Municipal Council Approves Changes to Payments

INVERNESS COUNTY, NS – The Municipality of the County of Inverness Council approved a series of motions at the April 9, 2020 Regular Council meeting that will assist in alleviating the financial burden on the businesses and residents of Inverness County. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have been significantly impacted by the loss of revenues, and residents may be facing lay-offs and loss of income. The motions resulted in the following changes:

1. Interest will not be applied to overdue property tax accounts for the months of March, April and May 2020. All interest applied prior to these dates will remain on overdue property tax accounts.
2. Interest will not be applied to overdue water utility accounts for the months of March, April and May 2020. Any interest previously applied to overdue accounts will remain on the water utility accounts.
3. The water utility bills to be mailed out in April 2020 for the billing period of January 1^st to March 31^st, 2020 will have an extended due date of an additional thirty (30) days.

“The Municipality understands that some people are facing extra challenges during this time,” said Betty Ann MacQuarrie, Warden of the Municipality of the County of Inverness. “Municipal Council and staff hope that this can relieve some worries residents may have.”

To pay tax or water bills, residents can call 902-787-2274 or email whitney.macdonald@invernesscounty.ca.

-30-

Municipality Awards Inverness Wastewater Treatment Plant System Assessment Report and Pre-Design Study

INVERNESS, NS — The Municipality of the County of Inverness has awarded the tender for the Inverness Wastewater Treatment Plant, System Assessment Report and Pre-Design Study to R.V. Anderson Associates Limited. The Request for Proposals sought out certified engineering services to complete a full system assessment, environmental risk assessment, as well as complete a pre-design study that includes noise and odour control and increased wastewater treatment capacity.

R.V. Anderson Associates Limited has been engaged in the provision of professional engineering, architecture, operations, and management services since 1948. They have offices in Moncton, Fredericton, London and Toronto and have been named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies. For the purposes of this work R.V. Anderson Associates Limited is partnering with Meco Engineering, based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.  Together their commitment to health and safety as well as their vast experience and leadership in wastewater infrastructure projects will ensure that a future wastewater treatment plant in the community of Inverness will meet the current needs of the community while also allowing for continued commercial and residential growth.

-30-

Municipality to Postpone Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Municipality of the County of Inverness will be postponing the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner until further notice. The evening celebrating some of the County’s dedicated volunteers was originally scheduled to take place May 13th, 2020 and will instead be rescheduled to a date to be announced at a later time.

The deadline for nominating a deserving volunteer to be recognized is April 24th, 2020. To nominate someone or for any questions, please contact Lisa Organ at 902-787-3507 or lisa.organ@invernesscounty.ca.

Easter Message from Inverary Manor

As we prepare to celebrate the Easter weekend, a time of year we traditionally rejoice in the changing season and revel in nature’s signs of new life, the enormity of our current circumstance is no doubt weighing heavily on us all.  These are unprecedented times for everyone, as we continue to make adjustments to our routines of daily living and do our best to actively follow the social distancing guidelines set for us by our Public Health experts.

Like you, our staff and the residents of Inverary Manor are grappling with a “new normal”.  It has been very challenging. For several weeks now, all employees have been operating with a heightened sense of responsibility and personal accountability, at work and at home.  We are all acutely aware that our actions can have serious consequences.   The well-being of our vulnerable residents, their families, our co-workers, and their families depend on each of us remaining committed to doing our part.

So far, I am pleased and proud to say our team’s collective efforts have been successful and we are very grateful that Inverary Manor is free of the COVID-19 virus.  Each employee of Inverary Manor has made an important contribution to date and it remains our goal to keep our Home virus free!  Notwithstanding, we are simultaneously preparing plans to address an outbreak should it occur, and continuing to introduce internal preventative measures and implement all new directives from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, including those issued this week.  You should know that we are receiving unwavering guidance and support from our Public Health partners, as we endeavour to keep our staff and residents safe.

Throughout this period of uncertainty, we especially appreciate the understanding and support we have received from Families, Volunteers, and our Community.  Your encouragement is valued as well.  We know that being separated from your loved ones here at Inverary Manor is very difficult.  We want to assure you we are committed to caring for each individual, comforting them and creating a sense of normalcy in this most extraordinary time.

This weekend as you celebrate Easter, we extend an invitation to family and friends to reach out to the residents and staff at Inverary Manor.  We can arrange Skype calls, too!   As well, on behalf of our entire team, I want to wish you all a Happy Easter. Stay safe, heed the words of Dr. Strang, and keep us in your thoughts.

