Rotary Bulletin - March 15, 2012

CHAIRPERSON

• O’Canada
• Blessing
• Breakfast

Leslie chaired this morning’s meeting and decided to switch things up a bit, for a nice change...

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Breakfast – Cathy & Dale  

Beans were passed out with a reminder that the recipe is on Club Runner (www.sackvillerotary.ca).  Breakfast will be held on Saturday, March 24^th at the Legion.  There are a few ‘kinks’ still being worked out due to the new facilities.

Bring ticket money by Thursday!...or ELSE (something like that...)

MAKE-UPS

Pam H attended the Greater Moncton Breakfast Rotary Club on Tuesday.  They meet at Mavericks at 7:15am.  Breakfast is $15 with an option to not eat.  They have about 26 members. Their guest speaker was a 14-year-old girl who, at eleven, got excited about raising money for ‘bed nets’.  She has raised enough to purchase 500-600 of them.  She also is challenged with a learning disorder which just goes to show that everyone has their strengths.

NEXT WEEK

*Replacements will be required for Frank and Wayne who are away.

Guest Speaker: Tracey Wade – Habitat for Humanity

BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, GUESTS, & VISITORS

None, none, none, and none.

$$$  50/50 DRAW  $$$

Leslie drew Felix’s ticket number, increasing his wealth by $9.00.

HAPPY DOLLARS

Felix was happy to win 50/50 but even better…he went to New York during March break (RYE trip) and had an amazing time!  Good weather to boot.

Trish’s Bruce is back in Newfoundland but she will be joining him this weekend!  She was also happy to have attended Pre-Pets at the Moncton Pavillion.  She had a fantastic time meeting and discussing with other Rotarians.  To be noted by Trish, “We have a great club!”

Brian is happy to be back from a nine-day stay in sunny Australia.  It took five days of flights to return home with stuffed suitcases – to accommodate all the baby stuff they purchased.  Brian and Carol are expecting grandparents (daughter Michelle).  Congrats!!  Fun, fun, fun.

Sue P was happy to get here this morning and will be even happier when she no longer has to remove ice and snow before heading to Rotary.  Amen.

PRESIDENT’S TIME

President Ken received an email from Rotarian Robin who will no longer be joining us.  Robin has taken on many responsibilities over the past few years, including the addition of two (one pending) children and a new job.  RYE will need to go forward without Robin’s guidance.  A meeting has been scheduled for next Thursday @ 5pm at the Scotia Bank.  All are welcome.  Ken finished by saying that Robin will be missed.  For sure.

GUEST SPEAKER

The blustery day brought few Rotarians, nor a guest speaker, out to the Roadhouse this morning.  Being the flexible, diverse, and intelligent Rotarians as we are…we improvised.

Charlie introduced Sackville’s Director of Engineering for Public Service, our own Rotarian, George Woodburn.  George has held this position since 1997.  Previously he worked with regional governments in Halton and Niagara (Ontario).  He is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and has extended courses in Public Administration (U of Western Ontario) and Transportation Engineering (Northwestern University in Chicago).  AND, most importantly, George has been a Rotarian for the past 20 years!

George opened by reminding us of the Grand Opening of our new Town Hall at noon today (and again at 6pm).  The ceremonies last about 45 minutes and include a tour of the facilities.  Although not functioning yet; if you’re looking for George, you’ll find him on the “Green” roof.

It was actually put into action several years ago when Sackville switched from a municipal police force to the regional RCMP.  Both buildings, the former police station and the RCMP station, had seen better days.  The search had begun for a new location…

About the same time, the Fire Chief decided it would be a good idea to expand the station (into the old police facilities).  Upon review, it was determined that the structure just wasn’t sound enough to house the trucks.  Now Sackville needed a new fire station.

Putting heads and buildings together, it was decided that an emergency services building was required.  Again, the hunt for a location… The Industrial Park was considered, and dismissed, due to the railroad.  King Street parking area was also considered but had environmental issues and plans by Mount Allison University.

During this, the Town Hall also had concerns with the building in which they were being housed.  They already owned land across from Moneris and the Town Hall really needed to be kept…well, in town.

It was determined that all three facilities should be kept together under one roof for a cost of $13,000,000 (that’s a lot of zeros!).  A good design was created to accommodate all three departments, using ‘green’ initiatives.  In turn, Sackville received federal monies ($1M) for being green.  Not to mention the savings from cost-cutting measures (e.g. geothermal heating).  In addition, the RCMP agreed to lease the building for the next 20 years, bringing in additional revenue.

There were several items that needed to be considered prior to implementation, such as commercial aspects, flood plain analysis, environmental issues, and response time to the highway.  Two residential homes were purchased in order to have approximately three acres to accommodate the construction.  One million was spent on site works, including the re-routing of the storm waters, any contaminates (minerals) were removed, and lots and lots of fill was brought in.

The old Town Hall was purchased by the Laffords and the Fire Station will be let go as well, though not before some environmental issues are addressed.

The new facility is called the Town of Sackville and Emergency Services.  It still needs an ‘official’ name.  Several of the departments currently housed at the Civic Center will return to the new Town Hall location.  The Engineering Department will remain in the industrial building.

Chairperson Leslie adjourned with the stating of the 4-Way Test.