Warden lauds highlights, IDs top '08 challenges

BY JENNIFER HOEGG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

Even after many years as the Warden of West Hants, the shine hasn’t worn off the job for Richard Dauphinee. “Every day is new and exciting,” he says.

Highlights of 2007

Dauphinee is pleased with what 2007 brought to the area. “One highlight for me was the opening of the new Super 8 Motel. That was needed here for a long time,” he said.

He thinks the motel’s 66 rooms and conference facilities will bring “big dividends to the area. Before, people used to plan on not being here overnight. Where people sleep is where they spend their money: dinner, breakfast, maybe a little shopping.”

The Super 8 is a new part of the Windsor/West Hants joint industrial park area, where Wentworth Road meets the 101. Dauphinee awaits further development in the area, where a new gas station and two fast food restaurants also opened recently.

More thrills came with hosting the RCMP Musical Ride last summer. Two sold-out shows at the Windsor Exhibition grounds were a big hit. Particularly impressive were the efforts of the Musical Ride’s participants and staff to visit local seniors’ homes and daycares. “I can’t say enough good about them,” Dauphinee added.

Kings Transit is another highlight, and a great example of the ongoing cooperation between the municipalities of West Hants, Windsor and Hantsport. And in this case, the relationship extends to Kings County.

Because of the logistics of covering a large, rural area in four municipalities, the extension of bus service from Hortonville to Windsor took years to finalize. “We hope it will be a huge success story, that it will work and become a way of life for residents.” Dauphinee hopes residents will quickly realize the benefits of mass transit, but because of the initial year-long trial period, “it’s use it or lose it.”

Infrastructure investment was also part of the 2007 story, with phase one of the replacement of the Falmouth area sewer treatment plant receiving a million dollar contribution from federal and provincial governments in October. The building of the Hants Aquatic Centre pool is another good news story for the Municipality and the Town of Windsor. With the pool finished, the next step is to construct a permanent building next summer.

Challenges of 2008

Recreation and sports are important in West Hants. Recent successes at the St. Croix ball field facilities - with a PeeWee provincial, PeeWee Eastern and Midget Eastern tournaments held there in 2007 - has Dauphinee hoping for a regional or national event in St. Croix this year. “It’s one of the best ball facilities in Canada,” he said.

Also on the agenda for 2008 is cooperation with Windsor to plan a new fire station, and a new station for Brooklyn. Fire services in the municipality are a point of pride for Dauphinee, who said, “I can’t say enough good about the volunteers and our fire departments in general. We’re pretty lucky. We have volunteers turning out, enrolment is high and we’re hearing good things.”

A serious challenge in the coming year is the implementation of caps on provincial assessment rates. This will limit how much money municipalities can raise through property taxes.

“Taxes may have to go up, even though assessments are capped,” Dauphinee said, which would defeat the purpose of shielding some residents from rapidly rising rates.

A new planning strategy for West Hants should debut also in the New Year. An ongoing planning review, begun in 2001, will be completed, which is a new vision of future development, zoning and growth management for the municipality.

There are high hopes for new residential and commercial development. “We’re so close to HRM and to the Valley region; it’s the best of both worlds,” Dauphinee said.

But he’s eager for the mostly “green” projects. An energy study is planned for the area and a wind farm for South Canoe is in the works. Planting of new trees and gardens is also a wish for 2008.

Will he reoffer?

As any political watcher knows, 2008 is a municipal election year. Will Dauphinee reoffer?

It looks like it. “I enjoy what I’m doing,” he said, “so as long as I have my health, I’ll probably run.”

In the meantime, Dauphinee praised West Hants council and all community volunteers. “I would like to thank our councillors for their work,” he said. “We have a wealth of hard-working and talented volunteers who work tirelessly to make our area a wonderful place to live.

“I would like to extend thanks to our MP Scott Brison and our MLA Chuck Porter, and to thank them for their willingness to work together for Hants County.

“And to our residents: season’s greetings for health and happiness in the New Year, on behalf of me and Council."