Queens Place Gets Federal Funding

It's the news they've been waiting for. The Region of Queens Municipality has received approval in principle of federal funding of 6.6 million dollars for Queens Place through the Build Canada Fund. The letter of approval was received Friday, (June 4) from the office of John Baird, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. Queens Place was deemed eligible for funding of up to one-third of the eligible capital costs. Mayor John Leefe says the formal offer and approval by Council means the project can move out of the discussion stage and into reality. The next and final step is to negotiate the terms and conditions of the agreement with the federal government. Mayor Leefe says as soon as the architects have the final documents available the Queens Place project can be put out to tender. The target date for completion of the recreation facility is on or before January 2012.

Mayor Elected to FCM Board of Directors

Another election victory for Mayor Don Downe of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. He's the new Nova Scotia representative on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Board of Directors. Downe says his involvement will be beneficial for the District and other municipalities as well. He says it's an opportunity for him to learn more about the operations of the FCM. Downe says he's had some previous practice, being the Vice-President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and doing a lot of years of lobbying in Ottawa. He says he's looking forward to try to find ways to meet the many challenges municipalities face
The FCM is the umbrella group for some 15 hundred representatives across the Country and is the voice of municipalities at the federal level.

Canada Day Grants

Canada Day celebrations for a number of community organizations getting a boost from funding from the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Council has approved 52 hundred dollars in grants for Canada Day events throughout the county. The New Germany Canada Day Committee, Riverport & District Fire Department and Canada Day on the LaHave all received grants of one thousand dollars. Seven hundred dollars was approved for the Tancook Island Recreation Centre Association, and the Petite Riviere Fire Department will received 500 dollars.

Miller Peace Park Plan

The Miller Peace Park Community Plan has been adopted by the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. The plan was put forward by an advisory committee appointed last fall to address a number of concerns involving the park. Council approved committee appointments and terms of reference for the advisory committee at a meeting in March. Among the recommendations accepted by Council, an increase of patrols at the park by the RCMP and Citizens on Patrol, and a decrease in the number of opportunities in the park for parking in non-designated areas. There is also a proposed strategy to increase promotion around educating and informing the public about the Municipality's Dog off Leash policy. The 25 acre park was purchased by the Municipality some 20 years ago from Mac Miller.

Tax Rates Rise in Municipality of Lunenburg

Residents in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg will be paying a bit more in taxes this year. Council approved a two cent increase in residential rates to 81 cents per 100 dollars of assessment. Mayor Don Downe says on an average home of 150 thousand dollars, the two cent increase equals an additional 30 dollars in property taxes, or $2.50 per month. Commercial rates are rising from $1.92 to $2.05 per 100 of assessment. Sewer rates, fire hydrant rates and street light rates are all going up and the Deed Transfer Tax is increasing to 1.25 percent of the value of property transferred. The Municipality approved an Operating Budget of 26 million dollars and a Capital Budget of 10 million.

Domestic Assault in Shelburne County

A 39-year-old man will appear in Barrington Provincial Court this Thursday on a charge of assault after an altercation with his girlfriend on Sunday morning. Barrington RCMP responded to a 911 call of an out of control, intoxicated man at a residence in Port La Tour, Shelburne County. The RCMP learned the man had assaulted his girlfriend and then punched his arm through a window. He was then taken to hospital for his injuries and then placed in a cell overnight.