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Volume 16 Issue 2 May 2011
Municipality of the
County of Colchester
Inside this issue:
Low Income Exemption 2
Debert Water Utility 2
Tatamagouche Library 2
New Building Codes 2
False Alarm By-law Amendments 3
Sorting Extravaganza 3
Recreation Services 4
Building Permits 6
Waste Resource Management 7
Civic Centre 10
New Active Transportation Strategy 11
New Staff Members 11
Civic Address 11
Animal Control 11
Historic Colchester 12
See page 2 for
information on
Low Income
Exemption.
Bye Bye Black Bag
Going Clear in Colchester
Starting September 1, 2011, residents, busi-
nesses, institutions and apartments will be using
clear bags for garbage disposal.
Between now and September, Waste Reduction Staff will be on the Education Trail to
assist communities in making the transition. It is simple, the colour of your garbage
bag will change from dark green or black to a clear, non-coloured bag. The number
of garbage bags at the curb once every two weeks remains limited to six bags. Blue
bags can continue to be used for recyclables and the green cart for organics.
The Councils for the Municipality of Colchester and the Towns of Stewiacke and
Truro have each agreed that changing to clear bags is important in preserving our
landfill and protecting our communities. How would the colour of the garbage bag be
able to do that? In Nova Scotia, 33 municipalities are now using a clear bag for gar-
bage and they have recognized that on average, garbage was reduced by thirty per-
cent.
Most of our residents are doing a tremendous job sorting their materials, but there
are still some folks that need a little encouragement to do better. Also, there are a
number of apartments, businesses and restaurants that have not embraced the 1996
Provincial Regulations that banned certain material from landfills. As an owner and
operator of a landfill, we are not permitted to accept banned items for disposal. Dark
garbage bags can contain banned materials; therefore, making the bags clear will
assist us in identifying bags that contain material not allowed in our landfill.
continued on page 2
Clear Bag Program Timeline
May 1 – August 31, 2011 - Educational Period September 1 – December 31, 2011 - Program Begins and Education Continues
January 1, 2012 - Enforcement and Education Continues
For more information: Helpline 895-4777 Website www.colchester.ca
Page 2 Municipality of the County of Colchester
Article continued from cover - Going Clear in Colchester
EDUCATION / COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE - If you are interested in having a presentation or educational
session for your community, business, apartment building or worksite, please call our Helpline at 895-4777 to
schedule one. Waste Reduction Staff will be coordinating public meetings over the next four months specifi-
cally on the clear bag program. These presentations will give you an opportunity to have your questions an-
swered. We look forward to meeting you.
Clear Bag Program Clarifications
Property Type Amount Collected Bag Type
No Change One dark bag (or one clear bag with non
Residential Limit of Six Bags see through bags inside) AND up to five
clear bags where materials can be seen
No Change One dark bag (or one clear bag with non
Apartments Limit of Six Bags see through bags inside) AND up to five
(per unit) clear bags where materials can be seen
Businesses & Institutions No Change Clear bags where all materials can be seen
Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Taking the Green Approach
The work crew of the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Project has dedicated many long hours in cold tem-
peratures and while the winter weather presented a number of challenges, the progress accomplished to
date is remarkable. Since February 2011, Project Construction Manager, PCL, has primarily focused on the
structural concrete, waterproofing, excavation, and backfilling work around the perimeter of the building.
Over the next number of weeks, concrete work will continue on the eastern area or arena portion of the
building followed by the pool structures. It is expected the concrete structure will be substantially complete
by May of this year and the recent award of the Structural Steel Tender will allow work to begin on shop
drawings and fabrication of steel components. Erection of these components is expected to begin in May.
Since the early planning phases of the project, environmental stewardship, sustainable design, and the
need/ability to reduce the Civic Centre’s "carbon footprint" has been a top priority of the Project Steering
Committee. The movement towards "green" buildings is a responsible path that can yield environmental and
financial benefits, particularly in regards to long term operating costs. To achieve these benefits, every effort
is being made to design the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre to meet the LEED® SILVER Designation.
