queens water utility customers from Aug. 9 to Oct. 5 last year.
The municipality had already budgeted last spring for a loss of $173,700 for the water utility. The treatment station was struck by lightning on Aug. 9. Residents on the municipal water supply were under a boil water order for eight weeks.
Joanne Veinotte, director of corporate services for the Region of Queens, gave councillors a third-quarter financial review on Tuesday. As of Dec. 31, the water utility has run an extra $252,655 over budget, or $426,355 so far.
Norman said Queens water customers pay some of the lowest rates in the province. The utility must pay for itself and not run a deficit.
Before any rate increase, however, the utility has to prepare a rate study. The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board would have to approve any fee hike.
Norman said she has no timeline for when that review may be done. She said council does not have the money in its current budget for the rate study.
“The system is old, early 1900s. So it constantly needs repair and upgrading.
“It may well be the next council coming in in October that will be looking at the results of that study.”
Veinotte told councillors Tuesday that the region will be reimbursed for $82,000 from its insurance provider for the damage caused by the August lightning strike.
“At the end of the day that claim is now finalized but we’re still dealing with some of the fallout from the lightning strike,” Veinotte told councillors.
In other positive financial news for the region, revenue from the 2.5 per cent deed transfer tax was again over budget for the third quarter.
Veinotte said the region brought in about $220,000 more than expected from the tax in the quarter and the region is expected to exceed its projection for the deed transfer tax by about 58 per cent for the whole fiscal year.
The region also got a higher-than-expected share of the Nova Scotia Power tax payout from the province of about $132,000.
Kim Masland, Queens MLA and Nova Scotia Public Works Minister, and Premier Tim Houston take questions at a business luncheon in Liverpool on Wednesday. (Rick Conrad photo)
By Rick Conrad
Opponents of a proposed fish farm expansion near Liverpool got a big morale boost on Wednesday as Premier Tim Houston told a business luncheon that he personally opposes the plan for more fish farms in Liverpool Bay.
“I think some areas are great for aquaculture and I think that some others are maybe not the best place for it.
“On this specific question on Liverpool Bay, if I say some places I think are suitable and some aren’t, I personally don’t think Liverpool Bay is a suitable place for it,” Houston said to applause.
“That’s my personal opinion. I respect the process, an independent review board will do their process and will have hearings. They’ll do their thing. But my personal opinion is that I don’t think Liverpool Bay is a suitable place for it.”
About 80 Queens County businesspeople and others were at the Best Western Plus in Liverpool for the event, which was organized by the South Queens Chamber of Commerce, and featured the premier and Queens MLA and Public Works Minister Kim Masland.
The premier’s comments came during a wide-ranging question and answer session, in response to a question about Kelly Cove Salmon’s application to expand its operations near Coffin Island, and to add two new sites off Brooklyn and Mersey Point.
If successful, Kelly Cove’s operation would grow to 60 pens from its current 14. It would mean about 1.8 million salmon would be farmed in the bay, compared to the current estimated 400,000. Kelly Cove would also farm trout at its operation at Coffin Island.
The Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board has public hearings scheduled for Liverpool beginning March 4.
The grassroots group Protect Liverpool Bay is one of five groups granted intervenor status at the hearing. The others are the Region of Queens, the Brooklyn Marina, a group of 23 lobster fishermen, and Kwilmu’kw Maw-Klusuaqn, which is representing the Acadia First Nation.
In an interview afterward, Houston said he wanted to make sure those gathered for the event knew where he stood personally.
“The review board will do their process and we certainly respect that process, but on a personal level I believe that there are places where aquaculture makes sense and great opportunities in this province. There are other places where it doesn’t make sense. And I don’t think Liverpool Bay is one where it makes the best sense.”
“The hearings will start in March, people will have their chance to have their say. That’s my personal opinion. There will be many other opinions shared through that process and the board will take those all in and look at the science and make their decision. I just thought for this room here, it was important that they knew where I personally stood.”
Masland repeated her opposition to the fish farm expansion. She had spoken against it as an opposition MLA.
“I think my position has been communicated very well from the very beginning,” she told the crowd. “I take this job as your MLAs very seriously and I always take the time to listen to the constituents within the area I represent.”
In an interview, she said she was happy with the premier’s comments.
“We do have a process that needs to be followed. I do understand that. But certainly we have a premier who listens, and understands and respects the value of people’s voices in the community and I think that was shown today by his comment.”
