Notice to all residents: Sharps Disposal Guidelines
In efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, pharmacies have implemented short-term controls and are no longer able to accept used sharps containers. The Municipality would like to remind all residents that sharps cannot be disposed of in regular recycling or garbage bags. Disposing of them in your garbage or blue bags is very dangerous for the people handling solid waste. Please call your pharmacist for advice on how to store your used sharps during this time.
Read the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia’ guidelines on proper sharps disposal: https://pans.ns.ca/public/programs/safe-sharps
COVID-19: Municipal Operations Updates
The Municipality of the County of Inverness is working diligently to provide ongoing service to residents. Due to Covid-19, for staff and public safety, the Port Hood Administrative Building, the Municipal Recycling Facility and the Infrastructure & Emergency Services Building in Strathlorne are closed to the public until further notice.
– To pay tax or water bills, call 902-787-2274 and pay online or by mail.
– For water connection, call 902-787-2274.
– Solid waste collection will continue. Please check the “Municipality of the County of Inverness” Facebook page for updates.
– The Kenloch Transfer Station remains open. Please respect social distancing guidelines while visiting the site.
For the Municipal emergency hotline, call 902-258-5048. For acute medical emergencies, call 9-1-1. If you feel sick, call 8-1-1 for assessment.
Municipal Covid-19 Response and Precautionary Measures
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16th, 2020
COVID-19 Response and Precautionary Measures
INVERNESS COUNTY, N.S. – Following the lead of the Province of Nova Scotia and Government of Canada, as of tomorrow, March 17th 2020, the Municipality of the County of Inverness will be closing some facilities to the public. These facilities include the administrative office in Port Hood, the public drop off area at the Recycling Facility as well as the Infrastructure & Emergency Services Building in Strathlorne until further notice.
Residents looking to make payments on water or tax bills can do so via online payment or by mail until the administrative office reopens. For any questions, Municipal staff will be available to contact through phone and email.
More public health measures may yet be taken by the Municipality, but emergency and essential services will continue.
As per public health officials, if you develop a fever with a temperature of 38° C or higher or a cough, call 8-1-1 for assessment immediately. Do not go to a health clinic, emergency room or COVID-19 assessment centre unless 8-1-1 has referred you.
Inverness County resident can find the most accurate information at: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/. Residents should follow hygiene and social distancing guidelines as outlined by the Nova Scotia Health Authority.
-30-
STRAIT AREA TRANSIT: Covid-19 Restrictions
Strait Area Transit will be limiting service to essential services only. ie Medical, access to food. If you are able to order food/supplies, they can deliver it to your house. Contact 902-625-1475 for more information.
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES: Notice to our service communities
(Please note: The following also applies to the Foyer Père Fiset in Chéticamp.)
Notice to our Service Communities
To protect our residents and staff from the outbreak of the Corona Virus, effective immediately, Inverary Manor will be closed to all visitors except for extreme circumstances, such as a palliative situation.
It was recently confirmed by the Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) there are now 3 presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. With this new information, our decision follows the most recent directive by the Province of Nova Scotia to restrict all visitor access to Long Term Care Homes in the Province.
We regret any inconvenience this decision poses to resident families, friends, volunteers and others who visit Inverary Manor. It is our goal to limit the spread of the virus and do our utmost to protect our residents (who are most susceptible to contracting it due to compromised immune systems) and our employees who serve them.
At this time, we ask for the community’s understanding and support. We want to assure families and the public that we have introduced several precautionary measures within our operation at Inverary Manor to ensure the safety and care of our residents and staff. I want to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated staff for their commitment and collective efforts to serve and support our residents and each other through this challenging period.
We all can appreciate this situation is evolving and the leadership team at Inverary Manor is in daily contact with DHW and Public Health Officials to help guide our decisions as we work through this extraordinary event. As such, we are committed to keeping the public informed and will update you on any new information or decisions as they are taken.
If you have any questions, please contact Teresa Smith, Director Recreation Services (902-258-2842 ext. 241) or Wanda Chandler, Administrative Assistant (902-258-2842 ext.221)
Thank you for your understanding.
