Letter to the Ratepayers Alice Szybunka

Letter to the Ratepayers Alice Szybunka

Hi and Happy Easter to you all.

I am wondering if you have been following or are aware of the latest Lac Ste. Anne county plans to initiate a "Legacy Municipal Land Corporation " (basically a separate company...under county control) which they are proposing to build all sorts of things... low cost housing, industrial parks, buildings for new businesses etc. beginning with a new medical clinic in the town of Onoway which they proposed with be run by the "Onoway Regional Medical Clinic" (which is currently a joint committee comprised of LSA County, Onoway, and four or five other summer Villages).  The county also plans to make that 'committee ' into a "Municipally Controlled Corporation" which would make the lion's share of responsibility fall on LSAC ratepayers! 

The county has served public notice that they plan to borrow one million dollars at 4.5% (until 2044) then loan that money to the Legacy Municipal Land Corporation (at 4%) to supposedly buy land in the Town of Onoway and build a clinic in Onoway.  The Onoway Medical Clinic would then pay rent. 

Our illustrious Council and Administration are telling us that they plan to accommodate more doctors, "nurses, dietitians, therapists and other specialized medical resources".  There is talk of an x-ray machine.  

Grandiose ideas but not one single indication that Alberta Health Services will EVER approve, fund or maintain any of it.  It fact we have found nothing to show Alberta Health has ever been contacted.  Our own investigations have shown quite the opposite. 

Many of us feel it would be impossible to buy land and build a clinic for one million which leads us to believe this money would only be the beginning of long term debt which would belong ENTIRELY to LSAC Ratepayers. 

The very principal of the Land Corporation is frightening. ... how many business ventures are they planning.... and where?  The Notice of Public Hearing (Lac Ste Anne Anne Bulletin April 1) describes "the purpose of the Legacy Municipal Land Corporation is to use a wide range of innovative entrepreneurial approaches to commercial and residential real estate development, property management and infrastructure advancement, to achieve outcomes beneficial to the needs and desires of residents". 

By their own statements, they are clearly attempting to enter the arena of  "private business"....not the job of governance.  One must ask...whose needs? Whose desires?  This council appears to be wading into some risky waters...for the ratepayers!  

Our current CAO currently makes about 250,000.00 a year and one could guess his 'managers' are taking home well over 100,000.00 per year.... this administration will be put in charge of all these extra corporations. We can assume they will not be doing so without some added compensation. ... a cost that LSAC ratepayers will also carry. 

Aside from all of us voicing our opinion on this matter, the only alternative the ratepayers have is to petition the borrowing Bylaw and the the lending Bylaw.  And demand a public vote.  The current petition deadline is April 30.  Please check the LSAC website for the information regarding the Legacy Municipal Land Corporation and the Onoway Regional Medical Clinic. 

Feel free to call me anytime with questions or your own comments.  Also feel free to share this message to anyone you think would be interested.  It is important that I make it very clear that neither I nor LSARA (Lac Ste Anne Ratepayers Association ) are against Onoway having a medical clinic. We are opposed to the lack of public disclosure, public input and consideration of the taxpayers who will be held responsible to carry the debt load. 

The first and ONLY public information appears in the Lac Ste Anne Bulletin on March 25th. It was almost immediately followed by the Public Notice of Borrowing Bylaw 11-2019 and Loan Bylaw 12-2019 in the Bulletin on April 8th, 2019. NO "Public Hearing" to provide information and hear public concerns has been scheduled.  A public hearing regarding the formation of the two corporations has been scheduled for 9:45 and 10:00 May 1st. 

Written submissions or requests to speak must be received by Administration by April 30th. 

It appears money has already been spent in "design", engineering, architecture etc. because the timeline presented on the county website has "Tender Construction " slated for May 10th, 2019. 

A petition demanding a public vote has been drafted...it is time sensitive and must be submitted by April 30th. If you wish to add your name please contact me and I will come to you or you can come to our house to do so. 

Thanks for your time.

PLEASE SUPPORT LSARA AND SHARE YOUR VIEWS!  

IT'S TIME TO STAND UP!