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HAPPY CANADA DAY & 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR FLAG

LED STREETLIGHTS COMING SOON

In November 2013, HRM assumed ownership of all streetlight assets as well as the responsibility for maintaining and providing an acceptable streetlight service standard. In July 2014, HRM completed a detailed inventory of all streetlights within the publicly owned street right-of-ways, excluding streetlights on private roadways and lands. This inventory included streetlight wattage, bulb type, location, and determined necessary attributes needed to facilitate detailed street lighting design, including pole location, bracket length, and setback from the roadside ditch and/or curb.

HRM awarded a maintenance contract to Black & McDonald to maintain all non-LED municipal streetlights as well as approximately 7,000 LED NS Power streetlights installed prior to award. The cost of that contract was $1.2 million annually and will be reduced as more lights are converted to LED technology.

In August 2014, HRM concluded an agreement with NS Power to take over responsibility for roadway lighting service for all areas of the Municipality and to purchase all streetlight luminaires. In December 2014, HRM issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Design, Supply, and Installation of LED streetlight luminaires throughout the Municipality. The RFP closed on March 24, 2015.

On June 9, 2015 HRM has awarded Tender #14-340 to GJ Cahill and Company Ltd, for $37,230,102. This will take two years to implement. Also, HRM Council approved the total capital project of $47,645,179 for acquiring new LED streetlights which includes $468,000 required for project management, design review, and inspection resources to help ensure successful implementation of this project.

Converting conventional streetlights to LED technology will provide the Municipality with significant operational savings due to their energy efficiency and reduced required maintenance. It was determined that this conversion could be funded through these future savings from the more energy efficient streetlights, which would be banked over time as it was realized. For example, the 2015/16 annual budget for energy and maintenance costs associated with street lighting is $6.5M and estimated to grow by 3% annually using existing technology. The 24 month conversion implementation schedule of the streetlights from high pressure sodium streetlights to LED luminaires will conclude in 2017/18.

The projected cost for energy and maintenance is $2,007,701/year. As streetlights are converted to LED, the cost of maintenance reduces significantly due to the increased life of the new fixtures. It is anticipated that LED maintenance will cost approximately 10% of existing maintenance on a per light basis and savings are realized as soon as the non-LED luminaires are converted.

An Adaptive Technology will also be deployed with these new LED streetlights to monitor their operational status and provide dimming capability, allowing for improved service standards to residents and additional energy savings. This will enable HRM to monitor the most remote streetlights in the most efficient manner without the need for reporting of outages through the 311 Call Centre. The anticipated implementation schedule will require the larger geographical districts to be designed, installed, and commissioned, complete with Adaptive Technology capability and fully operational, when turned over to HRM. The rural districts most remote from the urban core will be converted first.

This project includes only those streetlights that reside within HRM / Provincial street right-of-ways and does not include streetlights on private roadways or lands. This is being reviewed for possible inclusion in the conversion program.


NEW R.E.C. VAN SERVICE COMING
Beginning July 1st, our new R.E.C. Van will be visiting public parks, municipal beaches, spray pads, and playgrounds to encourage residents to participate in free recreation activities. Recreation leaders will be in the R.E.C Van to deliver youth-focused programs, including games, activities, and individual/ team sports, such as Flag Football, Dodgeball, Archery, and many more.

To find out where the R.E.C. van will be visit: https://www.halifax.ca/rec/rec-van.php For specific info, contact Marlo McKay at mckaym@halifax.ca or 902-479-4479.


PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROGRAM
HRM can help homeowners pay their property tax through a payment plan, a property tax rebate, or deferral of taxes (payment is put off to a later date). These programs are available to all homeowners with a combined household income of $32,000 or less a year who live within the boundary of the municipality.

There are different programs to choose from depending on a person’s needs. It is important that you know what choices exist. There is a program booklet that lists the different types of programs, who can apply, and how to complete an application each year. Applications are now available.

Do you qualify? If you do, have you applied in previous years, did you receive your application in the mail? For answers to these questions, visit www.halifax.ca/taxes/exemption or call 311.