Stephen Doiron, Administrator
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: By-Law Amendment for the Municipality of the County of Inverness
Please take notice that Council of the Municipality of the County of Inverness intends to consider and, if deemed advisable, to amend:
By-Law 30: Capital Cost of Sewer and Water
The amendment is to add Section 14 (l), which reads “In the area served by the Judique Water System, the unit charge for the construction of the Judique Reservoir is $935.97 per serviceable unit.”
A copy of the proposed by-law amendment can be inspected online here: Revised Bylaw 30 or at the office of the Municipality of the County of Inverness, 375 Main St., Port Hood, NS.
Written or oral presentations (in favour or opposition) to the by-law amendment can be made before Council at the Public Hearing to be held:
Thursday, March 5th, 2020
1:00 pm in Council Chambers
375 Main St., Port Hood, NS
Please also take notice that the Public Hearing will be followed by a regular meeting of Municipal Council at 1:30 pm on March 5th, 2020 at the same location. Second Reading of this By-Law will be given at this time.
If you have any further questions, please call 902-787-3500.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Proposed Adoption of By-Law and By-Law Repeal for the Municipality of the County of Inverness
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT the Municipality of the County of Inverness intends to consider repealing the following by-law:
By-Law 15: Auctioneers, Pedlars, Hawkers and Traders of Goods and approving a new Vending By-Law
The Municipality accepted First Reading of the Vending By-law on February 6th, 2020 to replace by-law #15 Auctioneers, Pedlars, Hawkers and Traders of Goods, which previously regulated portions of the activities that are now to be covered by the new Vending By-Law.
The motion to repeal by-law #15 Auctioneers, Pedlars, Hawkers and Traders of Goods will be presented to the Municipal Council for Second and Final Reading at the Regular Municipal Council Meeting, Thursday, March 5th, 2020 at 1:30 pm in Council Chambers.
A copy of the Vending By-Law can be inspected online here: Municipal_Vending_By_Law or at the office of the Municipality of the County of Inverness, 375 Main St., Port Hood, NS.
Written or oral presentations (in favour or opposition) regarding the new Vending by-law and repeal of by-law #15 Auctioneers, Pedlars, Hawkers and Traders of Goods can be made before Council at the Public Hearing to be held:
Thursday, March 5th, 2020
12:00 pm in Council Chambers
375 Main St., Port Hood, NS
Please also take notice that the Public Hearing will be followed by a regular meeting of Municipal Council at 1:30 pm on March 5th, 2020 at the same location.
If you have any further questions, please call 902-787-3500.
Municipality Posts Inverness Wastewater Treatment Plant RFP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7th, 2020
INVERNESS, NS – The Municipality of the County of Inverness has posted a Request for Proposals for the Inverness Wastewater Treatment Plant System Assessment Report and Pre-design Study. The request invites proposals for engineering services to complete a full system assessment, an environmental risk assessment, and a pre-design study that would include noise and odour control as well as increase wastewater treatment capacity.
The Request for Proposals in its totality can be found on the Province of Nova Scotia’s Procurement Office website. The deadline for proposals is February 13th, 2020.
-30-
Storm Preparation Guidelines
When winter weather hits, it is always best to be overprepared rather than underprepared. To this end, the Municipality of the County of Inverness has prepared a downloadable and printable storm preparation checklist for residents. Download it here: Printable Storm Checklist
Storm Preparation Guidelines
Before the storm
- Test your generator to make sure it works and have a supply of fuel ready.
- Prepare non-perishable food such as sandwiches, granola bars, and fruit. Make sure you have a supply of drinking water appropriate for the size of your family, as well as baby formula and diapers if necessary.
- If you are on a well, fill your bathtub with water so that you have a source of water if the power goes out.
- If you are using a generator that is hardwired into your home, make sure that you isolate your home from the power grid.
- Charge your devices, flashlights and radios.
- Secure any outdoor furniture or loose debris.
- If you are using a generator, make sure that it remains in a well-ventilated area OUTSIDE your home.
- Help friends and neighbours prepare similarly if necessary.
- Remember, it is always better to be overprepared than underprepared!
During the storm
- For the duration of the storm, it is important for people to follow instructions from their local government, fire department and emergency services.
- Stay off the roads and keep vehicles off the streets so that snowplows can clear roads as soon as possible.
- If you heat your home with a pellet stove, propane, or natural gas, and you have a direct exhaust system for your furnace, make sure the air inlet and exhaust outlet remain clear of snow.
