Target Gaming Proposal for Steam Mill

Join us for a public information meeting on Tuesday February 5 at 5:30PM.  This meeting will happen right before the regular Council Meeting in Council Chambers.

This meeting is about an application to allow a target gaming operation at 1429 Lakewood Road in Steam Mill. 

If you haven't been to a Council Chambers before --- they are in the same building as the law courts (Municipal Complex, 87 Cornwallis Street, Kentville). 

A public information meeting:

• Provides an overview of all the relevant planning policies.
• Explains the proposal.
• Provides an opportunity for the public to ask questions and to make comments on a proposed development agreement.
• Is chaired by the Councillor for the district where the development is proposed.

Overall the public information meeting is designed to allow council and planners to get an "early response" from the public on a proposed development.

As a new councillor, this will be my first time chairing a Planning Meeting.  I am looking forward to that and to seeing you there.

 

Further information, specific to this proposal, is available.  Dawn Sutherland is the Planner assigned to this proposal.  Dawn is happy to provide information and can be reached by phone (678-1472) or by email at dsutherland@county.kings.ns.ca.

 

P.S. If there's a storm this information meeting will be rescheduled for Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 1:00PM.  It will be held at the same location. 

Launch of Cultural Map for Kings County

With great enthusiasm I'm passing along an invite to come to the launch of the Cultural Map of Kings County.

When:  Wednesday, February 6th at 6:30pm
Where: Room 2101 Kingstec Campus in Kentville. 

There'll be a demonstration of this web-based map.  You'll see and hear digital stories--they are inspiring.  There will also be a guided discussion of the overall project.

Volunteer extraordinaire Genevieve Allen gave council a sneak preview earlier this month.  I couldn't have been more impressed!  For me it was simply "Proof Positive" that we must find a way to keep more of our talented young family members right here at home.

If you want to explore what our cultural map is all about visit the Kings Cultural Map website.

2050 Vision Statement Released

Presentation of the 2050 Vision Statement at 11AM on Tuesday January 22, was cancelled.  The consultants couldn't travel from Halifax due to a snow storm. In the meantime...

Here's the link: 2050 Vision

I encourage you to take an up close and personal look at this vision statement. The idea is that this vision will guide the planning department in the years immediately ahead.

If you attended 2050 sessions and workshops ask yourself... Is this vision document an accurate reflection of what you understood participants to say?

If you weren't able to attend... I'd be interested to know if this document reflects what you and/or your neighbours think should happen in Kings County between 2013 and 2050.

There will be an opportunity to speak at the podium at the close of the COTW.

11Am on a workday is not the ideal time for the public to be present.  But if that time works for you a welcome awaits in council chambers!  Hope to see you there.

Mini-home park application closing

Mr. Fisher, developer and proponent of a mini-home park for Centreville that time it was determined that responses to the county for has failed to submit additional information required for the development process to proceed. 

The file is now officially inactive and in the process of being closed.

The planners tell me that: "The applicant may apply again for the same proposal, or even a different proposal, but the process would start again at the beginning. This would include all of the applicable fees and the need for a new Public Information Meeting."

As your councillor I would be specifically notified of any such application and, of course, I would promptly let you know.

I trust there will be a few well deserved celebrations in Centreville among all the folks who did such a terrific job in demonstrating their opposition to Mr. Fisher's planned development!

Please don't hesitate to call me 670-2949 or to email if you have any questions.

Nova Scotia Moves --- Keep your fingers crossed

The Province of Nova Scotia fast-tracked a grants and contributions program at the end of 2012.

Nova Scotia Moves is a pilot project with higher than usual contribution levels --- up to $200,000 --- as a 50% contribution from the province.  The municipal or local level must contribute 25-50% of the cost (in-kind or hard cash). 

With only weeks to apply before the first deadline of December 21 --- greater weight was attributed to: "projects or program expansions that are ready for implementation."

At a preliminary meeting a decision was made for County of Kings staff to work quickly with Kentville, New Minas and Wolfville to put together an application to improve active transportation on the old railroad bed that will link Wolfville to Kentville when completed.  The Keiran Pathways Society was designated as a key partner with New Minas as the applicant. 

This society has been the champion of active transportation in the Annapolis Valley.  Its members have generously provided research, policy directives and practical advice.  Another example of how integral volunteers are to the quality of life here in Kings County.

The application was completed and submitted by the deadline. Now we all need to keep our fingers crossed and wait for a successful outcome when the application is considered.  Since part of the work must be completed by March 31, 2013, news is expected soon.  Another application deadline is expected early in 2013.

By-Elections in 2 Kings County Districts

Judge Warner in a 24-page ruling has declared the 2012 elections for the position of municipal councillor for District 8 and 11 of the Municipality of the County of Kings void.

In light of incumbents not having to resign their seats on committees during an election period, Justice Warner posed a rhetorical question:

“What mischief is remedied by having volunteers seek a leave of absence?”

A report on the municipality's next steps with respect to special elections (by-elections) will be coming to the January 8, 2013 meeting of Council.

My hope is that the by-elections will be held sooner, rather than later, to ensure that citizens in these two districts are duly and properly represented.

Click here if to read local coverage of the ruling.

Click here if you would like to read the ruling.

We Won't Forget

On Sunday, November 11, hundreds of people, old, young and in-between, stood at the Kentville cenotaph to solemnly remember.  Laying a wreath on behalf of the residents of Kings County was my first official duty.  Then a solemn procession of family members came forward to lay wreaths for their own loved ones.

Each year brings change to yet another family of a veteran.  Time, like soldiers, marches on.  Fathers, mothers, grandmothers and grandfathers who served die.  This year my daughter-in-law Monique Harvie’s beloved grandfather Frank Harvie died.  She and her sister Nicole laid a wreath in his memory. I was honoured to attend the ceremony in their company along with Edna, Frank’s widow.

All of our WWI veterans are now gone, but we are still blessed to have some WWII veterans with us. Their presence at cenotaph brings the reality of war into a sharper, more personal focus.  They represent, in person, the generation that sacrificed, survived, died and were scarred by the horror of it all.

To them we promise that when they are gone, as all the WWI vets now are: “We won’t forget.” The work of each elected representative is possible because of the democracy you protected on our behalf. When I sit at the council table I will remain ever mindful of the privilege you extended to me, and to all of us, to participate in a living, breathing democracy.