Municipal Team Member Wins Innovation Expert Safety First Award
MEMBERTOU, UNAMA’KI – Municipality of the County of Inverness team member Krista MacInnis was recognized as a Safety Innovation Expert during the 2022 Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium held by the Cape Breton Partnership May 4, 2022 in Membertou First Nation.
MacInnis is the Public Works Administrative Assistant for the Municipality and has recently led the implementation of the software platform SiteDocs. SiteDocs is a safety management software that helps organizations streamline operations with digital forms, ensure compliance with real-time monitoring and improve overall safety practices across the Public Works Department. She has also hosted training sessions for staff on SiteDocs and has rolled out the platform for the entire Department. Beyond this, MacInnis is a long-time Municipal Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee member and works diligently to keep her colleagues and the residents of Inverness County safe every day.
As per Safety First in Cape Breton, the Innovation Expert Award is given to individuals or businesses who have used innovative methods to educate and train their employees about safe work practices. Nominees also understand the importance of due diligence and have embraced innovation to solve and implement a plan or program to identify possible workplace hazards and carry out the appropriate action to prevent accidents or injuries.
Municipal Council and staff would like to congratulate Krista MacInnis on this well-deserved recognition, and thank her for her dedication to safety at work, at home and in her community.
CONSERVE WATER NOTICE: Port Hastings Water System
Municipality Launches Recreation Plan Engagement
INVERNESS COUNTY, UNAMA’KI – The Municipality of the County of Inverness, in partnership with Upland Planning + Design and REConsulting, is launching the community engagement portion of the Municipal Recreation Plan. This project will assess the current recreation services delivered by the Municipality and provide a guide for the future, based on the needs and values of the community. The Municipal Recreation Plan will include recommendations for facilities, programming, financing, and more. The resulting vision will enable meaningful and inclusive recreation experiences.
“This is an exciting opportunity for residents to share what is working and where the Municipality can improve its recreation services,” said Keith MacDonald, CAO of the Municipality of the County of Inverness. “This Recreation Plan will create a road map for recreation that reflects communities’ priorities.”
The Background Report for the project is available online at www.invernesscounty.ca/recreationplan. The document outlines recent trends in demographics and recreation, summarizes relevant plans and policies, and provides an inventory and analysis of the Municipality’s current services.
Surveys are available now for both adults and youth, where residents can share information on their participation in recreation. Surveys can be filled out online at www.invernesscounty.ca/recreationplan, or paper copies can be picked up at the Municipal Office in Port Hood at 86 High Street or 375 Main Street. This project will be developed in collaboration with the community, and there will be more opportunities to contribute following the release of the draft Recreation Plan.
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BOIL ORDER LIFTED: Port Hastings Water System
BOIL WATER ORDER: Port Hastings Water System
Please note: As of April 11, this boil order is no longer in effect.
April 8, 2022
Please be informed that users of the Port Hastings Water System are currently under a boil water advisory as a public health preventative action. This is due to a major water main break causing a massive loss in water from the water storage tower and higher than normal turbidity. Strict water conservation orders are also in place until the level of water in the storage tower has been restored.
Residents and users are advised to follow preventive measures using water to ensure its safety prior to consumption or use:
- Bring tap water to a rolling boil and maintain for a minimum of 1-2 minutes
- Cool water before using for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing beverages and food.
To conserve water, please:
- Do not take baths and take short showers;
- Do not wash vehicles;
- Use the dishwasher or clothes washer only with a full load.
Please share widely with neighbours, friends, visitors, and members of vulnerable populations such as seniors who may be living alone.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Think twice before you flush!
Sewer Issues
The Municipality of the County of Inverness would like to remind their customers of the sewer systems to please refrain from dumping substances that are harmful to the Municipal infrastructure. This includes, but is not limited to, ‘flushable’ wipes, grease/fats, tampons, condoms, dental floss, paper towel, hair and prescription medication. These items clog the pumps in the sewage lift stations and the treatment equipment at the Sewer Treatment Plants. The Municipality has had to pay for repairs and manpower to remove these items from the system. Wipes that are marketed as ‘flushable’ do not break down in our system and in fact cause a significant amount of damage to the Municipal infrastructure. The Municipality knows where the ‘problem spots’ are in the system for wipes and grease and are working to trace it back to the person/persons that are responsible. An individual or business could be fined under the Municipal Sewer By-Law for introducing substances into the sewer system that do not belong or cause an issue with the operations.
What if the label says ‘flushable’?
Products that say they’re flushable – like tampons and wipes – may make it down your toilet, but they may not make it through the sewer. There are currently no regulations in Canada to specify which products can be labelled “flushable”. Cities and Municipalities around the world are developing standards to more accurately label whether or not products are truly flushable. For now, please put them in your trash.
What can be flushed?
