Councillor’s Column – November, 2009
As we are into early November I would like to remind everyone to please honour and respect all of our veterans and their families, and those who continue to serve and sacrifice so much to make our Country the most wonderful place there is to live in. On November 11th we stop, salute and remember.
We are now more than just one month since the terrible fire that destroyed most of the Beaver Bank Kinsac Community Centre and already we have come so far. The old structure has been completely knocked down and most of the debris has been removed, by the time this goes to press we will know if the firewall is structurally ok and if we can move the fire trucks inside. Design and re-construct meetings are well underway and there is a Town Hall meeting on Nov 19th at HT Barrett School to update everyone on the current status.
I would like to thank our Fire Dept’s for the invitation to their Fire Safety Days at Sobey’s; there was a huge turn out of fire officers and equipment and a large number of residents dropped by; a very successful event.
I was also very honoured to have been invited to the Area Zone Banquet & Awards Night in Oakfield where I had the opportunity to present retiring Wellington Chief Peter Hawkins with a framed Certificate of Appreciation for over 25 years of Volunteer Service; thanks Peter from all of us.
I am also thrilled to have been able to advise the Fire fighters that evening that we have reached an agreement with Senior & retired officers to turn the old Station 45 (near Sobey’s) into an HRM Fire Museum, and they will begin moving trucks and equipment into the building next week-end with a target goal of a spring Grand Opening. I believe a museum location in the heart of our community is a wonderful addition.
From fire to water, over 180 residents of Monarch/Rivendale sub/div’s in Beaver Bank attended the second Public Meeting on extending municipal water to listen to presentations by Halifax Water and HRM Dept’s and have their questions answered. Survey ballots were sent out to residents on November 3rd and we will know by the end of November where we are headed in this project.
In the Fall River area the HRM is currently working on and upgrading the original cistern and piping at the Rec Centre and has put a tender out to install a 2nd cistern and filtration system to get water for showers and a better level of water supply. In response to your many emails I have been assured by the HRM Dept that this partial solution does not preclude the HRM’s involvement in the only long term solution, which is bringing water lines down the Fall River Road to the Rec. Centre and our three schools. In fact, for the first time I have been advised that there are already water lines in the ground from the Rec. Centre out to the road for eventual hook-up to water services.
October was a very busy month in many areas and was a very successful one for our District. I would like to pass on a few thanks to some of our organizations.
A few months ago I applied for and was appointed to the Shubie Canal Commission and am very pleased to see its work and successes on both water & land trails in our area. After two years of planning with the Commission and many area artists this past 6 weeks resulted in the Board hosting five Canal Art Receptions, all the way from Maitland to Dartmouth and including the Advantage Frame in Fall River. I was able to attend the events in Fall River and at the Fairbanks Centre and want to thank and congratulate all those who took part in a highly successful event. I encourage all of our residents that are able, to get out and enjoy the beauty and history on these trails.
I also want to congratulate the parents, coaches, and kids of the Wellington Tai Kwon Do Club for their second Annual “Haunted House” presentation. I believe over 800 visitors went through the tour and everyone agreed it was spectacular. A great job by all and thanks for the commitment of many hours to get this set up and put on.
Next I’d like to thank the Board members and volunteers of the Union Cemetery on a really successful year. Anyone that has driven by the old cemetery on the hill on the Cobequid Road will remember for many years this was badly neglected and overgrown with woods & brush. This group of volunteers has raised money, conducted research and planning, and have toiled all summer cutting brush, removing rocks, and planting grass and flowers. The before and now pictures clearly show a terrific job and commitment.
I’d like to update everyone on a couple of recent paving projects, we are pleased that the paving of Pinebrook Street in Beaver Bank is now completed. In Grand Lake we held a Public Meeting on a new and innovative way to finally pave both Hartland & Florence Streets in Brookhill Estates. Close to 80 people attended to hear the presentation and ask questions; this is an area where three previous survey ballots failed to pass. This time the final vote was 47 – 3 in favour of paving with 14 not returned which resulted in a 75% passing and I am happy to say that these streets will now go forward for paving for next year. While I certainly understand the reasons for the votes against, it is weighed against the issues this has caused in the past with grading and plowing etc. and I am pleased to see it proceed.
As a person who has spent literally thousands of hours working towards obtaining desperately needed sports facilities in this area, October was a particularly gratifying month. First I would like to thank and congratulate the Rocky Lake Board for sticking with it through many years of work; last week I was thrilled to attend their Grand Opening and this week the ice is open and operational and kids are playing hockey there. I am proud to continue to work with and support future development there, and am happy to hear of planned National level indoor/outdoor tennis coming along with outdoor sports fields.
I am just as proud of the Waverley Sports Park Board for also staying with a long drawn out plan and was very happy to finally sign the “Letter of Authority” this past week which will now allow for the construction of the new ball-field at the Waverley location. The HRM has committed $500,000.00 to the building of this sports field and we await the Provinces decision on their $250,000.00 towards the installation of lights. As of next week surveyors will be on site and we will do final design work this winter and will tender the construction in early spring.
On a lighter side I think we all agree that all levels of Gov’t move at a snails pace and are fairly resistant to change. Our Marine Drive, Valley & Canal Community Council recently made HRM history at its last meeting held at the LWF Community Hall. For the first time at an official HRM meeting teleconferencing was allowed so a family in Nfld could make an appeal to the Council, a small step but a huge boost to residents.
On a down side, the never ending rains of the past six weeks have delayed completion of a number of outdoor projects. We were hoping by now to have the playground project at Delaney Park and the bike park at the Beaver Bank Commons completed but the soft ground and mud have prevented us from continuing. If the weather will change before winter we are still planning on having the fill work done at Delaney and are hoping to complete the access road to the bike park prior to snowfall. On both of these projects I have ensured that funding will stay in place until the jobs are completed.
To everyone looking for info on this years Christmas Parade please note:
- The Fall River Lions Christmas Express Parade will take place on Sunday, Nov 29th starting at 1:00 from the LWF Community Hall. Donations of food items along the route is appreciated for the Christmas Express program, if you would like to make a donation to the Express please contact myself.
The Beaver Bank Lions Club Parade of Lights will take place the following Sunday, Dec 6th starting at 6:00pm from Barrett Lumber.
I am looking forward to exceptionally busy Council days in November & December; upcoming on the agendas are major items for our District including Tax Reform, future Transit plans and District Boundary Reviews. I am certainly looking to help bring about badly needed change and fairness for all of our District in these areas.
On a more local note, HRM will be bringing forward a number of crucial studies and reports over the next two months which pertain directly to our area. The much anticipated Traffic Study with its recommendations (short & long term) will be released in December while the Shubenacadie Watershed Study will come out in January, along with these will come presentations and suggestions by the Fall River Vision Committee. I have demanded extensive community consultations on these issues as they will all have long lasting implications on our communities and these will be advertised and announced early in the new year.
Finally I am pleased to announce that on Monday, Nov 30th myself and the RCMP will be hosting an open Town Hall meeting at the Fall River Rec Centre from 6:30 to 9:00pm. There will be presentations and time for Q & A’s so please drop by.
Please feel free to contact me at any time, see contact info included in this publication.
Warmest regards, Barry