PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to the Municipal Government Act, certain lands situate in the Region of Queens Municipality and described in general terms below are now liable to be sold at Public Tender in the Council Chambers of the Region of Queens Municipality at 249 White Point Road, Liverpool, Nova Scotia on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 10:00 AM to recover outstanding taxes, sewer and unsightly charges plus interest as well as expenses of, and incidental to, the sale unless the same are paid in full on or before the said date and time of sale.  Please click on the link below for the list of properties.

Public Tender

Sept. 26, 2017;  Liverpool, NS:  At the Sept. 26^th Regular Council meeting, the Council of the Region of Queens Municipality today approved a staff recommendation to declare the property surplus and to have tenants vacate the former Mount Pleasant School by June of 2019. The recommendation also included giving direction to staff to work with the four tenants, the Queens County Food Bank, Queens Day Care, Queens Learning Network and the Queens Family Resource Centre, to consider relocating these important community services to other acceptable locations.

“Declaring the property surplus to Municipal Requirements is a technical term which allows options, and the building is in need of short term repairs.  A long term increase in the maintenance budget would have an impact on taxes, but the services provided at the old Mount Pleasant School are important services for the community,” said David Dagley, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “Many residents in Queens depend upon the services provided by the Queens County Food Bank, the South Shore Family Resource Centre, the Queens Learning Network , the Queens County Daycare Association, and the volunteer initiative Plant To Plate. Council is supportive of these organizations.  Prior to a  move becoming necessary, we will work with the tenants to help them find suitable space in the community, and will give them adequate notice to help facilitate their move to ensure these valuable services continue to be provided in our community.”

In support of long term capital planning, a building condition assessment was completed on the facility.  The assessment revealed that current deferred maintenance is escalating to the point where the current level of maintenance will need to double over the next 25 years to keep it in suitable condition for tenants.  This reality may not be financially sustainable for the municipality, the tenants, or their clients.  Based on this imminent cost, it was recommended that the municipality work with each of the four tenants to look at alternative location options.  The four services provided are important to citizens of Queens and finding other financially sustainable locations is something that the Region may need to address over the next two years. 

The four tenants currently utilize the former Mount Pleasant School, 108 College St., Liverpool, NS.  This building was constructed in 1957, had been transferred to the Region of Queens Municipality many years ago, after it was declared surplus by the South Shore Regional School Board.

September 26, 2017; Liverpool, NS:  Much has changed in the past eight years, and the Council of the Region of Queens Municipality wants to see communities be able to reflect the changes.  At the September 12, 2017 Regular Council meeting, Council gave notice of its intention to amend the Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB) to change the zoning of the core area of Caledonia from its current General Residential (R2) zoning to Highway Commercial (C2) zoning. 

Prior to the implementation of the Regional Planning Documents in 2009, the area currently being considered for rezoning, known locally as “Caledonia Corner”, was the subject of much discussion regarding appropriate zoning.  Residential zoning was deemed most appropriate at that time, with new commercial uses to be considered through rezoning on a case by case basis.  Since then, there has been renewed interest in the business district, and there is a desire to simplify the development process to encourage new business and stimulate the local economy. 

A public hearing will be held on Thursday, October 5, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the North Queens Business Centre & Innovation Hub, 9793 Highway 8 in Caledonia, NS.  All are welcome to attend and provide their insights into the planned change.  Those unable to attend may provide written information to the Planning Department via email mmacleod@regionofqueens.com or mail to Planning Department, Region of Queens Municipality, P. O. Box 1264, Liverpool, NS  B0T 1K0.

REQUEST FOR QUOTES
Production of Christmas Wreaths for Liverpool & Caledonia

The Region of Queens Municipality is soliciting quotations from qualified companies & individuals to produce Christmas Wreaths for the 2017 Christmas season.

The specification document is available for download here, or for pick up at the Municipal Office – 249 White Point Road, Liverpool, NS.

Proposals must be received by 2:00 p.m., on Friday, October 6, 2017 and all proposals are to be submitted in a sealed package marked “Christmas Wreaths Quote – Liverpool & Caledonia”.

All enquiries regarding this request for proposals are to be directed to:

Richard Lane – Economic Development Officer
Region of Queens Municipality
P.O. Box 1264
Liverpool, NS
BOT 1KO
Tel. 902-354-5741

Email: rlane@regionofqueens.com

September 12, 2017; Liverpool, NS:  This afternoon, the Council of the Region of Queens Municipality appointed Jennifer Keating Hubley, Director of Finance who is a 13 year employee of the Region of Queens Municipality, as Interim Chief Administrative Officer (ICAO).   This will become effective upon the departure of the current CAO in early October.

Council also approved commencing advertisement of the position to seek a candidate for the permanent appointment of a Chief Administrative Officer.  The objective at the Region of Queens is to provide opportunity for career advancement to staff, while ensuring that the Region enjoys a robust, transparent, and competitive selection process for the next Chief Administrative Officer.  Council will take the time to properly complete this hiring process, and will strive to hire the best candidate for Queens.  In this regard, both internal and external candidates will be considered.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to the Municipal Government Act, certain lands situate in the Region of Queens Municipality and described in general terms below are now liable to be sold at Public Tender in the Council Chambers of the Region of Queens Municipality at 249 White Point Road, Liverpool, Nova Scotia on Thursday, September 28, 2017 at 10:00 AM to recover outstanding taxes, sewer and unsightly charges plus interest as well as expenses of, and incidental to, the sale unless the same are paid in full on or before the said date and time of sale. Please click on the link below for the list of properties.

