So, I ask you. Who is facilitating rumors? Who is being transparent?
As we review some of our Articles that we have posted in this last year, we see that some have come full circle. What does that mean?
Well, the group that is now LSARA petitioned against the new Administration Building. Why did we do that? We did it because we believed (and still do) that much more research, review and consultation was required.
We still had many questions such as how would we manage financially if we earmarked all our incoming Municipal Sustainability Initiatives Grants and our linear taxation funds. We already knew that the County would lose around $1 million dollars as a result of reduction in taxation due to plummeting oil. The direction Council and Administration indicated was that they would have to increase residential taxation , take from reserves, and finally reduce services. This was all going on at the same time.
They were prepared to forge ahead and continue to further increase the Ratepayers debts even though Albertans and people in our County were losing their jobs and some taking wage cuts to keep their jobs. We continued to increase our organizational chart, hiring people and growing our debt. We outsourced many projects that we paid for such as re-branding in a time where everyone else was practicing fiscal restraint. Council and Administration continued even when emotions ran high and East felt pitted against the West.
The solution to the Petition was to short term borrow, which is not petionable. What generally happens when you fail to plan is your plan fails.
By surging ahead, the proper steps weren't taken once again taking money that didn't have to be spent. Common "Prior to Purchase Due Diligence" and conducting land use studies would have provided the information that a borrow pit existed at the new Administration Building Site.
Together we have been saddled with additional debt as current council and Administration eroded agreements with fire services that have existed for many years. This forced the purchase of more land and more debt.
Introduction of landfill fees that were poorly delivered and poorly planned causing them to be rescinded. A number of Land use bylaw changes that have caused uproar and once again some of which have been rescinded and/ or changed to reflect the actual needs of the residents. Some of which are still in the process of being changed even without "Proper Councillor Representation".
The process of how these changes were implemented is what the problem was and that is why the changes to the 2017 Bylaw Amendments were "STOPPED". That is the reason why they are back to the drawing board. The question still remains. "Are these changes being done in a Fair Open and Transparent manner in the best interest of the County?"
LSARA has worked very hard to ensure we deliver accurate and timely information to you, the Ratepayers!
LSARA has worked very hard to ensure we deliver accurate and timely information to you, the Ratepayers!
This has resulted in reaction from council and Administration wherein they suggest that there are "rumors" and they wish to dispel them. Once again, LSARA will advise that we print FACTS as we always substantiate our information with having done the research first!
Case in point, the long term debt information that was recently put on the County website as well as in the county choice of newspaper. They told you that the Ratepayers were only in debt $131 each!!!!
The numbers that they provided were not comparable vs the audited financial statement or the numbers that Alberta Municipal Affairs have published. LSARA did not falsify and give you this information, it was printed by LSAC in the newspaper and on their website. Nowhere in all of the supplied information was the short term borrowing which includes the administration building to the tune of 11 million plus.
So, I ask you. Who is facilitating rumors? Who is being transparent?
LSAC still owns the buildings in Sangudo that were not "habitable" as they stated due to concerns of mold and asbestos. What is to become of them ? If they are as bad as LSAC has suggested, they can't be rented as the same "risks" would be there for any occupants. There are many vacant buildings already in the Hamlet. Remediation is expensive as is demolition. No money in the budget for that.
There are some roads on the East end of the County (likely on the west as well) where the 5 year road plan had identified which roads required repair and upgrades. That hasn't been followed. An example of that is some paving that is taking place on 540. No borrowing bylaw was advertised prior to engaging the contractor. No Tenders! Why does this continue to happen? Saying they can "get it off the books". How can you get it off the books when you hadn't budgeted for it?
LSAC still owns the buildings in Sangudo that were not "habitable" as they stated due to concerns of mold and asbestos. What is to become of them ? If they are as bad as LSAC has suggested, they can't be rented as the same "risks" would be there for any occupants. There are many vacant buildings already in the Hamlet. Remediation is expensive as is demolition. No money in the budget for that.
There are some roads on the East end of the County (likely on the west as well) where the 5 year road plan had identified which roads required repair and upgrades. That hasn't been followed. An example of that is some paving that is taking place on 540. No borrowing bylaw was advertised prior to engaging the contractor. No Tenders! Why does this continue to happen? Saying they can "get it off the books". How can you get it off the books when you hadn't budgeted for it?
Trust us when we say that your taxes are increasing as they cannot maintain services, infrastructure repairs such as roads and bridges with the current income. Council was told this by the LSAC Manager Mike Primeau in a Council Meeting in regards to the "LSAC 2017 BUDGET"!!!
Right before the upcoming open house, now the County Council and Administration want you to know that there are cracks in the walls and that this is "normal". They also want you to know that they aren't quite finished spending our money as there was no money for sidewalks, paving, landscaping.
They still haven't told you that their hold backs (which is frequently done in construction) has not stopped the Prime Contractor Casman from placing a lien in excess of 1.3 million dollars.
There remain serious deficiencies and we verily believe that by accepting the building (moving in) that identifies that substantial completion has been attained. Doors that don't close, horizontal cracks in the walls, Heaving Floors that both the County Manager Mike Primeau and General Manager of Infrastructure & Planning Joe Duplessie described as "Shocking", tells us that there remain some serious issues.
Who accepted the keys?
LSARA is a very diverse group of Ratepayers whose primary objective is to ensure that we seek and share information.
We are currently providing an avenue for all those seeking a seat in the upcoming October election to showcase their bio. We put this offer to all the running candidates whether they are incumbents or new challengers. We also have set up and invited all candidates to the two Candidate Forums for all candidates.
We are hosting in Onoway at the Heritage Centre on the 26th of September at 7 pm for Divisions 1,2 and 3. We are hosting for Divisions 4,5,6 and 7 in conjunction with the DDRA at the Darwell Community Hall again at 7 pm.
Notice that not one of the incumbents have been featured on our candidates posts. That's because they must believe that they don't have to, everyone knows them and will vote for them so they have not supplied their bios. There is a real danger in that type of complacency as those who truly want to do a good job will show up and talk to the Ratepayers and participate.
Where does all of this stop? When does LSARA get to say we are done, we have served our purpose? When we have Council and Administration that listen, take into account all the Ratepayers concerns and act accordingly. When council and Administration are open, transparent, accountable and fiscally responsible!
Where does all of this stop? When does LSARA get to say we are done, we have served our purpose? When we have Council and Administration that listen, take into account all the Ratepayers concerns and act accordingly. When council and Administration are open, transparent, accountable and fiscally responsible!
These are all achievable. There are many councils and administrations that have very high satisfaction ratings by their Ratepayers. None of us are going to agree with every decision and some of them are necessary. We would like to agree with some. We have heard that some feel we are negative and never have anything good to say. Nothing would make us happier than to be able to present some great stories to you about how we have been able to work together and to talk about the relationships we have built.
It's not about pointing fingers. It's about looking in the mirror. If you are that person that looks in the mirror and has no issue with who they see, then WE WANT YOU! The Ratepayers deserve fair, responsible, credible representation in all seven divisions. Please join us at the Forums so you can get a sense of who you may wish to vote for.
CALL ANY OR ALL COUNCILLORS TO DEMAND THE ANSWERS AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW HOW YOU FEEL - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
- Phone: (780) 937-5360
- Phone: (780) 967-3073
- Phone: (780) 786-4290
- Phone: (780) 785-2095
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