Jeff Nickerson, business development manager for Cooke Aquaculture, which owns Kelly Cove Salmon, was at the event on Wednesday. He did not want to comment on the premier’s remarks. He referred media questions to Cooke spokesman Joel Richardson.
“We’ve been going through the provincial review process for the Liverpool Bay project for many years, since we first submitted the application in 2019 and we look forward to going through the government’s review process,” Richardson said in an interview.
“As the applicant that is bringing the Liverpool Bay project forward, we appreciate that the premier respects the aquaculture review board process.”
Brian Muldoon, president of Protect Liverpool Bay, said he was surprised at the premier’s comments. Protect Liverpool Bay is one of five intervenors at the upcoming hearing.
“I was really impressed. I didn’t expect that he would come out and actually say personally that he is against having open net pen fish farms here in Liverpool Bay.”
Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman said she understands it’s only the premier’s personal opinion, but that it is welcome news.
“It’s wonderful to know that he believes they are not suited for our bay,” she said in an interview.
“I think his personal views and the separation from the ARB are very distinct but it does sort of give you that at least the premier understands and is of our same mindset.”
Members of the public can also have their say on Kelly Cove’s application. The review board is accepting public submissions until Feb. 12.
Liverpool Visitor Information Centre. Photo courtesy Region of Queens Municipality
By Rick Conrad
The Region of Queens is planning a nighttime outdoor party in February and everyone is invited.
Mayor Darlene Norman says the Light Up Queens Winter Night Festival is a free event and open to everyone. It will be held in Centennial Park on the Liverpool waterfront, next to the Visitor Information Centre.
“It is to bring fun, happiness, community, good times all together at a time in the year that is dismal and dark,” Norman said Tuesday. “So it would focus on diversity and culture. It’s planned to be a fun, free night involving all ages.”
Light Up Queens is scheduled for Sat., Feb. 24 from 5:30 to 9:30 pm.
Co-ordinating with the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl, the event will feature more than 30 stations around the park, offering various artistic, cultural and winter-related activities. The Visitor Information Centre will be open, where there will be a pop-up restaurant, which will also be the site for the event’s “chowder house”, where they’ll be selling fresh seafood chowder.
TideKite, which has hosted a few kite-flying demonstrations in the park, will be on site flying special kites that light up in the dark. And they’ll offer a kite-making workshop.
Bridgewater’s DJ Danimal will be providing the music.
The Royal Canadian Legion across from the park will host a makers’ market featuring local artisans and vendors.
There will be other snacks available at the park, as well as hot drinks.
“So if you don’t want to do something physical, then maybe you want to go sit in one of the community tents and talk about night spirits,” Norman says. “There are all sorts of aspects. And everything is accessible for all of our people.
“It’s an event that’s for young, old, and in between.”
Warming tents or huts will be set up in the park. Free hats and coats will be available for those who need them. And the region will have their Mobi-Mats in the park to help those with mobility issues navigate the winter conditions.
“The idea was we wanted to make this as inclusive as we could,” Norman said. “And as we all know, inclusion also often hinges on a person’s financial ability to take part in things.”
The region is footing the $17,000 bill for the event. And Norman says they hope it will become an annual thing.
The region wanted to time the event for the opening weekend of the musical Follies at the Astor Theatre. And Norman says she hopes it will be a boon for local businesses, who are being encouraged to stay open that evening.
Stephanie Sereda, the region’s community development coordinator, came up with the idea. She says it’s been great to see how everybody has come together in such a short time to help get it off the ground.
“It’s just been a beautiful collaborative effort and everyone’s excited and given the short time frame we’re really happy to leverage the big hearts and passion of Queens.”
Sereda and Norman said the region will be releasing more details in the next few weeks. People should follow the Queens Coast Life Facebook page for more information. They hope the weather co-operates, but if it doesn’t, the event will be rescheduled.
“We just have to hope for that beautiful February night,” Norman said.
The Seaside Centre in Beach Meadows was one of the community groups last year that received a grant through the operating investment fund. (Rick Conrad photo)
By Rick Conrad
Non-profit groups in Queens County who need help with some expenses can now apply for the operating investment fund through the municipality’s community investment fund.
The deadline for the operating fund is Jan. 31.
