Council Recap August 23 2021

Posted on:
August 24, 2021

Council opened with the introduction of Erica Holgate, Victoria County’s new Economic Development Officer. Council welcomed Erica, who is getting to know the county & the businesses. Ms. Holgate looks forward to the exciting challenges ahead.

• Following a public hearing, Council passed the Deed Transfer Tax bylaw which will see the amount increase from 1% to 1.5% on the sale amount of properties.
• The next Tax Sale is set for December 7, 2021.
• Heavy Garbage is set to begin September 27, 2021.
• Businesses in some areas are expressing frustration at a lack of an independent contractor who will provide a service to deliver their waste to our facilities. Since a business is not in place at the time being, staff will review how other municipalities in Nova Scotia and those across the country deal with this issue. The CAO said staff will explore fee-based options and hopefully find a program that is innovative, easy to comply with and cost-effective to help businesses with the excess bag problem. Once staff have come up with some options, a pilot project may be looked at to fill this void in the short term. An update is expected by the next council meeting in September.
• Council recognized the bravery of Kale Morrison, a Victoria County youth who saved a woman at a beach in Margaree earlier this summer. Kale is the son of Vaughn & Amanda Morrison.
• The Cape Breton-Victoria Centre for Education will speak at the Sept 20 council session. Council has requested a meeting regarding busing issues regarding the lack of safe walking areas alongside most rural roads and the lack of bus service on many non-paved roads in the county.
• Council requested to meet with the in-coming Environment minister regarding provincial protected areas. Victoria County already exceeds the percentage of regulated protected space and having this designation can limit potential development.
• Council is requesting local EHS representatives speak to council about the critical lack of ambulances available across the province, which has also affected areas of Victoria County.

The next council session is Monday September 20, 2021 in the Council Chambers in Baddeck. The meeting will be live streamed on Facebook and posted to YouTube.