Lawrencetown well going online soon

A new $600,000 well for the Village of Lawrencetown should come online this summer, outgoing commission chair Troy Emmett told residents during the village's annual general meeting June 18. "The well is all in and ready to go, the pipeline has been installed from the new well to the holding tank and we are now getting the SCADA system installed," Emmett said in his annual report, adding that the village is waiting for a water withdraw permit to arrive. "I hope...the project will be fully completed this year," he said.

The SCADA system will allow the village's public works department to remotely monitor the water system using state-of-the-art software via laptop computer, allowing for quick response to alarms. The new well was necessary to help lower arsenic levels to meet federal drinking water quality standards. Current testing shows that the levels will more than meet those standards.

Emmett also noted that the village faced many challenges in 2008, including construction of its first-ever office, hiring of a new clerk, the first full year for its new superintendant of works David Leonard, and hiring of a public works assistant. "The village had two other firsts this year with a Canada Day party and a Christmas event," Emmett noted, adding that the July 1st event drew about 300 people. Christmas in the Village at the Annapolis Valley Exhibition Grounds also drew a large crowd.

Emmett said that 2009 is looking to be another busy year with completion of projects and work on new ones. "One thing the commission is going to be reviewing and revising is the sewer bylaw," he said. "The Department of Environment has made changes to the allowable concentrations of some chemicals in our waste water. These changes will be some of the revisions to the bylaw."

He said the commission will also be reviewing the charges for multiple dwelling units and commercial units to bring them in line with single family units.

Annual budget

The village's annual budget was also presented at the June 18 meeting with total revenues projected at $375,900, a figure that is in line with expenses. The largest chunk of revenue, $158,000, comes from property assessments while water utility revenue should come in at $104,000. Wastewater tax revenue is estimated at $58,000. The fourth largest revenue-generator is the County of Annapolis which will kick in $44,000.

Staff salaries, at just under $100,000 is the biggest single expense but is shared among three expense categories: general government services ($28,379), transportation services ($91,378), and environmental services ($184,373). Debt charges for 2009 amount to $33,570, and capital expenditures total $25,000, including $10,000 for sidewalk paving. The village will also pay out $13,200 for recreation and cultural services including almost $10,000 for the library and support for the Annapolis Valley Exhibition, Youth Arena, village events, and recreational programming for youth.

New village chairman

Emmett declined the nomination to return as chair, citing work commitments. Lawrence (Larr) Powell was nominated in his place and accepted the chairmanship. Two commission terms were up as of the June 18 meeting. David Spears and Lynette Gilks were both re-nominated and will continue to sit on the commission. Spears was nominated as vice-chair and elected to that position. "It has been a remarkable year for Lawrencetown," Powell said after the meeting. "Troy has done an amazing job, especially considering he was new to the commission. I believe the village is on the threshold of great things and judging from the response from the public, the community is ready to move forward."

He added that with the support of the county, assistance from such organizations as the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency, provincial government departments, and local residents, Lawrencetown can prosper while maintaining the quality of life citizens have come to expect. "However," he said, "people of the village must realize that the village commission must operate under the Municipal Government Act (Section 18) and that in many ways limits what we can do. We would prefer more autonomy. Fortunately our relationship with the county is solid and their assistance over the years has been very valuable."

The annual general meeting also heard reports from Annapolis County Councillor Martha Roberts, the Lawrencetown Volunteer Fire Department, Lawrencetown and District Recreation Committee, Lawrencetown and District Pool Committee, and Soldiers Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Copies of the budget and audited financial statements can be picked up at the village office.