Valley Waters mayor ready to get to work
Aired: Dec. 7, 2022
I would like to thank everyone for your support, and would like to congratulate all elected councillors. I truly appreciate all those who stepped up as candidates for Valley Waters, and wish you all the very best! I look forward to working with our councillors as we work together to move Valley Waters forward for all residents.
Randy McKnight Mayor-Elect of Valley Waters
Please take the time to vote tomorrow, to ensure you elect your choice of Mayor at Large and for those running for council in your Ward. The total number of voters at advanced polls, and at the returning office in Sussex =303 or ~ 8% voter turnout so far.
Now is the time for your help! I strongly encourage you to vote on November 28th to help send a clear message to our Premier that we are united in protecting our rural identity through a high voter turnout.
Vote Randy McKnight for Mayor of Valley Waters. Let’s Move Valley Waters Forward Together!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2027092957609880/
The fact is that amalgamation is proceeding with or without our support.
This change will take focus, dedication, teamwork, the ability to see the big picture, and someone who can dedicate the time and energy required to move Valley Waters forward.
On November 28th you have a choice of voting for a Mayor who wishes to keep us separated or a Mayor who supports unity and teamwork so that we are united in our fight to preserve our rural way of life.
We need elected representatives from all Wards working together as a team to ensure that our residents are looked after by a strong team and that fairness extends to all residents. It is the time to unite our Region and move Valley Waters Forward.
On November 28th, vote Randy McKnight for Mayor, and “Let’s Move Valley Waters Forward Together"
I have received numerous concerns regarding amalgamation, but the number one concern by a large margin is the cost of living and the negative impact that any tax increase will cause. The top-down approach of this reform, the extremely low number of residents engaged in the consultation process, and poor communication of this change has resulted in much distrust by our residents.
Rather than provide false information, I have requested answers to questions I have received directly from the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Local Governance Reform. Please find a summary of questions along with the responses from the deputy minister below.
Question 1: Are the costs for existing assets in Wards 1-4 currently covered by the Tax base or from other sources of Government revenue such as grants? Will this funding formula change with the transition to Valley Waters, and will this increase the tax burden on its residents?
Answer From Deputy Minister: "The existing infrastructure would be fully expended in the 2023 budget and thus no additional tax burden should be experienced for these until the council decides to invest in them."
Question 2: Will LSD road costs continue to be covered by a combination of property tax and other forms of Funding? If so, why is Ward-4 not receiving fair and equal treatment?
Answer From Deputy Minister: "The LSD roads will continue to be funded at 41 cents for homeowners of those areas and the service will continue to be delivered by the province. The arrangement and subsequent tax impact for roads in the former village will continue for those property owners. The services are different and thus the tax treatment will be different."
Question 3: Has there been any discussion regarding any changes to the three Fire stations in Valley Waters? Are there differences in how LSD and the Village of Norton Fire services are funded? Will this change under the new municipality?
Answer From Deputy Minister: "They are all fully funded by property taxes (and they can access infrastructure or equipment grants on occasion). This will continue. The new council would need to make decisions around changing how they are operated."
Question 4: Will existing RSC (Regional Service Commission) agreements be redone based on this reform? What worked for the former Village of Norton, most likely will not work for Valley Waters for non-essential services. Agreements for Policing and garbage removal are common to all Wards however other agreements should focus on supporting existing facilities in Valley Waters as these are the facilities used by the majority of its residents.
Answer From Deputy Minister:”There are a few questions here. The RSC services will be a cost to the entity. The policing service will continue as is for 2023 and the council would need to negotiate any change desired in this area in the future. Garbage collection will operate as is until the LSD contract expires, at which point the local government would look at its options there."
Question 5: What will happen with the various assets in each Ward?
Answer From Deputy Minister: "The assets fall under the new local government and will be maintained by the municipality."
Question 6: Are "Norton" employees automatically Valley Waters employees?
Answer From Deputy Minister: "The staff will fall under the new local government as well."
Based on the recent article in the Telegraph Journal it would appear that rural residents will be in for sticker shock in years 2 and beyond post-amalgamation. However, with the current government surplus, any cost downloads to rural residents should be at a minimum stopped until inflation is brought under control. The urgency for change is most likely more to do with pushing it through by the midpoint of the current government term to reduce the amount of backlash during the next Provincial election. The alarming part is that there seems to be minimal resistance or concern from any political party regarding the potential negative impact on rural New Brunswick's tax burden.
