GREENWOOD, N.S. — Greenwood residents expressed concerns about water quality in subdivisions located near Bridge Street and Central Avenue at the village's recent annual general meeting.
Commission chairman Don MacDonald acknowledged ground water testing has confirmed the contamination, which affected wells in Bowlby Park in 2005, has migrated west across Bridge Street, but said Kings County council has yet to approve a plan for extending the water system that was installed in reaction to Bowlby Park's water quality issue.
Commissioner Al Belliveau will chair the village's newly-formed water protection committee, which meets for the first time on June 13.
"We have been pushing for the water extension since day one of the Bowlby Park contamination," said Belliveau.
Commissioner Richard Nickerson, who lives in the neighbourhood now affected by the spreading contamination, said the village needs to find a way to help residents manage the costs associated with the extension of the central water system.
Nickerson was one of two commissioners elected during the meeting, which drew about 70 people. Brian Banks was successful in securing the first spot on the commission, while the incumbent, Nickerson, was elected to his second three-year term in a follow-up round of voting. Business owner Joanne Abbot and military retiree Pat Nixon were also vying for the vacancies on the five-person commission.
Nominal tax increases were approved at the May 29 meeting.
In the 2013-2014 fiscal year, the rate for residential customers will rise from 22 to 23 cents and the commercial rate will be three cents higher, at 29 cents. Both are based on $100 of assessed value.
The area rates will generate $275,245 and $103,926 in revenue, respectively. Other revenue of $38,000 is anticipated in the commission's balanced budget of $417,200.
Expenditures for 2013-2014 will be dominated by allotments of $40,000 for stranded asset costs owing to Nova Scotia Power when the village assumes ownership of its street lights; $89,700 for government services; $134,500 for public works; $46,300 for the civic building; $37,200 for recreation and cultural services; $49,500 for transportation services; and $20,000 for fiscal services.