The only things that are okay to flush down the toilet are toilet paper, poo and pee.
Municipal Council and Staff Mourn the Passing of Warden Laurie Cranton
INVERNESS COUNTY, UNAMA’KI – The Municipality of the County of Inverness regrets to announce the death of Warden Laurie Cranton yesterday evening.
As Warden since 2020 and Councillor for District 2 (Grand Étang/St.-Joseph-du-Moine/the Margarees) since 2016, Warden Cranton was a kind and dedicated voice for residents across Inverness County. He was especially proud of his work to advocate for improved accessibility, roads and bridges and recreational trails in the County.
“It has been both a pleasure and an honour to work alongside Warden Cranton over the past four years,” said CAO, Keith MacDonald. “Laurie continually had the best interests of the Municipality and the residents of Inverness County at heart, and he will be deeply missed.”
“Laurie’s legacy will live on, and he will be remembered as a kind, supportive, inspirational leader and advocate for the Inverness County, District 2 and the accessibility community,” said Deputy Warden Bonny MacIsaac. “Warden Cranton will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and the numerous organizations to which he generously volunteered his time and support.”
The Municipality of the County of Inverness Council and staff would like to express their deepest condolences to Warden Cranton’s family and friends. The Municipality requests that media be respectful of Warden Cranton’s family’s privacy at this time and direct all inquiries to CAO Keith MacDonald.
District 1 Residents Elect New Councillor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2022
District 1 Residents Elect New Councillor
INVERNESS COUNTY, UNAMA’KI – During the 2022 Special Election for District 1 Councillor, residents elected Claude P. Poirier as Councillor. The results are as follows:
Gaëtan François Boudreau – 101 votes
Claude P. Poirier – 737 votes
Joseph Christopher Poirier – 452 votes
Declined – 1
Spoiled – 2
A Special Election was called following the retirement of former Councillor Alfred Poirier. Voting was held online and over the phone in both official languages. There were 2173 eligible voters and 1293 votes cast for a rate of 59.5%.
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Returning Officer:
Tanya Tibbo
902-787-2274
tanya.tibbo@invernesscounty.ca
Media contact:
Karolyn Aucoin
902-258-7513
karolyn.aucoin@invernesscounty.ca
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUINTY: Accessibility Advisory Committee
The object of the Accessibility Advisory Committee is to provide advice to Council on identifying, preventing, and eliminating accessibility Barriers to people with Disabilities in municipal programs, services, initiatives, and facilities. The Accessibility Advisory Committee plays a pivotal role in helping the Municipality become an accessible community and meet its obligations under the Accessibility Act.
Eligibility:
- One (1) member of the public must be appointed to the Accessibility Advisory Committee, for a term of three (3) years;
- Must be at least 18 years of age;
- Must be a resident of the Municipality of the County of Inverness for at least the last six (6) months before making an application and must continue to be a resident of the Municipality throughout the term of the appointment;
- Must not be ineligible for an appointment pursuant to the Municipality’s Public Appointment Policy;
- All members of the Accessibility Advisory Committee shall serve without pay; and
- The Accessibility Advisory Committee must meet at least six (6) times per year, or otherwise as needed to fulfill its duties.
To see the complete Accessibility Advisory Committee Policy and the Public Appointment Policy, please visit: https://invernesscounty.ca/government/policies-a-z/
To apply, visit: https://invernesscounty.ca/eservices/forms-a-z/
NOTICE OF POLL: Special Election for District 1 Councillor
Municipality of the County of Inverness
SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
COUNCILLOR – DISTRICT 1
The Special Municipal Election for District 1 Councillor will be held on Saturday, March 5th, 2022.
Electronic voting (i.e. by telephone and internet) will be the only means of voting, beginning at 8:00am on Thursday, February 24th and running 24 hours a day until the close of the polls on Election Day – Saturday, March 5th, 2022 at 7:00pm. There will be no paper ballots for this election.
Individual Voter Instruction Letters will be mailed to each voter who is on the Amended Voters’ List and will include a unique personal identification number (PIN). Full details on how to access the system will also be provided in the Voter Instruction Letter.
TAKE NOTICE that the following nominations have been received in respect of the Special Municipal Election to be held in the Municipality of the County of Inverness for Councillor – District 1.
| Office | Candidates |
| Councillor
District 1 |
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ADVANCE VOTING
As noted above, advance voting will be available electronically only by telephone or the internet beginning at 8:00am on Thursday, February 24th and running 24 hours a day until the close of the polls on Special Election Day – Saturday, March 5th at 7:00pm.
VOTER ASSISTANCE
Electors requiring assistance with telephone or internet voting should call the Voter Help Line at 902-787-2274.
DATED at Port Hood, Nova Scotia, this 16th day of February, 2022.
SIGNED:
Tanya Tibbo
Returning Officer
Tel: 902-787-3511