KPSC continues to forge ahead despite occasional disagreements

Representatives of local municipal units continue to work together in a spirit of cooperation despite the occasional difference of opinion.

Councillors from the towns of Berwick, Kentville, Wolfville and Hantsport and the County of Kings met recently in Greenwich for the annual Kings Partnership Steering Committee (KPSC) Joint Municipal Councils Workshop. Although Hantsport wasn’t originally part of the KPSC, the town asked to be included in 2007 because many of the joint issues being studied have links to Hantsport.

Information in a recent news release from the organization indicates that the workshop included presentations on economic development, emergency management, human resources policies, fire services and recreation.

The session concluded with KPSC chair, Kings County councillor Janet Newton, providing a sort of report card.

“We don’t always agree on issues, like education cost-sharing, but the municipal units in this area are recognized across Nova Scotia as a model for cooperative problem-solving,” she said. “Joint council meetings like this bring us all together and provide a good forum for discussions on our individual concerns.”

Kings Community Economic Development Agency executive director Erin Beaudin provided the economic overview, providing an update on direction given at a similar joint council meeting late in 2007. She said the Kings CED has reduced the number of projects on its priority list this year and activities are producing results in terms of local business retention and expansion and attracting new immigrants.

Strong individual emergency response organizations

Gary Smith, the County of Kings’ manager of protective services, provided an update on the Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO). His presentation focused on two recent regional emergency measures exercises and the lessons learned through each. The exercises, held in cooperation with Annapolis Valley Health, Acadia University and provincial government departments, demonstrated the value of the regional organization to the county.

“Here in Kings County we have the benefit of having strong individual municipal emergency response organizations that can be combined quickly for larger events,” Smith said.

Staff from the various municipal units provided overviews of current KPSC initiatives, including the development of common human resource management polices, a review of volunteer fire service coordination and support, and facilitating better cooperation among the towns, county and villages in terms of recreation services provision.

The KPSC Fire Services Task Force provided a progress report and recommendation for further development of action plans as the result of a study undertaken in 2006. It was reported that relations among the various volunteer fire departments, commissions and municipalities have improved.

Kentville town councillor Dennis Kehoe, chair of the Fire Services Task Force, said he is optimistic about the progress of the group to-date.

“We have come a long way in developing a common understanding of the issues being faced by our volunteer departments and how to develop some common responses that will balance their needs and municipal financial constraints,” Kehoe said.

Kentville Mayor Dave Corkum said more has to be done to educate our communities on the good work of the KPSC and others.

“Municipal government is still a mystery to many of our residents and the fact that we do cooperate on projects like recreation, fire and economic development is important for us and for our taxpayers,” he said.