Saturday, March 30, 2019
Thursday, March 28, 2019
LAC STE. ANNE COUNTY A YEAR IN REVIEW #6
LAC STE. ANNE COUNTY A YEAR IN REVIEW #6
This is the 6th segment in LSARA's Year in Review. As
we go back through all the requests that we have submitted to LSAC and the
responses we have received, it generates more and more questions. One of
the areas where you, the Ratepayer can assist us. Searching for information,
gathering information as it takes a team, an army. When we as Ratepayers
are once again faced with the call to action, that is what we will need, an
army.
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
LAC STE. ANNE COUNTY A YEAR IN REVIEW #5
LAC STE. ANNE COUNTY A YEAR IN REVIEW #5
This the 5th segment in LSARA’s Year in Review. We took the day off for our Question Review and provided a Review of the proposed LUB changes. If you haven’t had a chance to review it, may we suggest it to be a great idea to before April. The proposed changes may or may not affect you. You may or may not appreciate the changes. What we do know, is that if you haven’t taken the time to inform yourself, it will be all over with no recourse if the proposed changes do have the ability to impact you.
Monday, March 25, 2019
PUBLIC HEARING: MARCH 23, 2019 LSAC LAND USE BYLAW REVIEW
PUBLIC HEARING LSAC LAND USE BYLAW REVIEW
We are changing gears a wee bit as this next topic is time sensitive and still allows you, the ratepayer to ask questions of your Council if there are items of concern or question for the changes to the new Land Use Bylaw. You have up until beginning of April to address any issues.Sunday, March 24, 2019
LAC STE. ANNE COUNTY A YEAR IN REVIEW #4
LAC STE. ANNE COUNTY A YEAR IN REVIEW #4
This the 4th segment in LSARA’s Year in Review. We told you with Review #3 that we had some information that was sent to us that would or most certainly SHOULD make everyone stand up and take notice.
Had LSARA responded, we would have asked how is it possible to have any semblance of a Budget when you clearly don’t know what you borrowed, you don’t know the interest rate and use a zero for what is outstanding? Some of these terms have just begun as late as last year, 2018. Do you think maybe that on both charts we borrowed for roads as we used our MSI funding in one fell swoop for 5 years on the Administration Building? There is also no mention of bridge repairs in this “budget” which we know had to take place as they have not been maintained and one was damaged by improper use of explosives attempting to clear a Beaver Dam. What is wrong with taking the dam down by hand like the old-style Beaver control used to do?
Had LSARA responded, we would have once again asked several questions. How can you not know when you borrowed money? How is that you borrow money WITHOUT KNOWING what the interest rate is? How is it that a financial reconciliation is provided to the Ratepayers of Lac Ste Anne County without ANY totals outstanding? Is this the fiscal responsibility that we should all expect from our Administration and our Council? Does the cost for the New Administration Office reflect the actual cost of the building, the furniture, the utilities etc.? It most certainly does not!!!!! Does it adequately reflect what the Administration building has and will continue to cost you, the Ratepayer in legal fees as the building is subpar and has documented structural issues? Does it adequately reflect that the only protection we had as a Ratepayer was a million dollar hold back that was released? To remove a caveat? Because the contractor was going to SUE? Why haven’t we sued the CONTRACTOR along with the Management group that was supposed to take care of our interest that we paid a million dollars to in order to oversee the Project?
Question # 8 – Current long-term
borrowing – how much was the total amount borrowed in the last 5 years and how
much is outstanding? What was the money
borrowed for? What are the terms and
interest rate?
LSAC Response is this exact table.
QUESTION #9 – Short term borrowing –
how much was the total amount borrowed in the last 5 years and how much is
outstanding? What was the money borrowed
for? What are the terms and the interest
rate?
LSAC Response is this exact table.
Your comments and
concerns are valued. Your membership is very important to us. We look forward
to greeting you all at our Annual General Meeting March 31st at the GUNN Hall
from 2-4 pm. Stay tuned for Post #5 in the series.
Saturday, March 23, 2019
LAC STE. ANNE COUNTY A YEAR IN REVIEW #3
LAC STE. ANNE COUNTY A YEAR IN REVIEW #3
Onto the third segment of our review. We are starting to get
a little more pointed in our questions as there have been many examples of
where some of these items have been brought to light previously. Some we
received responses to that didn’t meet the intent of the question so we
reiterated the question.
Friday, March 22, 2019
LAC STE. ANNE COUNTY A YEAR IN REVIEW #2
LAC STE. ANNE COUNTY A YEAR IN REVIEW #2
Here is the continuation of the questions LSARA asked and
the responses we received. Some of the questions or the responses might not
make sense to you if the context isn’t explained. We will add in some
explanatory information for clarity.
Question #3. Business rebates for the “Mom and Pop”
operations. A response was to be forthcoming from the Division 1
Councillor.
LSAC Response to our Question #3:
The property tax program sometimes
referred to as the Mom and Pop Rebate program was discontinued by Council in
2015. In 2018, as part of new authorities provided by revisions to the
Municipal Government ACT (MGA) County Council passed legislation that allows
Small Business Property, as defined in the MGA, a property tax rate 25% lower
than Non-Residential property. This rate is the lowest permitted under
provincial legislation.
Had LSARA responded, we may have asked if the LSAC
definitions under the Land Use Bylaws (LUB) were in-line with the MGA. Is this
“advantage” communicated to small business to attempt to attract residents with
small businesses to Lac Ste Anne County? Is this incentive communicated to all
“Mom and Pop” businesses that currently operate in LSAC?
Question #4. Road Plans. There are more than just one
road we have a concern with. “Name withheld for owner privacy” Is the County
putting an approach on this land? The registered road allowance runs right
through an organic farm but there is no law forcing any kind of
development so why not change it back to the outside parameters of the land? Is
LSAC planning to use tax dollars to what would amount to a private road to an
undeveloped acreage? Have there been any permits issued for this proposed
development?
LSAC Response to our Question #4: The county proceeded with a temporary
approach for safety, and Council approves moving the road allowance to the
western boundary of property and cancelling the current road plan.
Had LSARA responded we would have asked if this
“cancellation” of the road plan was addressed through the Province as Road
plans are registered with the Province. With Safety stated as a deciding
factor, the question is whose safety and why?
Question #5. Road Plan with respect to what roads are
in the 5 year plan to repair or build. Why have we deviated and will the
debenture that we are currently undertaking of $2.5 million be taken out of the
5 year plan or will we be just assuming another 2.5 million of debt?
Interesting to note here that the interest on the monies borrowed equates to
what is stated this road is costing to maintain annually so how is it a
gain?
LSAC Response to our Question #5: Road plans are live documents that
provide guidance but are not set in stone. Council reserves the right to move
projects up and down the list based on many factors. Two Rd 590 project began a
few years ago but was never completed.
Had LSARA responded we would have acknowledged that Council
certainly does have to prioritize projects, Road builds and repairs. Why was
the project not completed in better economic times? When Linear Assessments
were higher and MSI funding, capital project funding was more readily
available? Could it be due to all the financial resources LSAC had being
funnelled to ONE project? Namely the Administration Building ?
Please follow this Blog and like, follow and share our Facebook Page.
Your comments and concerns are valued. Your membership is very important to us. We look forward to greeting you all at our Annual General Meeting March 31st at the GUNN Hall from 2-4 pm. Stay tuned for Post #3 in the series.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
LAC STE. ANNE COUNTY A YEAR IN REVIEW #1
