Sussex council in brief
No hotel objections
During a special meeting of council March 20, no objections were heard against a zoning bylaw amendment that would allow a motel to be built on a vacant Eveleigh Street lot behind Norrad Chrysler. Choice Hotels made the application to change the land from Industrial Light Zone to Industrial Light Zone permitting a motel with terms and conditions.
The next step is for council to give it first and second reading and forward it to the Planning Advisory Committee. It must return to council for third reading, with any PAC recommendations, for final reading and enactment.
Council could theoretically enact the amendment in April if a special meeting of council were held in the next few days to give it first and second reading and if the PAC had no significant concerns.
Should there be any issues with the property, it will likely have to wait until June for final reading, since council cannot make rezoning changes or take on new projects between the time of the municipal election, May 12, and the swearing in of the new council at the end of May.
The benefits of briquettes
Rick Roth made a presentation to the town's Economic Development & Long Range Planning Committee during its March meeting. Roth explained the benefits of a community wood briquette project for the area and sought moral support from council in doing so.
"They're trying to drive it from a public-private perspective," said Councillor Tim Wilson. "It's an environmentally friendly type of project in terms of energy conservation. If they receive investment form the community the project will be viable."
Briquettes are made from compressed waste wood, which burn longer and cleaner than regular firewood. Roth and Peter de Graaf have been investigating the possibility of starting up a briquette manufacturing plant in the area.
Council discussed the proposal at its council meeting March 17.
Bikeway support
Jim Sackville addressed the town's Economic Development & Long Range Planning Committee during its March meeting on the virtues of a bikeway system.
The Kings East Development Partnership is proposing a plan for bikeways in rural Kings County as a tourism draw as well as a way to make this form of green transportation, with accompanying health benefits, more accessible.
Council discussed the bikeways plan during its council meeting March 17.
"We're pleased to support in principal this concept," said Councillor Gary Fulton. "I think it's a great idea."
The bikeways would allow cyclists to tour the rural area, with some roads needing a new shoulder, while others might need a white line painted on the side to indicate a bike lane.
"It's not always physical changes," said Deputy Mayor Marc Thorne. "It could be just signage."
Fire report
The Sussex Fire Department responded to four out-of-town and nine in-town calls during February. They were kept busy with flu fires, alarm responses, a dumpster fire, a motor vehicle accident and several calls classed either as public assistance or other.
Council approved several training initiatives for the department during its March 17 meeting. The fire chief will attend the Fire Chiefs Convention in Fredericton May 23-35; four firefighters will attend the Fire Department Information Conference in Wolfville, NS June 6-8 and 10 firefighters are approved to attend a pump operators course at the fire station delivered by NBCC.
Council accepted with regret the formal resignation of firefighter Clifford Kitchen, who served as a volunteer for 27 years. Kitchen resigned last June, but did not submit an actual letter to that effect until recently.
Council thanked Kitchen for his dedication and long service.
Animal and people
The Animal Control Officer's February report to council indicated five dog complaints, 10 dog and one cat tag issued during the month. A total of 10 calls were handled, including those arising out of town.
The RCMP had a more busy month of work. During February, they dealt with 12 collisions, eight traffic offences, 29 provincial statutes, two municipal issues, 10 other criminal code infractions, one drug enforcement, 12 crimes against a person, 24 crimes against property, eight index checks and 21 other issues classified as ‘other'. This represents the RCMP's caseload within Sussex during February.
Successful audit
Town council reported on the external audit of its 2007 general and utility funds, which they described as a success. The audit was conducted by Al Eisner of Allan Eisner Accounting & Management Group.
Infrastructure upgrades
In preparation for the $2.7 million they expect to spend this summer on infrastructure upgrades, town council has secured the help of ADI Ltd and Crandall Engineering to develop the proper contracts for the work. The two businesses were hired to be the eyes and ears for the town, to ensure the specs are correct.
Successful bidders
The Works Department will be calling EJ Cunningham when it needs to rent an excavator or tractor and bush cutter this summer. Cunninghams was the successful bidder. Should they require a truck and float, Sussex Excavators will provide the equipment, as they were the lowest and successful bidder for that rental.
For top soil and gravel, the town will purchase from EJ Cunningham, the only bidder.
Plaggenborg's was the primary successful bidder for supplying vacuum and flusher truck services. They won the tender for providing sewer flusher truck and vacuum truck equipment, while Atlantic Industrial Cleaners won the bid for providing a combination unit.
Time to register
Councillor Shelley Bradley informed council of the upcoming spring and summer community registration at the 8th Hussars Sports Centre. It will be held April 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bradley said the twice-a-year one stop registration day for a wide variety of town-run and other sport, activity and recreation programs has been very popular with parents.
Volunteers will be recognized
Council learned the 17th annual volunteer recognition reception will be held at the All Seasons Restaurant May 1. Requests for nominations have gone out to various organizations, and they are available on the town's website as well.
International Volunteer Week is April 27 to May 3.
And the tender goes to...
Council accepted quotes from various businesses for Recreation Department purchases. Various types of paint will be purchased from Moffett's Hardware and Kent Building Supplies. Only one bid was received for cleaning supplies, which the town accepted from Industrial Commercial Sanitation Supplies.
Flower baskets will be purchased from Osburn's Bloomin' Baskets at a cost of $7,968.76 or $92.66 for each of the 86 baskets they require. Osburn's was the only bidder.
Emmerson Service Centre will provide the town's swimming pool this summer. Two bids were received.
Ball field equipment bases and plates will be purchased from Atlantic Gym and Sports. They were the successful of two bids.
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