Public Tender

There will be a Special meeting of Region of Queens Council held on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. in the Region’s Council Chambers, 249 White Point Road, Liverpool.  The purpose of this meeting is to deal with an in-camera item under Section 22(c) of the Municipal Government Act.  An agenda will be posted on this website.

I was saddened to learn of the tragic event on Saturday during the Hank Snow Tribute.  I offer my condolences to the families involved in this accident.

A special thank you is extended to our Queens Place Emera Centre staff, Hank Snow Museum staff and volunteers, the RCMP, and emergency and fire services first responders.   I know this has been difficult for all involved.  Thank you for your leadership and public service.

Mayor David Dagley, Region of Queens Municipality

August 8, 2017; Liverpool, NS:  The Region of Queens Council is looking to the future and making plans for down the road by setting up funding reserves and a long range plan to improve road conditions in the Municipality.  At the August 8^th Regular Council meeting, approval was given to sign the standard, recurring 3 year agreement to be eligible to “apply at a future date” for Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (TIR) approval to cost-share on surface upgrades.  Staff will include a list of possible improvement needs to be included in the future capital plan, along with a funding suggestion to be considered at 2017/18 budget discussions.

The suggested solution would be to begin building a reserve as early as the 2018/19 budget, which would then be used in the recapitalization of Local Roads under the Municipal Service Exchange.   The second item included a motion to authorize the Mayor and Chief Administrative Office (CAO) to sign the three year cost sharing agreement for paving subdivision roads; this is a document that is renewed every three years, and enables future consideration of joint paving projects with the Province.

The motion gives staff the flexibility to investigate the various funding solutions.  At an estimated $250,000 per kilometer, and nearly 47 km of roads identified as being in need of resurfacing, there are over $11 million in infrastructure costs currently not funded.  There is an annual financial cap on the Province of Nova Scotia’s cost sharing program, which currently funds up to 50% of project costs.  Establishing a reserve to fund the municipal portion of the resurfacing of the identified roads will help to systematically, over a long period of time, enable roads to be resurfaced that would not otherwise be resurfaced.  Some of the roads identified in the 46.84 km of roads require more immediate assistance, and will been attended to first.  Roads eligible for paving under the Municipal Service Exchange agreement are those constructed prior to April 1995.  Currently, fees paid by municipalities for operational maintenance (ie; winter operations, drainage, ditch maintenance, and pot hole repairs) do not cover resurfacing, and  are adjusted annually by the consumer Price Index for Canada, with the rate for 2015/2016 being $5,064 per kilometer; the 2017/2018 Region of Queens budget allocated $244,613 to pay the Province for these services. 

August 2, 2017; Liverpool, NS:  The mood was celebratory at Queens Place Emera Centre today as the Liverpool Championship Host Society announced they will host the World Junior Curling Championships in Liverpool, NS from February 17 – 24, 2019.

“The Liverpool Championship Host Society  has done a great job in securing this event, which will  bring 140 of the world’s top young curlers, their coaches, families and fans to Queens County in February, 2019,” said David Dagley, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality.   Queens County has a reputation of hosting great events, having strong volunteer support, and bringing the crowds in support of all events, whether it is sport, cultural, or entertainment. We are excited to welcome the world to Liverpool, Queens County, Nova Scotia in February, 2019.”

President of the Liverpool Championship Host Society, Greg Thorbourne, announced that the Society had been successful in their bid to host the World Junior Curling Championships, and reflected on the previous success that the community had experienced in hosting the 2014 Canadian Junior Curling Championships. During the event announcement, the Honorable Leo Glavine, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage, advised of Provincial support for the week long world championships, contributing $100,000.  Region of Queens Municipality’s Mayor David Dagley confirmed that Council’s July 25, 2017, pre-budget approval of $50,000 in the 2018/2019 was in support of the World Junior Curling Championships. Shirley Osborne spoke on behalf of Curling Canada, advising that the 2019 Championships will be the 10 year anniversary of the event being held in Canada, which was in Vancouver in 2009.  Also attending the event were representatives from the Nova Scotia Curling Association, Liverpool Curling Club, Member of Parliament Bernadette Jordan’s Office, members of the Region of Queens Council, Events Nova Scotia and Communities Culture and Heritage.

The arena at Queens Place Emera Centre will be transformed to contain five sheets of curling ice, and will be the venue for the weeklong event. At least 10 countries will compete in Liverpool at this event with world class curlers aged 21 and under, with 10 men’s and 10 women’s teams.  The top six countries in each gender from the 2018 World Juniors in Aberdeen, Scotland will compete in the 2019 Worlds; three more countries in each gender will qualify out of the 2019 World Junior-B Curling Championships, and Canada’s entries will be decided at the 2019 New Holland Canadian Junior Championships.

July 25, 2017; Liverpool, NS:  Queens County has been approved to host a major event, and the Region of Queens Council is showing its support through pre-budget approval of $50,000 in the 2018/2019 budget.   A funding request was made to the Region of Queens Municipality by a local nonprofit organization that has been successful in its effort to host the event. 

“Although we are not at liberty to release any details about the event at this time, Council is confident that this event will be met with great enthusiasm by the public,” said David Dagley, Mayor of the Region of Queens.

An announcement regarding this event is scheduled at noon, Wednesday August 2^nd, 2017 at Queens Place Emera Centre, Liverpool, NS.