Given that ~50% of PNB residents live in rural areas many people will be negatively impacted by the downloading of additional costs, this is an attack on rural New Brunswick residents who are already struggling. It is important that Valley Waters residents and all rural residents unite with a common voice to protect rural New Brunswick. I am committed to working to ensure that our voices will be heard loud and clear as we navigate through this change and fight for fairness for all residents.
This task will require a Mayor who is a team builder who supports the efforts of all councillors as we work together to create a unified voice for the residents we serve. As a team, we can do more than anyone can alone, or by cherry-picking issues. I am running for Mayor to make a positive difference for you, not for personal recognition. To be honest, I am not one that even prefers to focus on myself, I would rather focus on your needs, and the collaboration required with our elected councillors to maximise our effectiveness for you.
Vote Randy McKnight for Mayor on November 28th, and Let's move Valley waters Forward Together!
Please take the time to vote on November 28th, to ensure you elect your choice of Mayor at Large and for those running for council in your Ward. The total number of voters at advanced polls =303 or ~ 8% voter turnout so far. I strongly encourage you to turn out to vote on November 28th to help send a clear message to our Premier that we are united in protecting our rural identity as we navigate through this change.
One of the key areas identified by our residents is the need for enhanced care to allow for seniors to remain in their own homes as long as possible. I will work with our local nursing homes and the department of social development to ensure that our community has access to the Nursing Homes without walls program as announced below.
Nursing homes invited to be part of new community services for seniors
15 November 2022
SAINT JOHN (GNB) – The operators of all 71 nursing homes in the province have been invited to express their interest in joining the Nursing Homes Without Walls program, which extends some of their services to seniors still living at home.
The program began as a pilot project in four locations in southeastern New Brunswick and the Acadian Peninsula, funded under a federal-provincial initiative, the Healthy Seniors Pilot Project. The government later announced the program would expand to 16 locations by 2023; eight sites will offer it next spring, and eight more will join next fall.
“We are actively working on transforming services to seniors in our province,” said Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard. “The Nursing Homes Without Walls project is a good example of the new community services for seniors that we want to establish in different regions of the province so they will have access to the health and social support they need to live as independently as possible, for as long as possible.”
The concept, unique to New Brunswick, was developed by the Research Centre on Aging at the Université de Moncton.
“I am thrilled that additional nursing homes and communities will benefit from the successes of Nursing Homes Without Walls,” said Suzanne Dupuis-Blanchard, the centre’s director. “The program is flexible in order to meet local needs with no duplication of services. Older adults want to remain in their home and the Nursing Home Without Walls pilot project has allowed many to access the supports and social activities needed for healthy aging and quality of life.”
Selected nursing homes will implement the program by using existing community infrastructure, providing additional resources, extending expertise and services, and making more older people aware of their existing services.
Services offered through the program could include:
Guidance and accompaniment to access community support or services.
Transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping and social outings using a nursing home’s minibus.
Friendly check-in calls and in-person social visits.
Use of a nursing home’s bath facilities and specialized equipment, along with socialization, a meal and/or some take-home meals.
Intergenerational initiatives between students and seniors (for example, a letter exchange with elementary school students or a meal and social visit with university students).
Social health initiatives, such as a healthy aging information session followed by a meal or afternoon tea.
“Seniors want to remain living in their own homes for as long as possible, but many are unable to do so due to lack of access to services or opportunities for healthy aging,” said Shephard. “Expanding the Nursing Homes Without Walls model, using existing infrastructure within communities, providing additional resources, and extending their expertise to older people in the local community, will support aging in place.”
To all Residents of Valley Waters;
Based on feedback received from the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Local Governance Reform it appears that fairness and equality for all residents of Valley Waters will be an uphill battle based on the following points.
-The Regional Service Commission has the ability to decide what we, as Valley Waters taxpayers, will support based on the definition of a regional facility. This will result in Valley Waters Residents being forced by GNB via the RSC to support regional facilities outside of our borders even when we have an existing facility within our borders.
-I also have confirmation that the existing 0.41 of the LSD tax rate covers ~ 50% of the total cost of roads on average in the Province of N.B, with the remaining 50% being covered by PNB. The existing Village of Norton is responsible for 100% of Village designated road costs from property taxes. This information is not intended to cause division but provide information on the primary driver of the different tax rates within Valley Waters.
Valley Waters will have more than one residential tax rate with existing LDS having a lower tax rate than the existing Village of Norton. Outside of a few street lights in the centre of Norton, which cost ~3000$ per year to operate, the level of essential services provided in all areas are virtually equal. Some Norton residents are hooked up to municipal sewer, but this is charged to each household above and beyond the tax rate.