The region is also holding an information session about the various funding options available, at the Seaside Centre in Beach Meadows on Jan. 22 from 2-4 p.m. To register, email ssereda@regionofqueens.com.
Under the community investment fund, annual cash grants are awarded to non-profits or societies in Queens County focused on sports or recreation, education, environment, culture, community, heritage or social activities.
Groups can apply under five different categories: capital, operational, event or tournament, training, and travel assistance.
There are three different funding levels in the operating grant category, depending on what the money is used for: Up to $10,000 annually for groups that own their own facility or have a long-term lease where programs or services are well established; up to $5,000 for community groups to offer year-round services; and up to $1,000 for groups to offer new or expanded programs or seasonal services for residents.
Mayor Darlene Norman says it’s a great opportunity for groups throughout the region to help with certain expenses.
“There seems to be the same groups applying year after year and it’s my thought that there may be other groups who are unaware that these grants do exist for them, so I strongly encourage anyone with non-profit organizations who are struggling with their non-profit expenses to investigate this very good grant opportunity which is funded by the taxpayers of the Region of Queens.”
Nine community groups were approved last year for up to $60,000 operational funding.
More information and application forms are available at regionofqueens.com.
Region of Queens councillors want a long-term fix to garbage pileups in Queens County cottage country.
District 6 Coun. David Brown says it’s a huge problem. He asked staff for recommendations on how to resolve it.
He said the 40 so-called “grey box” sites on private roads throughout the county consume half of the region’s garbage collection budget. Brown said the problem is more pronounced this time of year because the region picks up the garbage once a week, compared to three times a week in summer.
“Our population has outgrown the garbage box system,” he said.
“We’ve Band-Aided the system together and done a great job. But we’re victims of our own success by having a very popular area that people want to come to. We have a lot of people coming with garbage.
“It’s not completely a region problem, it’s a people problem. … There are people that are just too lazy to put the garbage in the boxes.”
Brown said some people truck in waste from other places when they arrive at their properties for the weekend.
He said the municipality doesn’t have the staff resources to police these areas. And while they’ve posted cameras, the problem persists.
“We need staff to look at this and come back with possible solutions for a long-term fix for this,” he told councillors.
Garbage piled up at one of the ‘grey box’ sites in Queens County. (Submitted)
Mayor Darlene Norman said the Molega Lake and Labelle areas have had the region’s highest housing growth of both full-time and seasonal residents.
And those properties represent a large chunk of tax revenue for the municipality. But they tend to be on private roads, so garbage collection is only at designated places on public roads.
“It is a huge problem. And people in Labelle and Molega area, some people are paying $10,000 property tax out there for no services. It is an issue that has to be dealt with.”
She acknowledges it may cost the municipality more, but she said cottage owners and homeowners in those areas deserve better.
Employees at Queens Place Emera Centre work on Tuesday to get the ice ready for skaters. (Rick Conrad photo)
By RICK CONRAD
The arena at Queens Place Emera Centre is set to reopen on Friday.
The Region of Queens made the announcement late Tuesday evening.
The region announced on Dec. 29 that it had to cancel all on-ice activities immediately, until a new condenser could be installed.
The municipality had already planned to replace the ice-making equipment early in January, but it was forced to close the rink earlier than expected.
“Actually, ahead of the scheduled time when we thought it would be replaced,” Mayor Darlene Norman said Tuesday.
Cimco Refrigeration finished installing the new equipment on Jan. 5. Queens Place staff have been working since then to get the ice surface ready.
The new $255,000 unit is stainless steel. Norman said they expect it to last longer than the original unit, which had been operating since Queens Place opened in December 2011.
“So it should operate for many, many, many more years than the one we had to replace.”
The old condenser unit sits outside Queens Place Emera Centre on Tuesday. (Rick Conrad photo)
The rink’s regular users, such as Queens County Blades and the Queens County Minor Hockey Association, had to search for ice time elsewhere while the arena was shut down.
The region notified groups of the planned shutdown in late November.
While they said they were disappointed they couldn’t use their home rink, they adapted by using ice in other communities.
Melissa Robinson, an executive member with Queens County Blades, said she’s happy that the rink is open again.
“I think it’s great that we’re able to kind of get back in the swing of things, hopefully this Sunday,” she said Wednesday. “Originally, we weren’t supposed to have ice on Sunday, so it’s good that we’re back.”
