LSAC IS OUT OF CONTROL
First LSAC Implements a User Fee and a Solid Waste Utility Bill in order to deal with complaints of the use of RV's as Accommodations in Residential Subdivisions which have Bylaws against such use with No Public Input.
Then with public outcry they realize that their plan for a cash cow turns out to have more implications and complications than they would of encountered by Enforcing their Bylaws in the First Place.
February 23 2017 Council Votes Unanimously to approve and publicly advertise its 2017 draft budget, which features a zero per cent municipal tax rate increase, to give the residents a chance to respond to the draft. No Such Budget has been released to the Ratepayers to date and now it is APPROVED with a $41,000.00 SHORTFALL.
“We either raise a further $41,000 from taxes or take it from reserves,” said Lac Ste. Anne County Mayor Bill Hegy.
RV Bylaw Discussions Continue at County
Mayerthorpe Freelancer
Lac Ste. Anne County council discussed resident concerns regarding the recent RV bylaw amendment at its March 23 meeting.
Council recently passed an amendment that charges residents a $500 fee per application for one RV.
Part of the meeting’s discussions included concerns from administration about who has the power to make exemptions on a case-by-case basis.
“Right now its $500 per unit (RV). What is confusing is that residents can ask for an exemption,” said Lac Ste. Anne County Mayor Bill Hegy.
At the meeting, chief administration officer Mike Primeau said he doesn’t want to be the one making decisions on exemptions. He explained that giving an exemption to one resident could establish an unworkable precedent.
“I am not going to put my neck out there because giving an exemption to one could mean that all of them ask for an exemption,” he said.
Council has exemptions with any bylaw, but in this particular case the right to exempt has been given to administration, explained Hegy.
Council also discussed changing the bylaw to accommodate weekends or long weekends when families visit in their RVs for a get-together.
No decisions were made on March 23. The subject will be discussed again on April 5.
Budget Shortfall
County council approved its budget with a shortfall of $41,000.
It was up to council to decide whether they should increase the tax rate this year to make up for the shortfall or use the money from the reserves.
“We either raise a further $41,000 from taxes or take it from reserves,” said Lac Ste. Anne County Mayor Bill Hegy.
He confirmed that council could go back at a later date and make an amendment to the budget.
Administration explained that the shortfall is a result of council decision to reflect general municipal rates identical to 2016 and keeping it at a zero per cent tax increase.
A motion was carried to approve the budget with the shortfall coming from accumulated surplus.
George Pegg Botanic Garden Society
A request came into council from George Pegg Botanic Garden Society asking for a funding commitment of $10,000 for a five-year plan.
The society and the county had an agreement that expired in 2015 and the society didn’t receive any funding last year.
Administration made it clear to council that the society is requesting more funding this time around, increasing from $5,000 annual commitment as part of the previous agreement.
A motion was carried to provide $5,000 for day-to-day operations of the society.
Coun. Wayne Borle said that the society didn’t receive any funding last year and debated to get an additional $5,000 to come out of the county reserve to make up for it.
Another motion was carried to grant that request and an additional $5,000 would be given to the society.
Council will look into another $6,000 for the society as they requested the amount for capital projects. Council agreed to treat that request separately as it’s not part of the society’s operational cost.
Alberta Beach Outdoor Rink donation
County council carried a motion to make a one-time donation of $5,000 to Alberta Beach Outdoor Rink at its March 23 meeting.
Recreation Facility and Program Assistance Grant reserve, from which the donation was made, stood at about $28,000.
Community volunteers have been raising funds to replace rink boards for the outdoor rink located in Beachwave Park.
The group has raised about $38,000 leaving them to raise about $23,000 more.
I'm appalled at how inept, unreasonable, and abusive of it's citizens the county of lac ste anne has become. I've been getting billed for the waste service, (on my taxes regardless of my refusal to pay for a service I don't need because of my being/living green) as well as having late penalties imposed.
ReplyDeleteToday a gigantic dog (likely great dane or cross thereof) came onto my acreage and bred my female as well as attack the fixed male dog living here. I had to search and be bounced around at considerable length just to be told that such things were not handled by the county anymore but that they would forward the information to the correct authorities. I just finally received a callback after nearing 4 hours stating that they'd keep an eye out. Not very reassuring in the face such a huge dog wandering around freely and attacking animals on their own property.