Colchester Council briefs

TRURO - Colchester County’s current agreement to treat shipped wastewater from Northern Pulp at the Lower Truro plant is being renewed for 2022.

In response to councillor questions, Public Works director Michelle Boudreau did not see any need to increase fees, stating the current price reflects standard practice. Northern Pulp pays $30 per cubic metre of wastewater delivered. She added that there have been no quality issues affecting the plant to date, and the agreement allows the county to reject any wastewater not falling within permissible parameters.

Asked by Coun. Laurie Sandeson about whether Northern Pulp intended to build its own treatment plan onsite soon, Boudreau said they asked that during a visit a few weeks ago, and they stated there was no shortterm plan.

“They're hoping to continue to have this arrangement with Colchester for four to five years, which is their horizon to have the mill back up and running,” she said.

As of late October, the municipality had billed the company $803,011 (plus HST for a total of are $923,463) for having the waste treated in Colchester County.

COLCHESTER POLICING PRIORITIES REVIEW

Council members participated in an extensive survey giving their thoughts on several policing priorities, with answers similar among respondents. Some priorities highlighted a need to return to having officers stationed in regional detachments, such as Tatamagouche and Stewiacke; to maintain community engagement with residents; to investigate having mental health support workers on calls and instituting council involvement in policing priorities.

A summary of the answers and questions was presented to council. A vote went through to send the perspectives via staff to the two prospective policing authorities, the RCMP and the Truro Police Service, for answers.

Concerns were first raised about a lack of police visibility in 2018 after the RCMP switched to a district policing model, and the review was prolonged due to the events of 2020, including COVID and the mass attacks in April.

The review was completed by technical advisor Bill Moore, former deputy chief of the Halifax Regional Municipality. It begins the consideration of aspects, including the needs and musthaves, in a policing model.

COLCHESTER CLEAN

A new annual “Colchester Clean” program is being adopted to complement the province’s Adopt-a-highway and the Great Nova Scotia Pick Me Up Programs. In addition, the beautification of the Debert Business Park will also be taken on through a full-time hire.

NEW COUNCILLOR SWORN IN

‘The new councillor for District 10, Victoria Lomond, was sworn in during the Nov. 25 council meeting.