Darlene Norman, mayor of Region of Queens. Photo Credit: Darlene Norman
By Rick Conrad
Voters in the Region of Queens may be able to cast a ballot online in October’s municipal election.
Mayor Darlene Norman says she’s confident the region will be able to introduce electronic voting as an option this year.
Councillors asked CAO Cody Joudry at their first meeting of 2024 to prepare a report on the feasibility and costs of introducing electronic voting to Queens, while keeping the traditional paper ballot.
“I expect the cost to come back much more than pure paper voting, but it may not,” Norman said in an interview after the meeting.
“But a combination (of voting options) would be good. … Younger people say that it’s the thing that we need, but it would be interesting to do it.”
Twenty of 49 Nova Scotia municipalities offered an electronic voting option in 2020. Elections Nova Scotia used electronic ballots in the July byelection in Preston. And it plans to allow e-voting in the 2025 provincial election.
District 3 Coun. Maddie Charlton said it’s time that Queens offers an electronic option in addition to the traditional ballot, to make it easier for people to make their choice.
“I think it’s important for us to move forward with this.”
District 6 Coun. David Brown said it would also help encourage people in more rural areas of the municipality to vote.
“With our widespread rural areas, it’s hard for people to get out to the polling station. Having the electronic option will get more people involved.”
The Kiwanis Club of Liverpool is closer to taking over the canteen at Queens Place Emera Centre.
The region would lease the facility to the club for one year rent-free. The club would be responsible for ensuring food safety and insurance compliance. Kiwanis volunteers would operate it along with members of the Queens County Blades and the Queens County Minor Hockey Association.
The three organizations would share proceeds from concessions sales.
Because of the Christmas holidays, staff couldn’t have a final agreement ready for councillors to review at their Tuesday meeting. They voted to wait until they see the contract before giving their final approval.
David Schofield, president of the Kiwanis Club of Liverpool, said Tuesday that his group is excited about running the canteen.
“I think it’s a good opportunity not just for the Kiwanis Club but also for the figure skating club and Queens County minor hockey who we’ve asked for their support as well, because we don’t have enough volunteers in our organization to do it. … A lot of people have made comments about not having a canteen available (at Queens Place), so I think it’s win-win-win-win.”
Steve Burns, manager of events, promotions and sponsorships, told councillors that it would likely take a couple of weeks after the contract is signed to get all the necessary permits in place for the Kiwanis club to take over.
District 6 Coun. David Brown asked staff for recommendations to address the problem.
He said the 40 so-called “grey box” sites on private roads throughout the county consume half of the region’s garbage collection budget.
“These are places that have large tax revenues for us that we don’t provide a lot of services for,” Brown said. “And nobody wants to see a mountain of garbage every time they drive into beautiful, pristine wilderness.”
Mayor Darlene Norman says it is a “huge problem”.
“And people in the Labelle and Molega area, some people are paying $10,000 property tax out there for no services. It is an issue that has to be dealt with.”
Councillors asked staff to prepare an inventory on burnt out streetlights in the region, and press Nova Scotia Power to fix them more quickly.
District 1 Coun. Kevin Muise said many residents have complained that several streetlights haven’t been working in some areas for up to three months. He’s concerned about safety for motorists and pedestrians.
There are six streetlights out on Shore Road in Mersey Point alone, council heard. Many are out for longer than the 60-day service guarantee.
Nova Scotia Power is supposed to maintain the lights, but the region pays for them, even when they don’t work, Norman said.
“We are paying for a tremendous amount of street lights which are burnt out.”
Mill Village Fire Department is hoping to get the Region of Queens on board to help them buy a new fire truck.
The $711,810 R Series Top Control 4-door truck is already in Bridgewater and the seller is holding it for Mill Village until April 1. The department is asking the Region to contribute $275,000 in loan payments over 10 years.
The Region’s policy is to assist the five fire departments in the county with vehicle purchases according to a set schedule. That schedule has expired and under a proposed schedule, Mill Village would be in line to receive the $275,000 they’re asking in the 24-25 budget year.
Mayor Darlene Norman says the municipality is willing to help once the fire chiefs decide on a new schedule.
“I like to be optimistic that for whatever reason, the fire chiefs will sit down, look each other in the eye and figure this out. Because that is what they do according to this policy. Five fire chiefs agreeing on a truck purchase schedule,” said Norman. “Otherwise, council is going to have to step in, change this policy, because fire departments need their fire trucks.”
