Newsletter: District Seven Councillor: April 2008
Councillor Embree would like to share coffee and tea with you on Saturday April 26 at 10AM at the Sable River Community Hall for an hour or two to discuss municipal issues. Please join me.
The Sable River Volunteer Fire Department with the assistance of the municipality held a public meeting on 16 February to discuss the purchase of the next vehicle the fire department needs. A survey to collect taxpayer response to the proposal was mailed to each tax account in the SRVFD area on 17 April. An explanatory memo for the survey was sent later by flyer to mailboxes in the SRVFD area and also mailed out to each tax account on 21 April.
The SRVFD Executive recommends a rescue / bush truck as a third vehicle for the department that could satisfy 80% to 90% of the fire calls. Its estimated cost is $110,000. It also would be very useful for medical first responder calls. If the public survey agrees with this an area rate equivalent to approximately $53 per year for each $100,000 of assessment will be applied for up to 10 years solely for this purchase until it is paid off.
The rescue truck should have a tanker / pumper truck to support it. A refit of the existing pumper / tanker could provide that service for a number of years. This will cost approximately $24,000 from current SRVFD funds. When it is no longer serviceable the SRVFD will examine choices to continue support to the rescue truck. The old fire hall by the community hall will be used as a third vehicle bay to park the equipment van.
For further information please read the explanatory information memorandum sent by mail. You can also contact the Fire Chief at 656-2253, your councilor, municipality offices or attend SRVFD monthly meetings on the second Monday of each month at 7PM.
As SRVFD district tax account holders please be sure to reply to the survey when you receive it regarding your acceptance or not of this recommendation for a purchase and area rate. If you do not accept this, your comments on a realistic and reasonable way ahead for the next vehicle purchase would be appreciated. Over 725 surveys were sent out to residential, commercial and resource tax accounts in the SRVFD Fire District. As many responses as possible are desired so that the community can agree on a way ahead.
Your Interim Tax bill should be in your hands now with payment due by end April 2008. The 2008 / 09 budgets and tax rates for the municipality will be discussed and set in the next couple of months. Council will look at the initial draft budget on 22 April and meet 30 April, 14 and 21 May until the budget is agreed. While maintaining existing services and reducing costs will be central to the budget process, new items that may come up include paying for an additional RCMP officer, additional staff for the recreation department, sharing of costs for tourism and / or economic development staff, funding of fire protection services, repairs for municipal offices, financing of economic development, elected officials pay, election and Joint Services Board costs. Your input and suggestions for what municipal services you would like to see and changes to them would be appreciated.
Lenny Stewart Construction is demolishing the Ragged Island School on Osborne Road under contract with the School Board. Once that is completed the site will be environmentally checked to see that previous evidence of oil contamination of the soil has been removed and to determine if there is soil contamination elsewhere. Soil removal as required should commence in August. When clean the school site will then be transferred to the municipality and put up for sale.
Your RCMP Advisory Committee members are Dave Meyer (656-3010) and Elizabeth Pooley (656-3411). One of your representatives on the Shelburne County Industrial Commission is Ben Pooley (656-3411). Please call them to provide input on these topics or find out more. There are other citizen advisory boards such as the Recreation Committee that are looking for participation if you wish to volunteer.
On October 18 municipal elections are to be held. Voter’s lists will be checked during August. Nominations will be due in early September. Also please see the posters posted for a “Municipal Campaign School for Women” on 3 May in Yarmouth to encourage women to become involved in municipal government. Please call Kim at the municipal offices for further information.
Councillor Embree would like to share coffee and tea with you on Saturday April 26 at 10AM at the Sable River Community Hall for an hour or two to discuss municipal issues. Please join me.
In conclusion: I am interested in what you have to say, call me with your comments on municipal issues. I’m at 656-2793 or call the municipal offices at 875-3544 ext 221. I live at 1784 East Sable River Road if you wish to stop by. I’m also available at scembree@auracom.com. Our website is www.municipalityofshelburne.ca
Yours respectfully,
Sherm Embree,
Councillor, District seven,
Municipality of the District of Shelburn
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