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED®) is an internationally recognized green building certi-
fication system, providing third-party verification that a building is designed and built using strategies in-
tended to improve performance in areas such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction,
improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
Page 3 May 2011
article continued from previous page
LEED® is based on a number of credits or measures where targets are identified and set for
the main environmental issues. Some of the initiatives that the Civic Centre will need to focus on to ensure that
the facility is the most environmentally friendly building possible include:
1) Energy Efficient and Optimized Performance - 50% more energy efficient than a standard building done
with sensible energy efficient design measures including but not limited to: low-e argon windows in ther-
mally improved frames; daylighting sensors; inclusion of the geo-thermal “Ice Cube” ice making system in
the arena; heat recovery on ventilation air. All of these measures are important aspects of a green building
as they provide the opportunity for one third to one half carbon emission reductions and savings on utility
bills.
2) Bike Racks - To promote good health for the public and promote green modes of transportation.
3) Water Use - All fixtures in the washrooms will be low flow and will have automatic controls where possible.
The landscaping design will encourage low water use.
4) Recycling in Three Ways – 1) Physical materials for construction will have as much recyclable content as
possible; 2) During construction, a waste management plan has been implemented in an effort to divert a
minimum of 75% of construction waste from the landfill; and, 3) An easily accessible area for the collection
and storage of recycling materials will be incorporated in the facility.
5) Healthy Environment - The Civic Centre will ensure a healthy environment for operations in two specific
ways: 1) Specify and select materials that do not contain harmful chemicals; and, 2) Ensure the efficient
balance of circulating fresh air and natural daylight entering the facility.
These components are only a small sample of the requirements needed for the LEED® SILVER certification.
The process of obtaining the SILVER certification involves the collection of information for submission and re-
view with the goal of achieving as many credits as possible. If requirements are met, the facility, which will be
owned by the Town of Truro and the Municipality of Colchester, will be the first Municipally owned LEED®
building in Central Nova Scotia. It is envisioned that the Civic Centre will be a local showcase for some of the
most current applications and leading edge approaches of energy conservation, building technology, and archi-
tectural design.
If you have any questions or comments, we can be reached through our website www.ignitethespirit.ca or by
email at [email protected].
New Playground in Princeton Heights
The Municipality is pleased to be working with the Princeton Heights
Playground Committee and residents in Salmon River in the develop-
ment of a new playground at Birch Street Park. As this newsletter
goes to print, most of the equipment will be installed, however, the
playground cannot be used until all safety features are in place. We
anticipate that it will be open for play in early June. Please be pa-
tient...it will be worth the wait!
Page 4 Municipality of the County of Colchester
Community Development
Swimming Pools
In the County of Colchester, if you are located in a zoned area, you are required to have a permit to install a swimming pool for:
These swimming pools must:
Should you have any questions, please contact the Development Officer at 897-3170.
Page 5 May 2011
Two Major Building Code Changes for New Homes Effective June 1, 2011
Nova Scotia will adopt the new 2010 edition of the National Building Code
(NBC) as the Provincial Building Code making all changes effective on June 1,
2011.
Some important changes have been incorporated into the Code to ensure the
health and safety of building occupants.
Smoke Alarms
The 2010 NBC requires a smoke alarm in each bedroom in addition to hall-
ways serving bedrooms or in a location between the bedrooms and the rest of
the house. As well, smoke alarms are required on each storey. All smoke
alarms must be interconnected on an electrical circuit and equipped with battery
backup with a silencing button.
Radon Mitigation
Health Canada has recently lowered acceptable levels of radon within buildings to 200 units/m³ from 800
units/m³. Radon is an invisible, odourless, tasteless gas that naturally occurs in soils. Radon can enter a
home through small cracks, openings in foundations and floors. Continued exposure to Radon has been
proven to be harmful to your health.
The 2010 NBC addresses the risk of Radon by requiring a completely sealed vapour barrier material under
all concrete slabs poured on ground. As well, the Code requires that a 4" diameter pipe be placed under the
slab to a point near the centre of the slab for future testing. The pipe is to extend above the top of the slab
and is to be capped off so it can be used for future sub slab ventilation should future radon testing show un-
acceptable levels of Radon in the home.
Page 6 Municipality of the County of Colchester
From the RCMP
Protect Yourself from Internet Crimes
There is no question that the internet has been a wonderful educational tool for the modern ages, helping
people with research and education, but the internet can also be an enemy for the non-savvy user. With so-
cial networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, individuals may be unaware as to how much information
they are giving out over the World Wide Web. This includes internet chat rooms. These can lead to crimes
such as identity theft and fraud, especially when personal photos, full names, dates of birth and phone num-
bers are listed on a persons profile or given out in a chat room.