Norman is also concerned that if the purchase isn’t made soon, rising interest rates could increase the price of the truck by $30-40,000 over the term of the loan.
To hear the broadcast version of this story click play below.
Municipal Water customers in Queens will see compensation for a boil water advisory that lasted almost nine weeks.
The Region of Queens applied to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB) and was approved to provide a one-time 70 percent rate reduction to be applied to the current water bill.
Municipal water customers had to boil their water after lightning struck the water treatment plant, damaging essential equipment on Aug 7.
In their decision, the UARB says the boil-water advisory was reasonable and beyond the control of the water utility. The decision stated they saw no other way to ensure the safety of the drinking water.
Mayor Darlene Norman says she is pleased with the review board’s decision.
“We were given what we asked and also noted that we did what was expected to ensure consumers safety,” said Norman.
Region of Queens estimates the approved one-time rate reduction will cost the utility $56,000 which will come from an unused water reserve fund initially intended to provide sediment removal.
To hear the broadcast version of this story click play below.
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
A new library could come in at a third the cost of previous designs if Region of Queens Council decides to build it in the Liverpool Business Development Centre.
Projections from staff indicate refurbishing the building to accommodate relocation of the Thomas H Raddall library would cost in the neighbourhood of $1.15 million.
Home to Belliveau Veinotte accounting and Global Empire Call Centre, the building is commonly known as the call centre.
Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman says the municipality is under pressure to find a new home for the regional library as the lease at its current location in the Rossignol Centre is up at the end of 2024.
“Library users will recognize the fact that our present library location is on really weak legs,” said Norman. “There are difficulties with the building sometimes with power and heat. The building’s been for sale now for, I would say a year. The price has been reduced and Council is getting very nervous that unexpectedly, we may be without a library site.”
The Region of Queens has wrestled with where to build a new library since it decided to allocate approximately $3 million from an unexpected budget surplus to its construction in spring of 2022.
The library site selection committee twice recommended an area by the sledding hill at Queens Place for the relocation. Council declined the first time but decided to accept the committee’s recommendation when it came around a second time.
But council scuttled the plan once more when it came to light that close to a million dollars was needed to connect the sledding hill library site to the existing road and infrastructure.
The proposed site at the Liverpool Business Development Centre meets most of the criteria established by the library site selection committee.
It has 6,000 square feet of available space, parking for 24 vehicles, outdoor lighting, outdoor space for programming, isn’t in a known flood zone and is already owned by the municipality.
However, the nearest sidewalk is 350 metres away and the site is currently not accessible by public transit, although the staff report mentions Queens County Transit could potentially extend service to the location.
Norman says the Centre has a lot of positives to offer but people may struggle to get to the site. She is concerned if the library is not centrally located, the Region could be creating a problem that will hound residents for years to come.
“We need to realize that if we spend a million, or a million and a half, or a million and three quarters, or whatever it takes, there’s no such thing as renovating, spending that much money and just making a temporary library,” said Norman.
“It will have program rooms, it will have its own washrooms, it will have [a] staff room, it will have its own entrance. When all of those things are put in there, I would say that is where the library is going to stay for decades.”
Council heard the presentation from staff and will decide at a future meeting whether they will go forward with the Call Centre location for the new library.
To hear the broadcast version of this story click play below.
Residents are petitioning council to lower the speed limit along Liverpool’s Main St between Court St and Fort Point Park. Photo Google Maps
Some residents of Main Street in Liverpool are calling on the municipality to lower the speed limit on one end.
At Tuesday’s council meeting two petitions were received asking to reduce the speed limit on Main Street from 50 km/h to 40 km/h between Court Street and the Fort Point Park.
Well over 100 residents and businesses signed the petitions raising concerns about safety for both drivers and pedestrians as the reason to reduce the speed.
Mayor Darlene Norman says because the Region of Queens own the road in the former Town of Liverpool, they have the authority to lower the speed limits. But before that can happen, a traffic study would need to be undertaken to determine if reducing the speed limit will make the area safer.
“We’ve directed staff to look at the costs involved,” said Norman. “Because one of the criteria for this would be you have to have a traffic study done by an outside agency that can show that because of traffic calming devices that you’ve installed and other things, that a large percentile of the people that travel will obey that reduced speed limit.”
