Aging well

With more than 30% of the resident population aged 65 and over, senior wellbeing is an important consideration for the Municipality of Inverness County.

Household hazardous waste drop-off event | August 26th 2023

Looking to get rid of your old propane cylinders?

The twice-yearly household hazardous waste event is taking place

• Saturday, August 26th 2023 | 10.30am-2.30pm
• at the municipal recycling facility in Strathlorne: 15109 Route 19, Strathlorne, NS B0E 1N0

This event provides residents the opportunity to dispose of hazardous waste for free!

Residents can drop off:

• Household batteries (AA, AAA, etc.)
• Pool chemicals
• Pesticides/fertilizers
• Paint, spray paint, paint thinners
• Propane tanks and cylinders
• Household cleaners
• Bleach
• Helium tanks
• CFC’s/Fluorescent bulbs

Household hazardous waste is not accepted for heavy garbage or curbside collection. This is the only way to properly dispose of these items.

For heavy garbage pick-up visit: invernesscounty.ca/sortitout

Municipal Staff and Margaree Forks Co-op team up to make a difference on Earth Day

Every year on April 22, Earth Day activities mobilize 1 billion people in more than 190 countries.

The Municipality of Inverness County leads many initiatives promoting environmental and climate sustainability, like diversion of solid waste from landfills and conservation of water.

This Earth Day, the Municipality’s Waste Services staff teamed up with Margaree Forks Co-op to bring resources and useful information directly to community members.

Nicole Latimer is a solid waste educator with the County. She said, “it’s brilliant to get out in the community so people see us, can ask us questions, and know that we’re working on their behalf.”

The team at Margaree Forks Co-op have been celebrating Earth Day for many years and it has become quite a tradition locally.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Faye Tompkins said, “we live in an area of outstanding beauty, and people here have a strong connection to nature and the environment.

“The Co-op team are happy that we can help raising awareness for planet-friendly activities locally, and we’re happy to donate environmentally-friendly products for the prize draw, because it makes it easier for our shoppers to do their bit for the planet,” she said.

Leah Ingraham was the lucky grand prize winner. Three other prizes were also distributed.

Local residents came armed with questions on all sorts of subjects from heavy garbage, to what can be recycled or reused, and what to do about household hazardous waste. “Batteries, for example, never belong in the garbage,” said Ms Latimer.

“Improper disposal of household batteries has led to facility and truck fires and poses a serious risk to the environment and our health. Look for a battery recycling box near you or bring them, with your other household hazardous waste, to our drop off event on May 27th from 8am-12 in Strathlorne,” she added.

One of the County’s priorities is to let people know about the Recycle Cape Breton app, which you can download on any mobile device. Amongst other things it contains a “Waste Wizard” that lets you search over 600 different items that can be diverted from landfill.

The County also supports clean up activities, like the Trash Bash that’s taking place on May 6 in Margaree organised by Live Life In Tents. If you want to join or organise a community clean up, either register online through the annual Great Nova Scotia Pick-Me-Up get in touch directly waste@invernesscounty.ca.

Notice of public hearing

NOVA SCOTIA UTILITY AND REVIEW BOARD
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

MUNICIPALITY OF THE COUNTY OF INVERNESS, on behalf of its WATER UTILITY has applied for approval of amendments to its Schedule of Rates and Charges for Water and Water Services and amendments to its Schedule of Rules and Regulations.

This matter will be considered in a public hearing as follows:

Hearing starts:

Wednesday, May 24, 2023
1:00 p.m.

Address:

Port Hood Fire Hall
304 Main Street
Port Hood, Nova Scotia

Depending on the circumstances related to COVID-19, this public hearing may be held by GoToWebinar video conferencing.

Board Hearings are open to the public, and you may participate as follows:

• You may speak at the hearing. You must notify the Board by Thursday, May 18, 2023.
• You may make written comments by sending a letter to the Clerk of the Board at P.O. Box 1692, Unit “M”, Halifax, NS B3J 3S3, or by email at: board@novascotia.ca, or by fax at (902) 424-3919 by Thursday, May 18, 2023.
• You may request formal standing as an Intervener, subject to Board approval. This will allow you to present evidence or cross-examine witnesses. Your request must be received by the Board by Monday, March 13, 2023, and a copy of your written evidence by Thursday, April 13, 2023.