One thing to be careful of when using social networking sites is who you add to your profile as a friend. This
means who will be able to see the personal information you have listed about yourself as well as pictures.
Some people don’t know every person that can access the information they have listed. This can be danger-
ous when “status updates” are written saying where you are going to be, if you’re going on vacation and how
long you will be gone for. This could result in a home being broken into as the criminals know exactly when
you are gone.
Identity Theft
In Canada, thousands of people are affected every year by identity theft. Personal information can be gath-
ered from the internet and used to open bank accounts, obtain credit cards, set up cell phones, rent vehicles
and accommodations. Usually when these crimes occur, the criminal will leave the victim with unpaid bills
which could be the responsibility of the victim, as well as affect your credit. Many times the victim will not find
out about these crimes until much later.
There are steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft or other internet crimes:
Think about what you are sharing over the internet - be it on social networking sites or chat rooms. Is it
necessary?
Be careful who you give personal information to - if you do not know the person or organization, don’t
give your information out.
Remember, once something is posted on the internet, there is no way to get it back.
Social Insurance Numbers should be safeguarded.
Pay attention to your bank accounts and credit card statements. If you do not recognize a purchase,
notify your banking institution or credit card company immediately.
Become familiar with checking your credit report. This will tell you how many accounts you have open,
banking or financing, if any credit inquiries were made and what your credit score is.
Advise any cable, phone or internet provider if an account is opened in your name that you have not
opened yourself.
Choose strong passwords for all accounts on the internet.
If you are a victim of identity theft, report the crime(s) to your local police department or RCMP detachment.
You can also contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada toll free at 1-800-282-1376.
Cpl. Addie J. Maccallum
Colchester County RCMP
Page 7 May 2011
Recreation Services
2011 Volunteer Awards On Tuesday, April 26th, the Municipality of Colchester hosted their annual Volunteer Recognition night to honour some of
our local volunteers. During the evening, County Council had the opportunity to thank the following volunteers:
Volunteer Award
Roy Gerdson
Archie MacLaughlin
Paul McNutt
Kay Seeton
E. Logan Spencer
Provincial Volunteer Representative
Jeff Smith
Youth Volunteer Award
Caitlin Congdon
Community Group Volunteer Award
Butch’s Jam Crew
North Colchester River Restoration Association
The Colchester County Provincial 4-H Show
Hosting Committee
The Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Farm
Equipment Museum Committee
Caitlin Congdon and Mayor Bob Taylor
Fun in the Sun Day Camps 2011
Hey kids! Want to have fun and be active this summer? Join us for Fun in the Sun
when we visit your community. Each week is jam packed with fun outdoor games,
group activities, sports, and lots of fun to keep you moving all summer long.
Fun in the Sun camp locations and dates will be available at www.colchester.ca/fun
-in-the-sun-day-camps mid-May, with registration beginning Wednesday, June 1,
2011 at Colchester Recreation located at 1 Church Street, Truro, on the 3rd floor.
Are you looking for a way to say Thank You to a
volunteer or community group? Why not nominate
them for the recognition they deserve? If you
would like to recognize a special volunteer in your
community or organization in 2012, contact Col-
chester Recreation for more information.
Page 8 Municipality of the County of Colchester
Municipal Regional Parks: Yours to Explore
You are invited to visit the newest park in Colchester County.
This day park has a panoramic view of the Five Islands and
the Minas Basin, a ship playground, historic lighthouse, walk-
ing paths, beach access, mud flats and remarkable Bay of
Fundy tides. Pack a lunch to enjoy under the timber frame
picnic shelter. The park is located on Broderick Lane in Lower
Five Islands and is open until October 10. Admission is free.
The lighthouse is open in July and August. For more informa-
tion about Five Islands Lighthouse Park, please visit
www.colchester.ca/parks or contact Colchester Recreation at
897-3180.
Ahoy kids! Are you ready to set sail? This ship
needs a captain (and deck hands too, so bring
your family and friends). Climb aboard at Five
Islands Lighthouse Park. Landlubbers welcome!
