Anita MacLellan who is the tireless volunteer to the Geopark Welcome Centre, formerly
Economy Visitor Centre indicates she has 4 job opportunities available this summer. Applicants are to supply cover letter, resume and three references.

She describes the jobs as: GeoHeritage Assistant (1), must be registered for University or Community College in fall, starts May 31. There are 3 openings for Culture/Heritage Interpreter and can be non-student, 15 – 30 yrs of age starting in July at $13.25/hr.

Contact:  wccda@ns.sympatico.ca

In years of covering Colchester Council proceedings very few topics have occupied council’s time, and punting the ball farther down the road, with no action. As we enter our second year under the pandemic the topic is coming back at a fever pitch.

The April 15^th committee meeting dealt with at least three motions, all defeated. First motion to be defeated was made by Councillor Boutilier, District 1 Bible Hill who moved the report from Director of Public works be received for information. Discussion continued for over an hour until there was consensus to next discussion would be in May. District 5 councillor, Tim Johnson, elected last October, gives every indication he will continue to raise the repaving of 112 Kim of J-class roads until he sees some action, even if it is only for his District.

He was adamant he would hang his political future on getting the Salmon River, District 5 enter a repaving program for the 11.8 Km J-class roads having an assessment of $170.70-Million. He said, "I’ll hang my political future on it, and at the next election if they don’t like driving on new roads, they can find someone else to represent them".

A District 5 repaving plan based on 20 year rotation would have annual cost of $38,386 if the county paid half the cost. This would increase tax bills for the district by $44.00 based on property assessment value. However, he suggested the municipality take 25% of the cost from general tax revenues and apply an additional area rate throughout the district. Following his suggested formula a property of $200,000 assessment would create an increase of $22.00 for area rate per year. The province covers 50% of cost of J-Class repaving.

In pressing the case for Ice Pond He said it is 21 years old. When sub-division developed all lots had paved road. He added, Ice Pond pays $15,000 for active transportation which is used for sidewalks, but we don’t have sidewalks.

The subject of repaving has been before council several times in recent years, but recently has been on the agenda for January, February and again April 15^th committee meeting. A lengthy and sometimes intense discussion resulted in the matter will again appear on the agenda in May, with additional information and "how to" options from staff.

The 2021 discussions have grown from Johnson being the only councillor dedicated to the matter, who has gained support from some of the other councillors, especially District 11 councillor, Wade Parker.

Early in the committee meeting, Mayor Blair said, We need to make a decision. Need to find a solution. Get 50% from province. If we put some tax rate – 25% from residents and 25% from our own budgets. Need to discuss,

During part of the discussion, Parker stated condition of the roads was the persistent topic during last fall’s municipal election. At one point Parker said, "We’ve been beating this since I have been on council. We keep avoiding the matter and taxpayers who elected us did so expecting us to make decisions on their behalf".

On the other side of the discussion, Councillor Cooper said, "Hard to ask general public for pay more for roads not in their area". Councillor Taggart who has insinuated he would never vote for taxpayers in other areas to pay for repaving elsewhere also said, "When they bought years ago, it was on dirt road. Value of property would increase and certainly offset any costs".

Councillor MacKenzie, District 6, stated in exasperation, from recently receiving two calls about condition of roads in her district said she told taxpayers, not to call her saying, "I give up. I am appalled. County will not pay. Call Mrs Casey". She added there are no sidewalks in her immediate area, but she is charged an area rate for sidewalks on College Road and Pictou Road.

The thought of an area rate might be gaining momentum, and reducing the opinions of some councillors, "people will not pay for improving roads in other areas". During one segment of the discussion, Councillor Parker stated that improved roads benefit the entire municipality and over time many people will go to other areas for work, a wedding, visit family or other activities. He said that in his own case, the travels for work throughout the area, and although he doesn’t live there, he often drives on roads in Brookfield, Valley or West Colchester.

Other councilor comments included the general budget has financial contributions to the regional library, the Colchester-East Hants Health Centre, RECC which are easily identifiable as municipal initiatives. To further the idea that areas rates for J-Class repaving should be acceptable was the amount of money spent and being spent at the Debert Business Park, suggesting not everyone has as direct benefit or is employed by a business in the park.

Near the end of the discussion a comment was made regarding the new Debert Aviation Centre. Comment from around the council table was it has been suggested and there is strong opposition to take $175,000 from the general tax coffers in the municipal budget to pay the county’s 25% share of a municipal wide repaving program, yet within a month or so we will probably be asked to pay up to $400,000 in additional costs to finish the new Debert Aviation Centre.

The matter will be brought back to council meetings in May, with an expanded list of "how to" and options. On the possibility certain districts might wish not to participate in the repaving program. Public Works Director stated each October the municipality must advise the province what J-Class roads it adds to the annual list. CFO, Scott Fraser and CAO, Rob Simonds suggested there are a few months to develop a plan and that participating districts could be identified each year, but when they were "in", they were "in" for the long haul.

With the upcoming retirement of Karen Casey, MLA, who has announced she will not re-offer during the next election. Sources tell the Shoreline Journal Tom Taggart is attempting to become MLA for Colchester North having filed his papers seeking the Progressive Conservative nomination.

Taggart who worked with and supported Casey while she was a member of the conservative, was often heard to say he promised Casey, he would never run against her after she switched to the Liberals and was re-elected as a Liberal MLA in 2013.

Gary Burley, East Mountain, a retired educator, is president Colchester North PC Assn was unable to confirm who had filed papers, but did indicate one had filed so far. Sources tell the Shoreline, District 10 municipal councillor has filed his papers.

The association will be holding its AGM in a virtual format on May 12^th and a new executive will be elected at that time. Unless there is a need to move earlier, the date of the nomination meeting will be set by the new executive. Party leader, Tim Houston will be guest speaker.

Premier Iain Rankin must call an election by May 2022. He has not tipped his hand when an election will be called. During April there had been strong indication, he might sent us to the polls for mid-June. However, the rapid rise in identified CoVid cases in the last week has cast doubts.

During the winter people were guessing, who would go first, the Feds or Nova Scotia. During April with pandemic cases rising in most provinces from Quebec onward, it is improbable or not wise for Prime Minister Trudeau to pull the plug at this time. There is possibility should the pandemic be brought under control a fall Federal election could be a possibility.

Although with pandemic uncertainty for a June election up in the air, it is still presumed Rankin will try to go in advance of the Feds, which could also offer an early fall possibility. Currently the Liberals have a one seat majority with standings being Liberals, 26; Progressive Conservative, 18; New Democrats, 5 and Independent, 2.

Whenever it’s called, the number of MLA’s will be increased from 51 to 55 seats, following redistribution, when four new ridings were created.