Additional information about the matter is as follows:
• For unmetered customers, the quarterly water bill is proposed to increase from $130.81 in 2022/23 to $227.04 (a 73.6% increase) in 2023/24; $245.67 (an 8.2% increase) in 2024/25; and $252.38 (a 2.7% increase) in 2025/26.
• For a 5/8″ meter, residential customer, the average current quarterly water bill is $90.01, and it is proposed to increase to $141.31 (a 57.0% increase) in 2023/24; $153.14 (an 8.4% increase) in 2024/25; and $158.72 (a 3.6% increase) in 2025/26.
• The Utility is also requesting increases for other metered services’ rates ranging from 38.3% to 97.0% in 2023/24; 8.4% to 9.0%% in 2024/25; and 2.8% to 4.8% in 2025/26.
• The annual public fire protection charge, paid by the Municipality of the County of Inverness, currently $216,629, is proposed to increase to $435,801 (a 101.2% increase) in 2023/24; $482,196 (a 10.6% increase) in 2024/25; and $508,809 (a 5.5% increase) in 2025/26.

Upon reviewing the Application, the Board, in its Decision, may determine that the proposed amendments should be as requested, higher, or lower.

A copy of the Application and any timetable applying to this matter may be viewed on the Board’s website at nsuarb.novascotia.ca, by clicking on “Matters & Evidence”, and in the “Go To Files and Documents”, enter Matter No. M10990.

View this notice as a pdf:
M10990 – Notice of Public Hearing

Transformative investment in water and wastewater infrastructure in the community of Inverness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Inverness, Nova Scotia, March, 17, 2023—Today, representatives of the Government of Canada, the Government of Nova Scotia and the Municipality of the County of Inverness announced a combined investment of more than $24 million to upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure in the community of Inverness.

Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton–Canso; the Honourable Allan MacMaster, Deputy Premier of Nova Scotia and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Inverness; and Bonny MacIsaac, Warden of the Municipality of the County of Inverness, made the announcement to a packed assembly at the Inverness Volunteer Fire Department.

The project announced is amongst the largest infrastructure projects in a community in Nova Scotia. It is the largest infrastructure project that the Municipality has ever taken on.

Mike Kelloway MP in Inverness NS, announcing more than $25 million of investment in the community of Inverness.

While the Municipality owns an estimated $186 million of water and wastewater assets, a recent report indicated that $103 million investment is required over the next 10 years to improve and maintain the current status of the infrastructure and associated level of services to residents.

The required costs are significantly higher than the national average, and the bulk of the infrastructure deficit – above 40% – is in the community of Inverness. The assessment identified the Inverness wastewater treatment plant as a priority for replacement due to its age, condition, and operational deficiencies. Additionally, the report demonstrated that the distribution systems are in exceptionally poor condition.

Community of Inverness

Estimated Asset Replacement Value           $ 48.5 million

Estimated 10-year investment cost             $ 42.6 million

80% of linear assets in Inverness              very poor condition

87% of sanitary sewer in Inverness           very poor condition

77% of watermains in Inverness               very poor condition

The work is both necessary and a priority for the Municipality.

Staff of the municipality were among the packed audience at Inverness Volunteer Fire Department to hear the announcement.

As part of a coordinated infrastructure approach, the Municipality also identified the planned resurfacing of Central Avenue in Inverness by the Nova Scotia Department of Public Works as a tremendous opportunity to replace the undersized and failing linear water and sanitary sewer mains along the main transportation corridor in the community.

Inverness is a community on the rise, and the project unveiled today will ensure system capacity to manage existing and projected future flows, allowing for sustainable commercial and residential growth.

The Government of Canada is investing $9,764,400 in this project. The Government of Nova Scotia is contributing $8,137,000. The Municipality of the County of Inverness is contributing $6,509,600.