- Under no circumstances should you attempt to heat your house or cook inside with a BBQ or camp stove. These devices produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
- If power goes out and you are using candles to light your house, makes sure that candles aren’t left unattended.
- If power goes out, conserve water diligently, especially if you are a user of a Municipal water system.
- If power goes out, make sure you turn off any appliances you had on when the power went out. Confirm your stove/oven is off.
- If power goes out, close off any rooms that aren’t being used in order to conserve heat in your home.
- If the power goes out, you can help yourself stay warm by avoiding alcohol and making sure you keep your body fueled by eating snacks and meals regularly.
- For emergencies, call 9-1-1 and do not attempt to drive yourself to a hospital or health centre.
After the storm
- If the power is still out, users of Municipal water systems must conserve water diligently.
- Stay away from downed power lines. Even if you think you recognize the line as a telephone or cable line, it could still be energized.
- When the snow stops, and you start to dig out, remember not to overexert yourself. Take frequent breaks, remain hydrated, and if you don’t feel well, stop!
- When it is safe to do so, check the snow load on the roof of your house, garage, shed or barn.
- Most importantly, check in with friends, family and neighbours to let them know you are okay.
Emergency contacts
In an emergency, call 9-1-1
Fire chiefs
Lake Ainslie Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Mike Gillis 902-224-0147
Port Hastings Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: James Cavanagh H: 902-625-0110
C: 902-302-1751
Margaree Forks Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Robert MacLeod 902-248-2115
West Bay Road Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Daniel Shaw H: 902-345-2235
C: 902-623-2469
Port Hood Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Donald Francis Beaton H: 902-787-2845
C: 902-631-1078
Valley Mills Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Justin Usher 902-574-7504
Mabou Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Lloyd Campbell 902-945-2957
North East Margaree Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Shawn Burchell 902-248-2589
Judique Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Archie MacDonald H: 902-787-2537
C: 902-787-3401
Brigade de feu de Chéticamp Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Wayne Chiasson 902-224-0031
Blues Mills Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Carl Ferguson 902-756-2195
Inverness Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Ian Poirier 902-258-5450
Brigade de feu de LeMoine Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Alfred Aucoin H: 902-224-3529
C: 902-224-0044
Pleasant Bay Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Murray Pattingale 902-224-1239
Whycocomagh Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: Shawn Harrison H: 902-945-2677
C: 902-623-2905
Waycobah Volunteer Fire Department
Chief: John William Cremo 902-623-1850
Inverness County RCMP Detachments
Chéticamp Office
902-224-2050
Toll Free 1-800-440-1323
Inverness Office
902-258-2213
Toll Free 1-800-440-1323
Waycobah Office
902-756-3371
Toll Free 1-800-440-1323
Port Hawkesbury Office
902-625-2220
Toll Free 1-800-440-1323
Other Important Numbers
Emergency Municipal Hotline
902-258-5048
Emergency Measures Organization
(Dispatches local coordinator – 24 hrs/day)
1-902-424-5620
Environmental Emergencies (24 hrs/day)
1-800-565-1633
Aircraft & Marine Distress (24 hrs/day)
1-800-565-1582
Poison Control (24 hrs/day)
1-800-565-8161
Inverness County to Celebrate Volunteers in May
INVERNESS COUNTY, N.S. – The Municipality of the County of Inverness is calling for residents to nominate dedicated volunteers that deserve recognition during its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner to take place on May 13th, 2020.
Organizations and individuals are encouraged to nominate deserving volunteers who have made a significant impact in service of their community this past year. The early-bird deadline for nominations is February 21st, but nominations are accepted until April 24th. Names of all early-bird nominees will be put in a draw to have a chance to represent Inverness County at the Provincial Volunteer Recognition Ceremony in Halifax on April 27th, 2020.
“Every community across the County has seen volunteers accomplish some extraordinary work this year,” said Betty Ann MacQuarrie, Warden of the Municipality of the County of Inverness. “From selflessly helping others in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, to organizing countless festivals and events that draw visitors from around the globe and everything in between, volunteers make Inverness County such a great place to live.”
55 volunteers were recognized last year, and the Municipality hopes to celebrate as many or more in 2020. To nominate someone today, visit https://invernesscounty.ca/eservices/forms-a-z/ or contact Lisa Organ at lisa.organ@invernesscounty.ca.
-30-