February 25, 2020; Liverpool, NS: Today, the Municipality of the Region of Queens reached an important milestone in the Queens Planning for the Future project, and is seeking public feedback on the draft Municipal Planning Strategy (“MPS” or “Plan”). Developed with input from residents, business owners, and elected officials, the Plan guides planning for land uses and the services that support them, to make the best use of limited resources and to address the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow. Specifically, the document guides how and where businesses, homes, agriculture, and new infrastructure can and should happen.

The Municipal Planning Strategy contains the overarching vision and policies—established in consultation with residents and business owners—for how land uses will develop and operate in the coming years. Two companion documents, the Land Use Bylaw and Subdivision Bylaw, put this vision and these policies into action through nuts-and-bolts regulations. This Plan will also be used to inform other bylaws, plans, and capital investments (infrastructure) in the Region of Queens. The documents can be viewed online at the project website, below­­.

“Community planning is critical for the future growth of Region of Queens Municipality,” said Mayor David Dagley. “The revised MPS, Land Use Bylaw and Subdivision Bylaw help to steer economic development, as well as future growth and development of our neighbourhoods.  They also provide members of our communities with direction for usage of their properties while respecting our environment.”

Mike MacLeod, Director of Planning and Development, is looking forward to hearing what people think about the new policies. “The Region has worked hard over the past year to hear peoples’ thoughts on how Queens should develop. Now we’re really excited to find out if people think we got it right, and how we can improve.”

Over the next few weeks, the Region will be hosting public meetings throughout Queens. Residents are invited to learn about the Plan and see how the Land Use Bylaw is applied to their properties. Planners will be at the meetings to answer questions and get feedback that will be integrated in the final Plan and Land Use Bylaw.

The draft plan is posted online: www.queensplan.com  Public meetings have been planned  to so residents can learn what is new and provide feedback to the draft plan. Each meeting will start with a presentation, followed by a Q and A, and open house.  Dates and locations will be posted on www.queensplan.com , www.regionofqueens.com , and on Region of Queens Municipality’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

February 7, 2020; Liverpool, NS: Reliable fibre internet service will soon be available for approximately 1,251 premises in Queens County. On Friday, February 7, 2020, Develop Nova Scotia and the Province of Nova Scotia announced that Bell Canada’s “Fibre to the Home Footprint Expansion” project in the Region of Queens Municipality was approved for funding through the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative.

“This is an exciting announcement, and we are pleased that this project has been approved. Reliable high speed internet service is an essential service for residents and businesses. This approval is significant, the culmination of several years of collaboration with Develop Nova Scotia, internet providers, and Region of Queens Municipality to bring fibre internet to communities in Queens which have been previously underserviced by broadband,” said David Dagley, Mayor of Region of Queens Municipality.

The Bell Canada Project will extend “Fibre to the Home” service of approximately 817 premises in the Central Queens area and to approximately 434 premises in North Queens. Region of Queens Municipality will contribute $435,500 to the project. Bell Canada has secured $487,000 from the Nova Scotia Internet Funding Trust through Develop Nova Scotia’s Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative, with Bell Canada funding the balance of the $1,908,442 project. In 2019, Region of Queens Municipality also contributed $64,500 towards installing fibre backbone along Highway 210 and Highway 8 in North Queens. This investment by Region of Queens Municipality is making today’s announcement possible. It is anticipated that Bell Canada will commence initial work on this project within 30 days.

“This announcement is significant. Materials will soon be ordered and tree trimming undertaken, which will lead to residents being able to access internet speeds of up to 940 Mbps,” said Dagley.

Connecting premises in Central and North Queens is phase one of the project. Future phases are being pursued in an effort to connect other areas of Queens County that have been identified as having limited access or substandard internet service.

 Public Notice:  Environment Canada Issues Weather Warnings

Thursday, February 6, 2020; Queens County, NS:  Environment Canada has issued a Freezing Rain Warning and a Rainfall Warning for Queens County for a weather system passing through the province today and tomorrow (Thursday, Feb. 6 and  Friday, Feb. 7).   The snow we are currently experiencing will turn to freezing rain this evening overnight.  Rain, at times heavy, will begin this evening, and continue until Friday evening.  Amounts of 20-40 mm are expected.  Slippery road conditions may result, and there is potential for localized flooding in low lying and coastal areas.  Freezing rain warnings are issued when rain falling in sub-zero temperatures creates ice build-up and icy surfaces. Rainfall warnings are issued when significant rainfall is expected. 

In anticipation of the storm, Nova Scotia Power has opened their Emergency Operation Centre.  Freezing rain may cause power outages.  To report a power outage, call 1-877-428-6004.