To be truly fair all areas of Valley Waters are rural and should receive the same level of Provincial Funding for roads regardless of whether the work is done by DTI or the Village of Norton Works department. Fair taxation could be achieved by moving everyone to the average LDS rate for Valley Waters. This would help create a path to a fully unified municipality of Valley Waters and would help residential and business development be spread more evenly across our region.
In my opinion, all existing regional agreements should be dissolved and facilities within the borders of Valley Waters should be supported as a first priority prior to our tax dollars being sent out to facilities that the majority of our residents will never use. Our own children learned how to swim at the Belleisle Pool and one of our sons went on to be a lifeguard at the pool. This pool was built by the community initially through bonds that many of us including residents from both LSDs and the Village of Norton have purchased. The Civic Centre that we are asked to support by the RSC was built in partnership with a Corporation as a parting gift to the community without providing appropriate operating capital.
If elected as your Mayor I will fight for fairness and equity for all areas of Valley Waters and will support our local needs as the number one priority, along with regional priorities that support our common interest.
Now is the time for us to unite with a common voice, and work together to achieve fairness.
Together we are stronger, together our voices will be louder, together we will make a positive difference for the greater good of all residents of Valley Waters.
I would ask that all voters get out and vote, at the advanced polls on Nov 19th &21st, or on the election day on Nov 28th hours for all days are 10:00 AM- 8:00 PM. You may also vote by special ballot at the returning office at the Lions Club in Sussex.
Vote: Randy McKnight for Mayor
Let’s Move Valley Waters Forward Together!
The Admins of this page created a Q&A for candidates running for Mayor or Councillor in Valley Waters.
Thank you Randy Joseph McKnight for your response.
Q&A for Candidates of Valley Waters
Name: Randy McKnight
Current Occupation: Retired Manager of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Therapist
What Ward are you representing? I am running for Mayor and will represent all areas of Valley Waters.
Tell us about yourself: I am a lifelong resident of the area having grown up in Hatfield Point, graduated from B.R.H.S., and now live in Norton. I have been a member of many committees and local groups in the area, including the Norton Volunteer Fire Department and Norton Elementary Save our School Committee, which prevented the closing of one of our schools. I have recently participated in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup in Norton along the river banks, Planted trees to stop erosion with the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee, Participated in Trunk or Treat at a local church, and been part of a music group at a local church. Since retiring, I have assisted residents in Navigating our complicated Health Care system & have taken training on "Aging in Place" which assists seniors to stay at home as long as possible.
What do you believe to be issue(s) affecting “Rural NB” & Why?
There are currently many issues facing Rural NB including but not limited to the following:
- Cost of living- The inflation rate has been out of control since the Pandemic and has impacted our lives in many ways. Many of us struggle with the cost of essentials such as food, housing, fuel, and utilities. Because of inflation higher taxation is not an option.
- Internet access- Improved reliable access to high-speed internet is required in many parts of Valley Waters to better support working from home, access to online support for residents, and remote education/training.
- The lack of decision-making power at the local level- The change from LSD to the Municipality of Valley Waters will provide stronger decision-making power at the local level as the LSD's committees acted as advisors only. This will require the new Council and Mayor to work effectively as a team to understand the unique needs of each area but also to work together for the greater good of Valley Waters.
- Access to Medical Care- Many of us do not have a family doctor or struggle with travelling to the Cities or Towns for health care. While it would seem ideal to have a family Doctor in Valley Waters this would be difficult to achieve as most family doctors prefer to work with the support of other doctors, nurses, and other team members. There are however many opportunities to improve upon our current level of care through regional partnerships and using technology to allow rural residents to communicate with their healthcare team from the comfort of their homes or from within their communities. There is also the potential of working with Horizon Health and The Department of Health to set up mobile clinics which could be placed in community centres. There is currently a mobile X-ray unit in KV as part of a UNB research project which allows patients in special care and nursing homes to have radiology exams without the need to travel to the hospital. I strongly support innovation in health which improves access to health services for rural residents. I have also been part of a project team who has successfully launched remote software that allows patients to communicate with their cancer care teams and report distress levels back at Cancer Centres in Saint John, Halifax, and Sydney. These are two examples of how healthcare innovation can help improve the quality of life of rural residents.
- Affordable child care- We have some great childcare facilities in Valley Waters, however, most currently have large wait lists, which results in young families needing to take their children out of the area for childcare. We must work to secure increased access to affordable child care to better support our young families, they are our future and must be looked after.