HRM v PROVINCIAL BURNING RULES
The provincial government’s burning restrictions web-site is updated daily at 2 p.m. To clarify which category of burning the Department of Natural Resources ( DNR ) has implemented for the province visit: https://novascotia.ca/natr/forestprotection/wildfire/burnsafe / .

In the majority of cases, HRM will mirror the level of restriction on open-air burning declared by the province. While the municipality can never assert a level of restriction lower than what the province has declared, the fire service has the ability to be more restrictive than the province if it’s warranted. If that should be the case, then the public will be informed via a public service announcement – PSA – (which can be found in the Halifax Media Room, on the Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency web-site and through social media updates on the Fire Twitter feed @hfxfire.

There is one other difference between the provincial and municipal regulations. The province allows burning overnight until 8 a.m. However, the municipal bylaw requires that open burning in the municipality ends at midnight.


NEED  VOLUNTEER  FIRE-FIGHTERS

Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services are currently recruiting volunteer firefighters for the various communities in our district area. For more information, please call HRM Volunteer Firefighters Manager  490-5611.

Lawrencetown: ( Station 19 & 20 )

Lake Echo / North Preston: ( Station 21 & 22 )

Chezzetcook: ( Station 23 )

Musquodoboit Harbour: ( Station 24 )

Ostrea Lake: ( Station 25 )

Oyster Pond: ( Station 26 )

Sheet Harbour: ( Station 28 )

Moser River: ( Station 29 )

Tangier / East Ship Harbour: ( Station 30 & 31 )

Three Harbours / Port Dufferin: ( Station 33 )

Mushaboom: ( Station 34 )


LAKE CHARLOTTE BOAT LAUNCH
This long awaited project was completed just in time for the Victoria Day long weekend in May 2015. We had to scale down the original size of the boat launch slipway in order to minimize the impact onto the fish habitat that would be disturbed during the construction of the infrastructure. We hope to finish it off with a floating dock and wharf platform to assist boaters.


ATV ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION
The RCMP have advised the local ATV Clubs that they will exercise their discretion when it comes to reasonable use of off-highway vehicles (OHV). If an ATV operator is riding a fully licensed and insured machine with a helmet and driving at a safe rate of speed, then they should not expect any repercussions. However if there is any inappropriate conduct, bad behavior, uninsured or non-registered ATVs, the police will enforce the laws. This could result in significant monetary fines or in some cases possession and impoundment of the ATV itself.

Residents are asked to report any undesirable ATV activity. Please note the time of day, location of problem areas and what type or size of ATV to help the RCMP identify the OHV offender.


WEEKLY GREEN CART COLLECTION
Over the summer months of July and August, residents from across HRM can place their green cart out for collection weekly, even if it’s not full. This additional collection program will be in effect from Wednesday, July 2nd to Friday, August 29th. Upon completion of this summer service, collection will return to the regular bi-weekly collection schedule.

Residents should refer to their 2015 Organics Green Cart and Garbage Collection Schedule for regular collection information. Green carts should be placed out before 7 AM to ensure collection as times may vary.

For more information, please visit our website at www.halifax.ca/recycle or call 311. And please remember that the new CLEAR bag rules come into effect in August.

SWIMMING POOLS & FENCING LAWS
Residents with either an above-ground or in-ground swimming pool are required to obtain a permit. To obtain these permits, details of pool location, fencing and security must be identified as specified in HRM By-law S-700: www.halifax.ca/legislation/Bylaws/HRM/bls700.pdf.

This applies to all swimming pools with a diameter of 11 feet or more and a depth of 2 feet or more. They should be completely enclosed with a 5 foot high fence. For more information and details, go to: www.halifax.ca/building-renovating/_assets/documents/pools20152.pdf

Swimming pools and hot tubs are quite enjoyable and popular but they must be maintained properly to ensure that harsh pool chemicals aren’t allowed to enter the street, where they may flow into ditches that drain directly to our natural waterways, wetlands, rivers, lakes or harbour.

For more information regarding the discharge of hot tub and pool water or to report a spill please call 311 or e-mail pollutionprevention@halifaxwater.ca or visit: www.halifax.ca/hrwc/pollutionpreventionTipsforPoolMaintenance.php

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