Staff will look into the cost of a traffic study as well as what other traffic calming measures may be effective in that situation.
That information will be presented in a report to council at an upcoming meeting.
To hear the interview with Mayor Norman regarding reducing the speed limit on Liverpool’s Main Street click play below.
Entrance to Region of Queens council chambers. Photo Ed Halverson
Tuesday’s Region of Queens Council meeting began with a couple of petitions to address speeding on Main Street in Liverpool.
Council moved the item to discussions and decided to have staff look into the costs and process of lowering the speed limit from 50km/h to 40 km/h at the far end of Main Street ending at Fort Point Rd.
Moving to the recommendations portion of the agenda, staff recommended reappointing three members of the Planning advisory committee to their current positions. Members can serve either a one- or two-year term. The intention of the policy is to stagger the appointments, so the entire committee isn’t replaced at one time.
Next council heard a recommendation to waive tipping fees for a property that has fallen into disrepair since the previous owner died in 2001. Her beneficiaries have agreed to cover the cost of demolition but as they are on a limited budget they are asking the municipality to forgive the tipping fees. Council will vote on the recommendation to waive the $700 charge at their next meeting.
A request to enter into a development agreement to expand what is currently two short- term rental units in Summerville into seven units was denied as council and staff felt the number of structures would be too much for a parcel of land which is only 26,5000 square feet in size.
Council appointed two new representatives to the new Police Advisory Board. North Queens will be represented by Donald Kimball and South Queens will be served by Elaina Gaetan.
The Diversity and Inclusion Action Team also added a new member as council approved Tammy Conway-Denning. She brings over twenty years’ experience working with vulnerable and diverse populations to the position.
The long-discussed new outdoor pool was next on the agenda. Council was presented with a site plan based on the criteria they had previously established including a six-lane competitive pool, seating for spectators, a thermal pool and a zero-entry side. The cost to fulfil the wish list comes in at $8.22 million.
Council directed staff to proceed with the next steps of developing an estimated operating budget including expenses and revenue; a financial plan including possible funding models and grant opportunities for the current capital cost deficit; construction procurement options; and to obtain further Project Management services.
The last recommendation was to provide the Hunts Point Community Hall Association with $6,139 from the Community Investment Fund to install a new roof.
In the discussion portion of the meeting Council received a report to improve the heating system at the Town Hall Arts and Cultural Centre, home of the Astor Theatre. Theatre personnel have applied for federal funding to offset the cost of installing a new HVAC system.
Council then directed municipal staff to work alongside theatre group to determine what work will be performed and how it is to be funded.
The next Region of Queens Council meeting will be held November 28 at 6:00pm in Council Chambers.
To hear the broadcast of this story click play below.
(L-R)Christopher Clarke, Kim Masland, Darlene Norman and Andrew MacVicar at the groundbreaking for the new Queens long term care facility. Photo Ed Halverson
Years of wrangling to get financing and another two years of planning culminated in a groundbreaking ceremony Monday at the site of the new Queens long-term care home.
Public Works Minister and MLA for Queens Kim Masland and Mayor Darlene Norman joined Queens Manor Executive Director Andrew MacVicar and Board Chair Christopher Clarke at the podium to announce the first physical steps to building the new facility across the parking lot from Queens Place.
In her remarks, Masland said providing a new long-term care home is the reason she got into politics.
“I know Christopher, when he came to me we started talking about this in 2017 when I was elected and I said if I ever make government I’ll make you one promise and it’s the only promise I’m going to make anyone and that is I will deliver the funds for a new long-term care facility in Queens, and here we are.”
Once completed, the new care home will replace the county’s two existing facilities, the privately run Queens Manor and the Region of Queens’ Hillsview Acres.
Norman says the municipal facility has served its purpose for decades and with the new care home, residents have a lot to look forward to.
“It’s been part of the Region for so long, there will be many that will miss it. But to know that the residents are moving into a new facility surrounded by people and children and playgrounds and skate parks and life, it’s a wonderful thing.”
Combined, the aging facilities can currently accommodate 90 residents while the new home will increase that capacity by 22 bringing the total number of available beds in Queens up to 112.
MacVicar says the building is designed with the most modern best practices in mind and was the result of much consultation between residents, staff and professional architects.
