GUILTY PLEA TO STRING OF OFFENCES
Live-streamed monthly meeting in Kinkora examines issues related to environment, finances, infrastructure
Samuel David Matthews sentenced recently to 11 months and five days in jail
The Rural Municipality of Kinkora announced a number of plans for the short-term during its live-streamed council meeting on April 27.
Chaired by Deputy Mayor Colin Montgomery, items discussed were related to the environment, finances and infrastructure.
Chief administrative officer Tina Harvey’s report announced the municipality’s black fly control program is getting ready to go.
Harvey also advised councillors that large numbers of blue gloves have been turning up in the sewage lagoon.
“That’s a big no-no,” she said.
Councillors agreed she will send a reminder to residents: do not flush gloves down the toilet. Last month, the town newsletter reminded against flushing disposable wipes.
Coun. Lesley Cousins said the Volunteer Tea was regrettably cancelled. Even so, she still wants to hold it when it is safe to do so.
“It is something important that we do,” said Cousins.
Planning for the Somerset Festival continues, said Coun. Andrew McCarville, despite an uncertain future due to the coronavirus.
“We’re just going to keep planning as it is, and see what happens,” he said.
The bills for the April to September period were held back by a month out of consideration for residents who are out of work during the pandemic, said Harvey.
Coun. Roy Cook suggested extending the bills again.
The new Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission policy is in place for municipal sewer bills, and any unpaid bills will accumulate interest.
“We don’t want to bill people and know some people can’t pay and have interest accruing on it,” said Harvey.
Council decided sewer bills for residents of Kinkora will not be sent until July, with a final decision to be made at the June meeting.
A membership request from the Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities was received by council, and after discussion, councillors decided in favour to join the federation for a year at a cost of $719.87.
Under infrastructure, the sidewalk extension project tender is ready to be advertised to extend the sidewalk to the west end of Kinkora.
The municipality’s grasscutting tender went out recently, said Harvey, and closes May 6 at 4 p.m. This year, the responsibilities will include sidewalk trimming as well as garbage pickup at the ball fields and Heritage Park.
A gap in the permit fees was discovered at the municipal offices when the Somerset Dairy Bar applied for a permit for a roof sign. The sign meets all the requirements set out in the bylaws, but when Harvey went to charge the owner for the permit, there was no price in the permit fee guide.
“It was probably just overlooked,” said Harvey.
Council decided to include signs in the guide for future requests. Harvey also issued two development permits for a backyard pool project.
In new business, Harvey said she’s hoping to have the Welcome to Kinkora signs put up soon, but it will depend on when it’s safe.
Additionally, the dumpster the municipality usually books for spring clean-up will be rescheduled for 2021.