Kindest regards,

Stephen Doiron

Administrator

Inverary Manor

Easter Pickup Schedule Update / Horaire de Pâques

All Municipal buildings and facilities will be closed Friday, April 10th and Monday, April 13th due to the Easter holiday.

Changes to solid waste collection are as follows:

April 10th collection will instead take place on Saturday, April 11th

April 13th collection will instead take place on Saturday, April 18th

For more information, please call GFL’s helpline at 1-888-863-1744.

The Municipality thanks residents for their understanding and wishes all a safe and meaningful holiday.

Tous les bâtiments et installations de la Municipalité seront fermés le vendredi 10 avril et le lundi 13 avril en raison des vacances de Pâques.

Les modifications apportées à la collecte des déchets solides sont les suivantes :

La collecte du 10 avril aura lieu le samedi 11 avril

La collecte du 13 avril aura plutôt lieu le samedi 18 avril

Pour plus d’informations, veuillez appeler le service d’assistance téléphonique de GFL au 1-888-863-1744.

La Municipalité remercie les résidents pour leur compréhension et souhaite à tous des vacances sécuritaires.

Message from Municipal Council: April 1 2020

Dear residents of the Municipality of the County of Inverness,

To one degree or another, we’ve all had to adjust our lives because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For some of us, it might just be small things so far – extra precautions around handwashing, staying at home and cancelling gatherings. For others, the coronavirus pandemic has meant major upheaval and stress. Job loss, underlying health conditions and family concerns are making day to day living much harder than it already was.

That’s why, as a community, we should all be thinking about how we can positively impact the lives of our family, friends and neighbours, even if we may not be able to come into personal contact with them. With that in mind, here are some ideas to keep in mind for how to be helpful in this troubling time:

• Go easy on other people. Everybody reacts differently during times of uncertainty. Stress can make people say and do things they normally wouldn’t. If someone comes off as rude in a conversation, remember they may be dealing with a lot that you don’t know about.
• Stay connected. Cabin fever can set in pretty quickly if you let it. If you know someone who doesn’t get a lot of visitors under normal circumstances, chances are they may even be more isolated right now. Give them a call or send a text. You might brighten their day a little bit.
• Volunteer or donate if you can. Even though we’re all practicing social distancing at this point, there are still ways you can safely get out in your community to help others. Try contacting a local service group to see if they could use your support and assistance.

The fact is we’re going to be living with COVID-19 restrictions for the foreseeable future. It may be that the best resource we have to get through these challenges is each other. Our communities are not large, and they are spread out, so please remember to do the best you can to stay in contact with your friends and neighbours. There will never be restrictions on kindness.

Thank you, wash your hands, stay home as much as you can and be safe.

Betty Ann MacQuarrie, Warden & Councillor, District 5

Alfred Poirier, Deputy Warden & Councillor, District 1

Laurie Cranton, Councillor, District 2

Jim Mustard, Councillor, District 3

John MacLennan, Councillor, District 4

John Dowling, Councillor, District 6

PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA: Twenty New Cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia

Original found here

As of today, March 31, Nova Scotia has 147 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Twenty new cases were identified Monday, March 30. Most cases are connected to travel or a known case. As reported yesterday, public health has concluded that one case is the result of transmission within the community. To date, four staff and two residents of long-term care facilities have tested positive for COVID-19. Appropriate infection prevention and control measures are in place for both residents and staff.

It is now more important than ever for Nova Scotians to strictly adhere to the public health orders and directives – practise good hygiene, maintain a physical distance of two metres or six feet from others, limit essential gatherings to no more than five people and stay at home as much as possible.

The individuals affected range in age from under ten to over 80. Four individuals are currently in hospital. Ten individuals have now recovered and their cases of COVID-19 are considered resolved. Cases have been identified in all parts of the province.

Public health is working to identify people who may have come in close contact with the confirmed cases. Those individuals who have been confirmed are being directed to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days.

Anyone who has travelled outside Nova Scotia must self-isolate for 14 days. As always, any Nova Scotian who develops symptoms of acute respiratory illness should limit their contact with others until they feel better. If they are concerned about COVID-19 they can go to https://811.novascotia.ca/ and use the online assessment tool. Anyone referred to an assessment site by 811 will be tested.

To date, Nova Scotia has 5,763 negative test results and 147 confirmed cases.

Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information, handwashing posters and fact sheets at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus .

Today’s update will be livestreamed at 3 p.m. on https://novascotia.ca/stayinformed/webcast , @nsgov Facebook and YouTube channels.