“We were very keen to include the people who will use the facility on a day-to-day basis, hands on. So, we included people who work in laundry, people who work in the kitchen, our CCAs our nurses, our environmental staff, our residents, family input, all the way up to board input, and just overall community input. There are a lot of hands and a lot of minds that were involved in the creation of the plan.”
Construction of the new Queens long term care home gets underway. Photo Ed Halverson
Clarke says he’s worked since 2013 to get a new long-term care facility for Queens and is delighted the province stepped up to secure financing.
“It’s a little under $100 million. Nova Scotia Housing is financing the project for the Queens Manor board. We will own the facility. It will be mortgaged, I suspect, over 40 years so we repay Nova Scotia Housing to pay down that mortgage.”
The new, as yet unnamed long-term care home is scheduled to open in 2026.
To hear the broadcast of this story click play below.
Proposed South Brookfield Cottage Development. Photo – Google Maps
A new eight-unit rental development proposed for South Brookfield cleared the first hurdle to construction at Region of Queens Council.
Developers Jasmine and Matthew Mallay are planning to build eight fixed roof accommodations and an accessory building on First Christopher Lake on 19 acres of land along Highway 8. The property is less than a kilometre from Cameron’s Brook Provincial Park.
The new development is not permitted under the current Lakeshore Residential zoning unless council enters into a development agreement with the owners.
In their submission to the municipality the Mallays say if their request is approved construction will go ahead in three phases.
The first phase would build four 400 square foot buildings with hot tubs and covered porches.
Phase two will erect a larger 1800-2500 square foot three-bedroom lakefront cottage and 1080 square foot garage.
The third phase will complete the development with three more, two-bedroom cottages approximately 900-1200 square feet in size.
The Mallays says the intent of the project is to create an experience where people could enjoy nature, kayaking, swimming, and other activities with the added comfort of luxury overnight accommodations. They place a high priority on maintaining the natural look of the property and continuing to provide strong habitat for the existing ecosystem.
Mayor Darlene Norman says the development seems like a good thing for the area.
“I do not see where this is going to have any direct effect on anyone,” said Norman. “It’s remote, it’s removed, so hopefully by the end of the year the permission will be granted and the couple that own the land will be able to move ahead on their construction.”
Council voted to approve the motion to enter into a Development Agreement.
A public hearing is scheduled for November 28 and any residents who wish to speak for or against the project will be heard at that time.
To hear the broadcast of this story click play below.
Region of Queens administration building. Photo Ed Halverson
Region of Queens council packed a light agenda as they took their meeting on the road this week.
Residents took the opportunity to ask questions of council during the public comment and question portion of the meeting held in the Seaside Centre. The first was a request to repave or repair a section of School St. in Milton prior to the winter of 2023. The second was to ask if council were aware of a home being built on eagle head placing large rocks to prevent the ocean overflowing their property.
Mayor Darlene Norman says School St. is maintained jointly by the province and the municipality and any work would have to go out to tender. She says the province has already allocated their shared road repair budget for this year and it would be unlikely a tender would come back in time to complete the work before this winter.
Regarding the large rocks being placed on the eagle head property Norman says that responsibility also falls to the province.
The lone recommendation was a request to approve fixed roof overnight accommodation in south Brookfield. The petitioners Jasmine and Matthew Mallay want to build a collection of cottage rentals on 19 acres of property which requires a development agreement between the owners and the municipality.
The property is close to Cameron’s Brook provincial day park and Norman expects a development like this in a remote area would be welcome.
“People need to get out in nature,” said Norman. “Everybody’s not camper, everybody doesn’t go to provincial parks or national parks. Some people just like to get out in nature and have the comfort of a fixed roof and a bed.”
Council approved the development agreement and schedule a public hearing for November 28th in council chambers for residents to weigh in.
Next council discussed appointments to the planning advisory committee. Three member’s terms expired and all three wished to remain on PAC. Council reappointed the committee members but directed staff to examine the policy to determine if longer terms or term limits would be appropriate.
Finally, council discussed sending a letter of support to Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr for a bill currently working its way through the legislature which updates interactions between the province and municipalities across Nova Scotia.
Norman says the new deal would put $400,000 back in the Region of Queens coffers representing four cents on the tax rate.
The next Region of Queens council meeting is scheduled for November 14th at 9:00 AM in council chambers.
To hear the full interview with Mayor Norman click play below.