Nelson Memorial Park and Stewiacke River Park
These two municipal day parks in Tatamagouche and East Stewiacke are open for the season. Nelson
Memorial Park is situated on the shore of Tatamagouche Bay. Stewiacke River Park is, as the name im-
plies, beside the meandering Stewiacke River. Each park has group picnic shelters with barbeques, picnic
tables, a walking trail and a playground. Check out the new playground at Stewiacke River Park and the
new heritage gardens at Nelson Memorial Park this summer! For more information about these parks,
please visit www.colchester.ca/parks or contact Colchester Recreation at 897-3180.
Nelson Memorial Park Overlooking Tatamagoughe Bay Explore the New Playground at Stewiacke River Park
Page 9 May 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011 5K, 10K & Half Marathon
Flat… Fast… Fun… www.colchester.ca/recreation-services
May 28-June 4
Colchester Bike Week is an annual event to promote
and celebrate cycling. Participate in Bike Week events
for the fun and the exercise. Most Bike Week events
are free and many prizes will be given away throughout
the week. If you are not able to attend scheduled
events, we encourage you to get out on your bicycle
with family and friends. Check www.colchester.ca and
local media for the complete Bike Week schedule and
details, or contact Colchester Recreation at 897-3185.
Volunteers are welcome. Colchester Bike Week is sup-
ported by the Municipality of Colchester, Town of Truro,
Village of Bible Hill and Hub Cycle Cycling Club.
Animal Control
Once again, a number of dogs in Colchester County are running at large! Unfortunately for the owners of the
dogs that are picked up by Animal Control, it means an impound fee, daily pound fee, as well as any other
fines or applicable fees (such as a new tag). Dogs run because they can. The urge to leave home may be
the result of one or more of the following:
1) Has your dog been spayed or neutered as yet? - Female dogs that have
not been spayed go into heat and when this happens, they are more likely to
stray from home looking for a male. A male dog that has not been neutered
may also wander away from home looking for a female.
2) Has your dog been trained and is he being properly supervised? - Dogs
sometimes have a tendency to chase cars or people.
3) What breed is your dog? - Different breeds are drawn from the yard for
different reasons such as boredom or just following their nose.
4) Is your dog getting enough exercise? - If you’ve missed a walk with Fido, he may venture off on his own to
get that much needed exercise.
These are not acceptable reasons for allowing your dog off property unattended. Any place that is not desig-
nated an “off leash park” means your dog must be leashed.
For more information, visit our website at www.colchester.ca/animal-control.
Playtime at the Off Leash Park
Page 10 Municipality of the County of Colchester
Waste Resource Management
Holiday Closures
The Balefill and Materials Recovery Facilities will be closed on May 23
rd for Victoria Day, July 1
st
for Canada Day, August 1st for the Civic Holiday
and September 5th for Labour Day.
Holiday Collection
If your regular collection day for organics, garbage,
or recyclables falls on a holiday, an alternate col-
lection will take place on the following Saturday.
Please refer to your waste collection schedule for
details. Material must be curbside by 7 am on
your collection day.
Colchester Balefill Facility 188 Mingo Road, Exit 18
HWY 104, Kemptown
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm
Saturday 8 am to 12 pm
Materials Recovery Facility 185 Mingo Road, Exit 18
HWY 104 Kemptown
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm
Reminder: All visitors must report to the scale
house prior to unloading materials. The scale
house operator can accept cash, a personal
cheque, or Interac as payment for disposal. The
scale house is not equipped with a credit card
machine. All loads must be tarped to prevent
litter problems. Untarped loads will be subject to a
$20 surcharge.
2011 Mobile Household Hazardous Waste Event
On Saturday May 28, 2011, there will be a Special Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Event! Residents
can drop off their chemicals, paint, oil and other hazardous wastes from their homes FREE OF CHARGE.
The event will take place at the MacMillan Show Centre on the Exhibition Grounds in Bible Hill between
the hours of 9 am and 1 pm.
Hazardous Waste Disposal – Dates to Remember
Location: Clean Harbors, 640 MacElmon Road, Debert, Exit 13, HWY 104
2011 Dates of Operation
June 4th, July 9
th, August 6
th, September 10
th, October 1
st, November 5
th.
Hours of Operation - 9 am to 1 pm
This FREE service is for residents of the Municipality of Colchester and the Towns of Truro and Stewiacke.
Page 11 May 2011
2011 Cottage Country Collection
Bring on the warm weather! The Waste Resource Management Program in Cottage Country has begun.