For a detailed forecast and to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada, go to:  https://www.weather.gc.ca/city/pages/ns-39_metric_e.html

March 18, 2020 Tax Sale Advertisement

Tax Sale Notices and Procedures

Information for Successful Bidders

Please take notice that pursuant to the Municipal Government Act, certain lands situate in the Region of Queens Municipality and described in general terms here are now liable to be sold at Public Auction in the Council Chambers of the Region of Queens Municipality at 249 White Point Road, Liverpool, NS on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 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.  Click here to see the tax sale advertisement , including the properties to be sold. THE REGION OF QUEENS MUNICIPALITY MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES TO ANY PURCHASER REGARDING THE FITNESS, GEOGRAPHICAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL SUITABILITY OF THE LAND (S) OFFERED FOR SALE FOR ANY PARTICULAR USE and does not certify the legal title, legal description or boundaries AND the lands offered for sale ARE BEING SOLD ON AN “AS IS” BASIS ONLY, subject to any estates or interests of the Crown in Right of Canada or the Province of Nova Scotia.

STATEMENT BY REGION OF QUEENS MUNICIPALITY
REGARDING HGS CANADA
January 15, 2020

Recently HGS Canada informed the Municipality that they will not be renewing their lease option for the building in Liverpool Industrial Park. HGS Canada has decided that after 13 years operating at this location that they no longer wish to continue with the current lease arrangement with Region of Queens Municipality. Three years ago, the Municipality reduced the company’s rent to nearly half of what is was at the beginning of the lease in order to help with cost efficiencies in light of a reduced workforce by the company.

The company has informed the Municipality that all of its employees will be offered the opportunity to transfer into their work at home program.

Mayor David Dagley notes “Our thoughts are with the 52 employees at this time during this period of change and transition. We are proud that these employees have been known by the company to consistently be the best performing in their workforce of sites throughout Nova Scotia. We are confident that all, or a great majority of the employees, will be able to continue to work for HGS Canada through the work at home program. We thank HGS Canada for offering our residents continued employment in our community.”

The 32,000 square foot building is owned and leased by Region of Queens Municipality and has been a call centre for two different companies since its inception. The current tenant only leases half of the building, but because of the restrictions in that lease, the remainder of the building was virtually unleaseable. With the ending of this lease, the Municipality is now focused on leasing the entire building to maximize its benefits in terms of both use and local employment growth. Our staff are currently in discussions with other entities to locate potential future tenants.

Mayor David Dagley

TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Part VI of the Municipal Government Act of Nova Scotia, is offering for public tender the properties outlined below which are outstanding for taxes, interest, and expenses.  Sealed bids are now being accepted at the Office of the Treasurer of the Region of Queens Municipality at 249 White Point Road, Liverpool, NS until Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 10:00 AM local time, unless the arrears on rates and taxes, interest, and the expenses are paid before the sale (Council of the Region of Queens reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids). Click here to see the tax tender advertisement , including the properties to be sold.  THE REGION OF QUEENS MUNICIPALITY MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES TO ANY PURCHASER REGARDING THE FITNESS, GEOGRAPHICAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL SUITABILITY OF THE LAND (S) OFFERED FOR SALE FOR ANY PARTICULAR USE and does not certify the legal title, legal description or boundaries AND the lands offered for sale ARE BEING SOLD ON AN “AS IS” BASIS ONLY, subject to any estates or interests of the Crown in Right of Canada or the Province of Nova Scotia.

 Click here for the results of the November 20th Tax Sale.  

* Update:  The warning is no longer in effect. 4:00 p.m., Nov. 1, 2019.

Friday, Nov. 1, 2019;Queens County, NS:  A Wind Warning has been issued by Environment Canada for Queens County today.  Strong Southerly winds gusting to 90 km/hour are expected to persist through the afternoon.  Winds of this strength may result in damage to buildings, such as to roof shingles and windows. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions due to high winds. Wind warnings are issued when there is a significant risk of damaging winds.

Follow ongoing weather reports on the Environment Canada Website https://weather.gc.ca/warnings/  and listen for reports on local radio stations.

This year’s LEAF AND YARD WASTE roadside pick-up will be held during the weeks of November 4 to November 8, 2019 and November 11 to November 15, 2019 on your regular collection day.

The materials acceptable for pick-up shall include leaves, grass trimmings, and yard waste placed in clear or orange plastic bags. (No plastics, cigarette packages, cups, etc.) Branches and limbs will be accepted if individual branches do not exceed 7 cm. (2.5 inches) in diameter. These should be tied in bundles no longer than 1.2 m. (4 feet) and 20 cm. (8 inches) in diameter.

Scott LeBlanc
Solid Waste Clerk
902-354-3455