Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Centre Jail to be Demolished

Its days are numbered. The former Lunenburg County jail in Centre is soon about to meet the wrecking ball. The facility has been empty since 2001 when it reverted back to the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Mayor Don Downe says for eight years they've spent tens of thousand of dollars trying to find solutions for the jail. He says at this point in time there are no more options for the jail so it will be demolished. Downe says tenders will be going out shortly. The Centre jail was opened back in 1950

Sewer Hook-Up Request

The Municipality of Lunenburg is taking a two prong approach regarding a request from 14 residents on Shore Road who want to hook into the Town of Lunenburg's wastewater treatment plant. MODL Mayor Don Downe says Council approved a recommendation to ask the Department of Environment for a capacity and efficiency report for the treatment plant. As well, the Municipality will advise the Town to prepare a Call for Proposals for a Feasibility Study and ask that the Municipality's assistant engineer have input into the Scope of Work. Downe says there's no commitment of any expenditure at this point in time, simply to take a look at the terms of reference of what the agreement would be between the Town and Municipality.
Nancy Rogers, says the Shore Road properties which are located in the Municipality, border about 500 meters of Lunenburg harbour shoreline. She says their properties continue to dispose of raw sewage and the harbour cannot be fully cleaned until that changes.

Health Information Protected

Nova Scotians can feel confident that their personal health information will be better protected. The government introduced a new Personal Health Information Act in the House of Assembly today (November 9th). Health Minister Maureen MacDonald says the legislation will allow for information sharing and support better care, while better protecting patient privacy. Rules for sharing patient lists with hospital foundations remain unchanged. The minister says that while foundations do important work, government must ensure that patients are not contacted for fundraising purposes without their consent.Nova Scotia joins eight other provinces with comprehensive legislation to manage personal health information.

COUNCIL PUTS THE BRAKES ON NEW PARKING BY-LAW

The Town of Bridgewater is moving a proposed parking by-law to the back seat.

The planning document will be shelved indefinitely as town councillors and staff continue consultation with King Street merchants.

Mayor Carroll Publicover says changes in parking can improve business and change the face of a community.

" King Streets, Main Streets across this province are vital to the lifeblood to of their communities...And we've been ill for a long time on King street. We're getting better but we still have a long way still to go," says Publicover.

The draft policy would allow for two-hour parking instead of the current one-hour policy.

COUNCIL DOOR CLOSED TO HOUSING COMANY

The Town Of Bridgewater doesn't like to mix business with council.


Town council has refused to provide promotional and community support to one Nova Scotia company.

"BFree Homes" is a consultation service that helps homeowners get the most out of energy audits by recommending what improvements should be made.

Mayor Carroll Publicover moved to have the Engineering and Sustainability departments take a look at their proposal.

He was outvoted in council "6-1".

"Just because a company makes that is can't do also a vital community role. What I understood from them is that they were going help facilitate groups of citizens who need energy upgrades in their homes and helping by means of volume purchasing get better quality and quantity," says Publicover.

Councillors voted at last night's regular monthly meeting.

RED CROSS SETS UP SHELTERS FOR EVACUEES

The Canadian Red Cross is maintaining shelters or comfort centres in areas of southwest Nova Scotia where municipalities have declared states of local emergency due to flooding and may have evacuation orders in place.
However, most of the affected residents have remained in their homes, or have made their own arrangements to stay with family or friends in safer areas.

Comfort centres are set up for people to pass the time in safety, have access to electricity and water, and may receive periodic updates from municipal authorities.
Shelters are equipped by the Red Cross with cots, blankets and other items for overnight stays for evacuees who have nowhere else to go.
There's a Canadian Red Cross shelter at the recreation centre in Hebron, and comfort centres at Club des Audacieux in Quinan and at the Lake Vaughn fire hall in Tusket.
While about 120 households have received evacuation notices and some have made daytime use of reception centres, none have required overnight stays in shelters.

LUNENBURG-QUEENS-SHELBURNE ROADS CLOSED

A number of Lunenburg County roads are closed this morning because of flooding.

Here's the list...

Trunk 10 from Feeners Corner Intersection to Goose Chase Road.

Hanes Road.

Lower Branch Road from Osborne Road to Trunk 10.

Veinot Road from Osborne to Trunk 10.

Trunk 10 end of McKeen Road.

Chester Grant Road.
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In Queens County ...


-- Corkum Road,at Minard Brook bridge between Grafton and West Caledonia is closed.

-- Medway River Road, at Deans Brook to Buggy Hole in Bangs Falls

-- Westfield Road, at both bridge locations

-- Old Westfield Road

-- Murley Road

-- Trunk 8, between South Brookfield and Caledonia

And in Shelburne County:

-- Upper Clyde Road (West End by Bloody Creek)

-- Back Lake Road bridge, Upper Ohio

NS PREMIER TO INSPECT FLOOD DAMAGE

Premier Darrell Dexter will travel to the Barrington, Shelburne and Yarmouth areas tomorrow for a first-hand look at the flood damage.

Speaking at the legislature last night, Dexter says flooding will remain an immediate concern for the next day or so as the runoff from swollen lakes and rivers crests.
The premier says it will likely take weeks for provincial infrastructure officials to assess the extent of the damage.
He says officials will prioritize the needs of various communities and quickly put in place temporary solutions before looking at longer-term replacements for damaged bridges and dams.
Dexter says it's likely the damage will surpass that suffered by the remote Cape Breton community of Meat Cove.
Rain and flash flooding in August caused an estimated 7.2 (m) million dollars in damage to roads, bridges, culverts and homes in that village.