LAC STE. ANNE COUNTY A YEAR IN REVIEW #8

LAC STE. ANNE COUNTY A YEAR IN REVIEW #8

This Post #8 concludes our series of articles that has provided a snapshot of a portion of what our dedicated group from the LSARA executive have been doing for the past year.  We have continued in our efforts to effectively communicate with Council by meeting face to face and then submitting our queries, as we discussed, in writing.  The thought with this process was that we would have meaningful dialogue and then we would follow it up with questions and receive timely, informative answers.We have published a series of the Q & A and you can be the judge as to whether or not you think the process has changed for the better or has it remained the same where the responses either don’t answer the query or they are so vague that there is no value.

Following this series of posts we have confirmed the need to carry on as usual, to provide the Ratepayers of Lac St. Anne County and Communities, the information that they need to know as to the Issues that affect how our County is being Managed.  Thank you all for your input, suggestions and most important, your support.

Question #18 -  What is the current status of relationships with adjoining municipalities?

LSAC response -  County Council continues to acknowledge the importance of good relationships with its municipal partners.  Evidence of the quality of regional memberships can be found in the October Regional Municipalities Meeting, a significant number of municipal partnerships for grants, regional business development planning and progress against the Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks introduced by the MGA. 

Had LSARA responded, we would have asked the question, “Where are we at the table for all the economic development that is taking place with collaboration with adjoining municipalities?”  We KNOW that LSAC is not involved in the framework as we are not even a mention at the conferences that are being put on in the region.  Other areas are showcasing what development they have coming and what opportunities they are working on… together. 

Our Administration and our council identified that they think that Economic Development is not the mandate of the council?  If it does not belong to our elected officials and the Administration, who does it belong to? 

Question #19 -  What does the current economic development plan look like? How does LSAC propose to be actively seeking future investment in our County?

LSAC response – The development of a Long-Term Business Development Strategy for the County is a current strategic planning item with an estimated completion date in the second quarter of 2019, contingent on the approval of the project budget.  This strategic item may be postponed in light of the regional business development planning activities in which the County is engaged.

Had LSARA responded, we would have asked the question…. what was the question?  As far as we can tell that was as non responsive as you can possibly get!  What is the plan for the next three months as we are already through the first quarter for 2019.  

Project budget, the actual proposed budget has yet to be released so how can you have a Project Budget?  Remember folks, all of the MSI grant funding was provided to LSAC in 2018 for 2018 and 2019 so there is NO MONEY coming this year for MSI.  How many more wells, gas plants have been shut in since the last round of linear assessments were paid?  Do we have less money coming in for 2019? 

Many of the Administration staff are just like you and I, they go to work everyday looking to do a great job for all of us, but like any other business or organization, some have their own agendas.  Some it is to get as rich as they can off the Ratepayers backs before they get out.  

There is much evidence that points to how opportunities are being manipulated for effect of personal gain.  In no way shape or form should this ever be an accepted practice.  In many situations, it is in direct contravention of employment contracts.  This ends the questions and answers we have asked over the past year.  Many of them are as a direct result of information that has been provided to us through the Ratepayers as well as advertisements and articles.  

Our objective has always been, and will continue to be, to act on behalf of the best interests of the Ratepayers.  We are diligently working on other articles as we are conducting our research.  Keep reading and asking questions as that is how we become informed and a force together!  If you have a topic that you think all the Ratepayers need to know about, drop us a line on our blog or to our email. 

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