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Contact

Joe Carew

Communications and Community Engagement Lead
Municipality of the County of Inverness
375 Main Street, Port Hood, NS B0E 2W0

joe.carew@invernesscounty.ca
+1 (902) 323 0089

Deputy Premier to visit Chéticamp recipient of Community Generator Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

8 February, 2023

CHETICAMP, INVERNESS COUNTY – Inverness MLA and Deputy Premier Allan MacMaster will take part in a press event at 1 pm on Thursday 9th February 2023, at the North Inverness Recreation Centre Association (NIRCA) in Chéticamp, one of the recipients of the Community Generator Program.

The Community Generator Program is a fund created by the province of Nova Scotia in September 2022 in the wake of Hurricane Fiona. The provincial contribution is worth $656,000 in Inverness County.

“People in our communities are always there for each other,” said MacMaster. “These generators will ensure our gathering places are warm and welcoming, especially when we need them most.”

The Municipality of the County of Inverness has committed over $253,000 to purchase and install generators in 19 designated community comfort centres throughout the County.

The community comfort centres equipped with generators will be able to serve as gathering spaces for community members when the need arises, for example in the case of power outages due to extreme weather. The investments have been targeted with attention to population distribution within the County. Remote areas, such as Meat Cove at the northernmost point of Cape Breton Island, have also benefitted from the investment.

“Thanks to this investment from the Province and the Municipality, residents and visitors of Inverness County can be reassured that there will be a safe, warm and welcoming space nearby where they can shelter and connect with others in the community, if the need arises,” said Inverness County Council Warden Bonny MacIsaac.

Registered Nova Scotia non profits or Legions which own their own premises were eligible to apply for the fund. The fund recipients in Inverness County are as follows: the fire halls in Blues Mills,  Lake Ainslie, West Bay Road, Whycocomagh, and Valley Mills; the Community Centres in Glendale, Cranton Cross Roads, and Meat Cove; as well as Port Hood Food Bank, the Whycocomagh Waterfront Centre, the Inverness County Centre for the Arts, North Inverness Recreation Centre Association, the Mi-Carême Interpretive Centre, West Mabou Hall, Judique Hall and Creignish Hall.

Applications for the 2023-24 Community Generator Program are open now and close on February 14.

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Media contact:

Keith MacDonald
CAO
Municipality of the County of Inverness
375 Main Street, Port Hood, NS B0E 2W0
keith.macdonald@invernesscounty.ca
902.787.5999

Have your say on library services in Inverness County

The Municipality of the County of Inverness is conducting a review of library services.  

The aim is to hear from the community what is working well, and what services and spaces community members and organizations wish for. We want to hear about core library services, and about services and spaces that could be co-housed with a library, as is done in many communities across Canada.

Input will inform a library strategy, which will provide guidance to Eastern Counties Regional Libraries (ECRL), our local service provider for all things libraries. 

We’d love to hear from as many community members as possible. 

You can: 

• Fill out this survey: www.tinyurl.com/SurveyInverness 
  
• RSVP for one of the online engagement sessions via Zoom: www.tinyurl.com/EngageInverness 

Two separate engagement sessions are planned
Tuesday, January 10th, 6pm – 7.30pm or
Wednesday, January 11th, 3pm – 5.30pm 

Facility Closure Update

Inverness County Housing Survey Now Live

INVERNESS COUNTY, UNAMA’KI – The Municipality of the County of Inverness, in partnership with the Cape Breton Partnership, has launched the Inverness County Housing Survey to assess the housing needs and preferences of current and future residents.

“The housing landscape has changed significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and it is no secret that there are gaps in attainable and sustainable housing throughout Nova Scotia and Inverness County,” said Keith MacDonald, CAO of the Municipality of the County of Inverness. “The Municipality, its funding partners and developers require data in order to move forward with supporting new housing for current residents and those interested in moving to the area.”

“The Cape Breton Partnership recognizes housing as a critical opportunity in fostering economic development and population growth across the province, and especially here at home in Cape Breton – Unama’ki,” says Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “The information gathered from the survey will help to paint a clearer picture of the housing needs and challenges in the county, which will help to inform future decision-making and spark new investment.”

The survey is open until July 5^th, 2022 and is available in both English and French at www.invernesscounty.ca/housing.

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CONSERVE WATER NOTICE: Port Hastings Water System