News

2024 Municipal Election

2024 Municipal Election

Municipal Elections in Nova Scotia was held on October 19, 2024.

In addition to choosing a Mayor for the Town, voters elected four (4) Councillors, each elected for a four-year term. Trenton voters elect the Mayor and Councillors, while the Deputy Mayor is selected and appointed through a Council motion annually. Councillors do not represent a specific district or ward, but rather each serves the Town as a whole.

Town of Trenton Municipal and CSAP Elections 2024 results from Election Pictou County.

Results for the Town of Trenton
MAYOR:  
  • Alec Dove (540)
   
  • Cathy Cotter (488)
     
COUNCIL AT LARGE:  
  • Scott Cameron (811)
   
  • Nicole LeBlanc (750)
   
  • Stephanie MacKinnon (647)
   
  • Donald Cullen (602)
   
  • V.J. Earle (528)
   
  • Steven Stewart (302)

The voter turnout for Trenton was 51.8%.

Visit the Elections Pictou County website for updates and information about the 2024 Municipal Election!

Upgrades Announced for Outdoor Recreation Facilities

Announcement 2024 06 21

Hon. Pat Dunn, MLA for Pictou Centre, was in Trenton recently with Councillors Nicole LeBlanc, VJ Earle and Steven Cotter, Chief Administrative Officer Alanna Grover, and Recreation Director Craig Murray for the exciting announcement.

Upgrades Announced for Outdoor Recreation Facilities!

The Town of Trenton is thrilled to announce the upgrading of three outdoor recreation facilities thanks to a one-time contribution of $650,000 from the Province of Nova Scotia’s Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage. The upgrades will include a new skateboard park, pickleball court and multisport court equipped with nets for both basketball and road hockey. These upgraded facilities will be located on the corner of Main Street/First Street and Duchess Avenue, down from the future home of the Pictou County Sports Heritage Hall of Fame.

In addition, Scotia Park Ball Field (Strickland Avenue) will be reviewed for necessary upgrades.

The Town understands that our recreational infrastructure plays an important role in our residents’ quality of life, as well as our ability to attract visitors and new residents to our community. We continue to work diligently at promoting a healthier community, improve infrastructure and foster economic growth to create a Town where our residents’ can live, work and play.

Work is anticipated to be completed in fall 2024.

2024-25 Budget & Tax Rate

TOWN OF TRENTON NOTICE
2024-2025 Budget & Tax Rate


At the Town Council meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, Council approved, accepted, and adopted the General Operating Budget of the Town of Trenton for the fiscal year from April 01, 2024, to March 31, 2025, in the amount of $5,551,670.00. 

After careful consideration by Council, we have approved the Town’s tax rates to remain unchanged from the previous fiscal as follows:

  • Residential & Resource property tax rate to stay at $2.04 per $100 of assessment
  • Commercial property tax rate to stay at $4.10 per $100 of assessment
  • Fire Protection rate to stay at $0.145 per $100 of assessment
  • Solid Waste (garbage collection) annual user fee rate of $146.00 per dwelling unit

Dependent on property assessments, property owners should see no change in their final tax bills set to be issued in September 2024.

Each year, the Town of Trenton aims to build a budget that balances setting a reasonable tax rate and delivering quality services while planning for significant infrastructure needs. Council has faced many difficult decisions over the past four years and continues to be committed to making fiscally responsible decisions in the best interest of our community. We are confident Trenton is on track for a sustainable and vibrant future.

Respectfully,

Mayor Donald Hussher & Town Council

 

Related Documents:

Fisheries Act Violation Details

Message from Mayor, Council & Chief Administrative Officer


Dear Residents,

In December 2023, the Town of Trenton pled guilty to an offence under the federal government’s Fisheries Act. The Town was sentenced on February 15, 2024.

The plea is connected to the Town’s lack of action to address a blocked sewer pipe, discovered in the fall of 2017, which caused the backup of untreated sewage into the Park Road manhole, which then over-flowed through an outfall pipe before discharging into the discharge path leading to Lowden Brook.

The situation was not addressed until January 2020, following a citizen complaint to the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECCC). In response to the results of testing, which indicated the untreated sewage effluent flowing through the pipe constituted a “deleterious substance,” and therefore, a violation of the Fisheries Act, the Town took immediate action, replacing 200 feet of sewage pipe over the course of two days.

There was no indication of environmental harm to the impacted fish habitat as a result of the deposit of the untreated sewage effluent into the Lowden Brook and East River.