Municipality of the County of Inverness to Provide Food for Families

INVERNESS COUNTY, N.S. – The Municipality of the County of Inverness and Seaside Communications in cooperation with the Strait Area Centre for Education’s SchoolsPlus Program have teamed up to provide vulnerable residents with food resources.

“Right now, children are not able to access their regular school breakfast programs,” said Municipality of the County of Inverness CAO Keith MacDonald. “With the support of Seaside, Municipal staff have been able to fill and deliver food hampers to youth who are facing food insecurity during the pandemic.”

Through funds from Seaside Communications, staff from the Municipality and volunteers with the SchoolsPlus Program will distribute 130 food hampers to families throughout the county.

Schools participating in the SchoolsPlus program include:

• Whycocomagh Education Centre
• Cape Breton Highlands Education Centre in Terre Noire
• Inverness Education Centre
• Bayview Education Centre in Port Hood

Hampers are being delivered with the help of Strait Area Transit. The donation by Seaside Communications has also allowed additional food to be distributed to local food banks.

SchoolsPlus promotes use of school facilities by students, families, and the community. It provides a range of mental health services and other health programs together with mentoring, recreation programs, social work, homework support and justice services in schools where children, youth and families can easily access them.

Green For Life to Begin Solid Waste Collection

As of April 1st 2020, curbside solid waste and recycling collection in the Municipality of the County of Inverness will be performed by Green for Life Environmental (GFL).

Residents will not see a change in pickup schedule at this time with all routes being maintained by GFL. Any schedule changes that may occur in the future will be announced in advance.

Municipal staff completed a detailed review of the request for proposal that was submitted by GFL in the Spring of 2019 and GFL was subsequently awarded the contract by the Municipality. GFL is a North American leader in solid waste management and other environmental services. The company is known for their commitment to safety, customer service and cost-effective solutions. Along with their 8 regional offices in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, GFL has a bilingual community concerns line, will follow and enforce any Municipal by-laws, and has in-house maintenance capabilities.

—

À partir du 1er avril 2020, la collecte des déchets solides et du recyclage dans la Municipalité du comté d’Inverness sera assurée par Green for Life Environmental (GFL).

Les résidents ne verront pas de changement dans l’horaire de collecte pour le moment, tous les itinéraires étant maintenus par GFL. Tout changement d’horaire qui pourrait survenir à l’avenir sera annoncé à l’avance.

Le personnel municipal a effectué un examen détaillé de la demande de proposition qui a été soumise par GFL au printemps 2019 et GFL s’est vu attribuer le contrat par la Municipalité par la suite. GFL est un leader nord-américain dans la gestion des déchets solides et d’autres services environnementaux. L’entreprise est connue pour son engagement en matière de sécurité, de service à la clientèle et de solutions rentables. Avec ses huit bureaux régionaux en Nouvelle-Écosse et au Nouveau-Brunswick, GFL dispose d’une ligne téléphonique bilingue pour les préoccupations de la communauté, suivra et appliquera tous les règlements municipaux et dispose de capacités de maintenance internes.

PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA: Seventeen New Cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia

As of today, March 27, Nova Scotia has 90 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Seventeen new cases were identified Thursday, March 26. Most are connected to travel or a known case. None of the new cases are connected to the St. Patrick’s Day gathering in Lake Echo, Halifax Regional Municipality. All attendees at the event are being contacted and are being tested. Case investigations are ongoing. At this point, public health cannot confirm a link to community spread.

It is imperative that anyone who has travelled outside Nova Scotia self-isolate for 14 days and for everyone to adhere to the five-person social gathering limit. As always, any Nova Scotian who develops symptoms of acute respiratory illness should limit their contact with others until they feel better. If they are concerned about COVID-19 they can go to https://811.novascotia.ca/ and use the online assessment tool. Anyone referred to an assessment site by 811 will be tested.

The 90 individuals affected range in age from under ten to mid-70’s. Two individuals are currently in hospital. Three individuals have recovered and their cases of COVID-19 are considered resolved. Cases have been identified in all parts of the province.

Public health is working to identify people who may have come in close contact with the confirmed cases. Those individuals who have been confirmed are being directed to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days.

To date, Nova Scotia has 3,649 negative test results and 90 confirmed cases.

If you have travelled outside of Nova Scotia or been in close contact with someone who has travelled and are experiencing fever or new cough you should complete the online questionnaire before calling 811. The online questionnaire can be found at: https://811.novascotia.ca/

Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information, handwashing posters and fact sheets at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus .

Today’s update will be livestreamed at 3 p.m. on https://novascotia.ca/stayinformed/webcast , @nsgov Facebook and YouTube channels.