- Essential services- Roads, fire service, policing, garbage. The costs of our essential services need to be better understood and reported back to our residents. We need to ensure that we are getting good value and that all areas of Valley Waters receive the same level of essential services.
What experience do you have that you feel will contribute to you being elected to a Council position in Valley Waters? Ie. Creating or managing budgets, Creating By-Laws or policies
As the manager of Radiation Oncology for 33 years and recently retiring, I have a wealth of knowledge in the Financial Budgeting and the Policy and Procedures area. I have been involved in several committees over many years and I am used to dealing with Provincial and National healthcare issues.
As a long-time resident of Valley Waters, I will always be thinking of the people of the area and how the Valley Waters Council and Mayor's decisions will affect them. The most important skill that I bring to the table is the ability to connect with others, and effectively work within a team environment as we navigate through change.
I value family, hard work, transparency, honesty, fairness, and integrity, and have a sincere desire to help make Valley Waters a place that we can proudly call home. I feel that my combination of training and work experience in healthcare including responsibility of operational and capital equipment budgets has prepared me for the position of Mayor of Valley Waters.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in Valley Waters?
I would use the following methods of involving residents in the decision-making process.
- Town Hall meetings
- Rotating or Virtual council meetings
- Include residents in a planning session for our community where we set the vision for a 4-5 year plan for our area in partnership with our Regional Service Commission.
- Survey residents as needed
- I would support adding a youth representative to the council
- I will work with all councillors to identify local priorities.
- Creation of a Valley Waters web page with access to information such as a local business directory, key contact information, tourism promotion, events calendar, meeting dates, agendas and minutes, policies and procedures.
I would appreciate your support at the election on Nov 28. Let's move Valley Waters forward together!
I have decided to run for Mayor of Valley Waters to help make a positive difference in our community. I have worked on the front lines of healthcare and in management for the past 33 years with the department of Oncology. I have extensive experience in leadership, budgeting, strategic planning, and policy development, and have served on several committees throughout my career. I offer strong leadership, a team focus, and a strong desire to help make Valley Waters a place where we all can be treated with fairness and respect.
We are going through a period of change from Amalgamation forced upon us by Fredericton. This change has been poorly communicated and has caused much concern due to errors such as the number of councillors being reduced from 2 to 1 in Springfield. It is no wonder that we have concerns about how this change will impact our communities and our loved ones.
The error in the number of councillors for Springfield (Ward 2) and Bloomfield (Ward 3) must be fixed a.s.a.p. Fair representation by the population base is vital for an effective Mayor and council.
If elected as your Mayor I will work with your local representatives and seek your feedback on how we can all work as a team to improve the quality of life that we all enjoy. While we must retain distinct identities which celebrate our past, it is also essential that we move forward together to provide a strong voice for all residents of Valley Waters.
Some of the points that are important for Valley Waters based on initial feedback are:
Fair Taxation based on services provided
Health and Wellness
Access to affordable Childcare
Tourism and recreation
Roads and infrastructure
This list is only a starting point and will be modified based on your feedback in partnership with the newly elected council after the correct number of representatives for each is assigned.
Let’s Move Valley Waters forward together!
Did you know that if you live in most of Bloomfield that you are now part of Valley Waters and will be able to vote for Mayor in the upcoming election on Nov 28! Important decisions will be made on your behalf by the council for your community...Today nominations closed for Council reps from your area and Ward 3 does not have a member on council. Ward 3 Map is attached!! If you are interested and need more information please message me or Randy (Randy is running for mayor)!
My name is Randy McKnight, and I have submitted my candidacy for Mayor of Valley Waters. Valley Waters is made up of Wickham, Kars, Springfield, a portion of the Parish of Norton, Norton, and a portion of Upham.
It would be an honour and a privilege to be your representative. I am a lifelong resident of the area having grown up in Hatfield Point, graduated from B.R.H.S., and now residing in Norton. We are very fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful places in the Province, a place where our families can count on each other in times of need.
We did not ask for municipal reform, but we can navigate this change as we have always met the challenges we have faced. Together we will make Valley Waters a place we can all be proud of, a place where our values and the spirit of helping each other will continue to thrive.
I recently retired from Horizon Health after 33 years of service, with 25 years of experience as manager of radiation oncology. I have served on Provincial and National committees and managed large projects and budgets. I am passionate about working with stakeholders to improve access to primary healthcare in our region and improving access to resources which will allow our seniors to age at home.
I love our community and am grateful for the opportunity to serve you as Mayor. Please exercise your rights and vote on November 28th or on one of the advanced voting days on November 19th and 21st. You may also vote at the local returning office in Sussex starting on November 7th.