While the issue was addressed in January 2020, this matter has just recently been heard by the court. The Town pled guilty to the violation. We have been working with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and will fully comply with the terms of our court order. We are focused on meeting the requirements of the order, which includes training, public notification requirements, and testing and reporting requirements.

The Town has three years to pay the fine of $100,000 and at this time it is not expected to have an impact on residents’ taxes, programs, or services.

We acknowledge, and regret, that the appropriate steps were not taken to address this issue at the time it was discovered. We are committed to making sure this does not happen again, through further work on our wastewater and storm water systems. We will provide regular updates on the status of these projects.

Respectfully,

Mayor, Council and CAO

 

Information will be posted here as it becomes available:

 

Reporting Public Works Emergencies

To report Public Works Emergencies (including but not limited to emergencies related to wastewater and storm water systems, water line breaks, leaking water meters, etc.), please contact:

Public Works Superintendent, Darryl Marcott
Available for calls during daytime office hours & for afterhours emergencies.
Tel: 902-752-6907

Town Administration Office
Available for calls Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) - 8:30am to 4:30pm
Tel: 902-752-5311

Accessibility Committee Accepting New Members

Accessibility Committee Accepting New Members

The Town of Trenton is committed to identifying, preventing, and eliminating barriers faced by people of all abilities including those who identify as having a disability, and ensuring our municipal programs, services, initiatives, and facilities in our Town are barrier-free.

If you’re interested in creating a more accessible and equitable community, and would like to become part of the Accessibility Committee, please reach out:


Phone: 902-752-5311 (Town Hall)
Email:

 

Helpful Links:

2024 Property Assessment Notices

2024 Property Assessment Notices have been mailed by Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC).

Did you know you can find more information about your 2024 property assessment online?

Log into My Property Report at www.pvsc.ca with the Assessment Account Number (AAN) and PIN on your 2024 Assessment Notice.

Still have questions?

Assessors are available by phone at 1-800-380-7775 or by email at  

Trenton Water Utility Water Rate Increase

TOWN OF TRENTON PUBLIC NOTICE
Trenton Water Utility Water Rate Increases


The Town of Trenton, on behalf of its Water Utility, applied to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board for approval to amend its Schedule of Rates and Charges for Water and Water Services and its Schedule of Rules and Regulations. After due public notice, a hearing was held on December 14, 2022. The Schedule of Rates and Charges, including the public fire protection charge were approved by the Board, for Water and Water Services supplied on and after April 1, 2023, April 1, 2024, and April 1, 2025, respectively.

The average water bill in Nova Scotia is currently between $135 and $145 per quarter. In Trenton, the average water bill is currently $64 per quarter which equates to only $21 per month. The last water rate increase in Trenton was effective April 1, 2011, with no increase in 12 years.


Proposed increases for an average home (with four residents) are:

  • Effective April 1, 2023 – from $64.20 to $141.60 per quarter
    (Average increase of $309.60/year, $77.40/quarter, $5.95/week, or 85 cents/day)

  • Effective April 1, 2024 – from $141.60 to $165.47 per quarter
    (Average increase of $95.48/year, $23.87/quarter, $1.84/week, or 26 cents/day)

  • Effective April 1, 2025 – from $165.47 to $199.40 per quarter
    (Average increase of $135.72/year, $33.93/quarter, $2.61/week, or 37 cents/day


A large part of the increase, specifically in years 2 and 3, is the result of replacing the aging reservoir and upgrading the water pressure booster station and treatment plant. These improvements are essential for the delivery of safe drinking water.


 Approved increases are related to the changing provincial and federal environmental standards for drinking water, as well as the increases in costs for:

  • Power usage
  • Cost of chemicals and treatments supplies
  • Equipment
  • Transportation costs (fuel, insurance, repairs & maintenance)
  •  

    Welcome Home to Pictou County Guide

    The “Welcome Home to Pictou County Guide: A community guide to the place we call home” was created through a partnership between Healthy Pictou County, the Destination Eastern and Northumberland Shores Tourism Association (DEANS), the Pictou County Regional Enterprise Network (REN), and the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce. It was also designed and printed locally by Advocate Printing. Funding was received from the Province of Nova Scotia for a large portion of this project, and we are excited to have it completed.

    This guide is a wonderful piece for people considering our area, those new to the area, and even those who grew up in Pictou County. Take a look, you might just find something new!

    Stop by the local Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library branches to view a hard copy of the guide they will have on reference or visit the Healthy Pictou County website for more information and to view the electronic version (also available below). Any questions or details on ordering your own print run, please email Nicole LeBlanc.

    Welcome Home to Pictou County Guide: a community guide to the place we call home

    Subcategories