This program started Tuesday, May 24th, and will end on Saturday October 15
th. Garbage and recyclables
are collected on alternating weeks. The cycle begins and ends with recyclables collection. Please remember
there is a limit of six garbage bags per household on each collection day. Starting September 1, 2011, the
colour of your garbage bag will change from dark green or black to a clear, non-coloured bag. Paper and
container recyclables must be sorted into separate blue or clear bags; one bag for paper products and a sec-
ond separate bag for everything else (cans, glass, plastics, bags etc.).
The following guide outlines the collection days in each of the areas:
South Colchester - Mondays
South Colchester area includes the private roads in the Shortt’s Lake area only. The public roads will
continue to be serviced on Tuesdays.
North Colchester - Tuesdays
North Colchester is comprised of the following communities: Mattatall Lake, Bayhead, Tatamagouche,
Sandpoint, Barrachois, Brule Shore and Brule Point.
West Colchester - Thursdays
West Colchester includes the following communities west of and including Glenholme, Folly Lake,
Great Village, Little Dyke, Portapique, Five Houses, Bass River, Economy, Five Islands and all points in
between.
Do You Have a Vehicle That Has Lost Its Get Up and Go?
The Municipality of Colchester will have it removed for free through the annual Dere-
lict Vehicle Program.
If you are interested in this program, please call 897-0450 ext. 111 with the following
information ready: name, address, phone number, vehicle info (year, make and
model), and VIN number. After this information is received, the Waste Management
Officer will arrange a site visit. Collection of the vehicles takes place in the Fall.
Environment Week Open House – June 10, 2011
Come out and help us celebrate Environment Week 2011! On Friday, June 10, 2011 from 11:30 am to 1:30
pm we will be holding an Open House at our Waste Management Facilities in Kemptown. There will be tours
of the Recycling, Compost and Balefill Facilities, as well as a barbeque, refreshments and cake to celebrate.
Moby S. Loop, RRFB Nova Scotia’s Recycling Robot, will also be on hand. Come visit us at 185 Mingo Road
in Kemptown and have all of your waste management questions answered!
Municipality of the County of Colchester
Municipality of the County of Colchester
1 Church Street
PO Box 697 Truro, Nova Scotia
B2N 5E7
www.colchester.ca
Toll Free Number 1-866-728-5144
Fax Number – 895-9983
Administration - 897-3160
Tax Office - 897-3150
Community Development - 897-3170
Building Inspection
Development Officer
Public Works - 897-3175
Property Information - 897-3178
Colchester Recreation - 897-3155
Waste & Recycling Helpline- 895-4777
County flags are available from the
Administrative Office, 1 Church Street,
Truro. You may purchase a flag for
$25.00, borrow one for a local event at
no charge or pick up a flag at no cost if
you are a non-profit organization and
you would like to fly the County Flag at
your building. For further details, please
call the Administrative Office at 897-
3160.
2011 Spring Clean Up Only 2 Areas Remaining!
Spring Clean Up is nearing completion for another year! Remaining Spring
Clean Up dates are:
May 24th – 27
th – Western Rural Colchester
May 30th to June 3
rd – Northern Rural Colchester
Please use the following tips to help ensure a successful bulky waste clean
up:
· Items can only be set curbside the weekend prior to your collection week.
· Material must be placed within 6 feet of the road by 7 am on the Monday
of your week.
· The total amount set out should not exceed 650 pounds (imagine the
amount that could fit into the back of a half tonne truck). Individual items
cannot exceed 50 pounds, with the exception of furniture and appliances.
· A number of trucks will pass by your home collecting specific items.
These trucks will pass by once. Roads are inspected at the end of the
day ensuring all acceptable items are collected. Material set out after the
trucks have passed will not be collected.
· Metal items are collected by a special truck. When placing material at the
curb, please try to keep metal items separate from the other items.
· Unacceptable items must be promptly removed from the curb by the resi-
dent after the trucks have passed.
· Smaller items must be bagged, bundled or boxed for collection.
If you have any questions on what items can or cannot be placed curbside
or where you can dispose of unacceptable items properly, please phone the
Helpline at 895-4777 or visit www.colchester.ca. Your cooperation is greatly
appreciated!
Bagged Leaves & Grass
Residents are reminded that bags of leaves and grass are not collected
curbside. These types of waste can be placed in your green cart, backyard
composter or it can be brought to the Balefill Facility during regular business
hours. You will be required to debag your own yard waste upon arrival.
There is no charge for disposing of this material.
