Special Council Meeting of March 29,2011
Adoption of Agenda:
No additions
Motion to accept the Agenda was passed unanimously
Adoption of previous minutes: None
Delegations: None
Administrative and Agency Reports: None
Business arising from the Minutes: None
Correspondence: None
Committee Reports: None
Bylaws:
1. Bylaw 820, Mill rate Bylaw.
Director of Finance presented the mill rate bylaw provided information on the breakdown of the bylaw. Discussion began with the following questions and or comments: Does administration have a 5-year projection for linear assessment? Yes it going down
Are assessment values based on market values of June 2010? Yes
How does market values for June 2010 compare to values for June 2009? Pretty well the same.
Are power lines part of linear assessment? Yes
Is school foundation charged on just residential? No but our business sector is so small that the residential is hit with the brunt of any increase.
CPR did their assessment go up when they added the by pass line and upgraded their bridges? Administration to check on this, assessor believes it is based on tonnage that passes through.
Is there any change to the mill rate? No not the municipal portion
How much will tax rates increase? Administration stated on a commercial property worth $1.2 million $118 on a residential anywhere from $8-22.
Is our commercial high compared to other municipalities? Assessor explained that our ratio of non-residential to non-residential is 2-1, where Lethbridge is at 4-1 and Calgary is at 5-1.
Councilor Saindon requested where dollars from jobs not being filled and savings on equipment purchases were going. Administration explained that before those dollars were spent elsewhere information would come back to council.
Motion for first reading passed by a vote of 4-3 (Saje, Gallant, Saindon opposed)
2. Bylaw 823, Discharge of Septage into Municipal Owned Septage Disposable Facility.
Discussion: Mayor Decoux wanted to know why this was brought to a special meeting of council. Administration stated that it is a revenue issue needed to be implemented immediately.
Does this policy fit within the Municipal Environmental Sustainability Plan? Administration stated that this is a service that many municipalities provide we need to have it put in place. Motion to passed second reading passed unanimously. Motion to pass third reading passed unanimously.
Notices of Motion: None
Other Business:
1. Maplevue Hall Demolition: Discussion
Request for a 60-day extension on the demolition from the Crowsnest Heritage Board.
Felt that heritage board had many opportunities to approach council previously; it would not be fair on the contractor to delay now.
Felt that the heritage board should be more pro active and approach the municipality with a list of municipal owned building that they would like to have some input on.
Councilor Saje felt if the roof was good should give the heritage board the time to look at it.
Councilor Londsbury felt that the building is an eyesore and should be dealt with also concerned about the old Cameron school in West Coleman.
Motion to proceed with the demolition passed 6-1 (Saje opposed)
13 comments:
You know I honestly voted in October thinking that the days of tax increases were over.
We are being taxed to the hilt in the Pass.
If my taxes go up 4% I will be paying 50% more on my house here versus my house in Calgary.
It makes me sick.
No tax increases what a frigging joke.
Then they needed these new positions so bad they have not even filled them yet.
Anne
Do not kid yourself these guys will rise to the occasion next week go and read Saindon's Blog.
Administration and Council are working together to keep the increase at zero.
Mr. Saje, take a picture of Maplevue hall, then blow it up.
Time to clean the Pass up.
9:42 Let me lay out the schedule for the council meeting.
Bylaw 820 #2 reading. Speech from the yes block, we have held the line, we are doing many good things for our taxpayers. Slight whimpering from the No block, then they vote 3-4.
Followed up by the Mayor calling for third reading. Further comments from the Yes block about this budget allowing us the opportunity to move forward with many new ventures. Little further whimpering from the No block, then they vote 3-4.
Mayor then proceeds with the speech "I know this was a tough process, but not to worry because in future years we will have a mill rate setting policy"
Result an extra $400,000 will be taked from the taxpayers.
Flash forward three years the NO Block stands up and states I never voted for a tax increase.
I was going to council meeting in the seventies listening to this kind of crap. Same script, same characters just different actors.
The Pass wasn't a municipality in the 70's ???????????? It did not exist until 1979.
I am talking about the town of Blairmore!
I agree so much with getting rid of the Maplevue hall its time.
Sell the land put a beautiful plague there.
This is so discouraging! We live in the most beautiful, accessible area in the Rockies but the town is dirty and messy. The Community Standards Bylaw is not being enforced, many residential streets are impassable in winter, and the all-new council and administration are squabbling about OUR money. We are short of jobs except for municipal insiders who are paid by OUR dollars. But we will have plenty of new policies in place so that the legacy of this council group will survive beyond their mandate!
I hoped and prayed that things would be way more rational with the change in council at the last election. Why do we all put up with it?
I think it is time for me to move.
1:15 you are so right this is both one of the most beautiful and one of the most dumpest places in the world.
It holds so much potential, I am not prepared to leave yet Decoux says that he is bringing forth community enhancement in the fall.
The last council gave these guys the tools now they need to use them.
Hanging on for a little bit.
When is the municipality going to get rid of that other money pit/eyesore.
(Our previous convention center)
Why is council micro managing the process of removing the hall? Didn't they already decide to get rid of it?? Leave the "how" to the administration. Council has bigger things to worry about.
So much for no tax increase.
I know its the provinces fault, its the Seniors fault.
To council it will never be your fault would it??
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