Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
Through this investment, the Town of Kentville will install new water distribution pipes, sanitary sewer collection pipes and a stormwater management system as well as replace an existing water tank and treatment plant under the future Donald E. Hiltz Connector Road, which will connect the Kentville Business Park to Prospect Avenue. This investment will increase capacity to treat and manage wastewater and stormwater while opening up new land for to build housing in Kentville.
The village commission has recently increased sewer rates, raised taxes and taken steps to collect outstanding revenues and pay outstanding invoices. It has also interviewed a candidate to replace Hudson, who retired as chief administrative officer with Victoria County years ago and only agreed to help out during the transition, and will now make that person an offer, Hudson said. Assuming it is accepted, the candidate will have to give their current employer notice before the position can be filled. While that is going on, the village's accounting firm will be putting together a "compilation agreement" that will provide the village with a "best guess" of the finances for the two missing years, Hudson said.The accountants will also be finishing off financial statements for the last two years, Hudson said. With that done, the village will apply to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board for increased water rates to cover a mounting deficit in the water account.
