Friday, December 28, 2012

Have you had enough BS in 2012? The year of taking it with a grain of salt


Do you remember the Mayor’s Town hall meeting of June 23 the now infamous “Beef on a bun with lots of salt meeting” we had lights, we had cameras, we had action (RCMP earned their keep that night).
We had hoopla, like a carefully choreographed dance recital each councilor had a turn to stand up and recite from his particular part of the script. Remember Councilor Gallant clarifying the “silly” rumors one that pops to mind quickly was the gopher hunters. Remember Councilor Saindon justifying all the use of consultants to replace all our absence administrators. Let your memory wander back to all those senior managers fleeing our community to get married, or for the greener pastures of California and Fernie.
Then we had the main character in this theatrical production take over for the second half, we heard about the importance of putting together an Economic Development committee, about how the frozen situation at River Run is beginning to thaw, how he is going after our rich neighbors to the north to solve our financial woes. Then we reached the climax of this play the Crowsnest Centre site, the beautiful picture of what a hotel “could” look like. The building gone before first snowfall, the developer starting the hotel by spring I was so excited by the time I left, I treated the wife to a coffee at Timmy’s.

The BS was really served up in 2012 let us review a few of the yarns that have been spun in the last year:
1. As previously, mentioned the old hospital gone before first snowfall?
2. The hotel starting in Spring? Not without #1 happening very fast, I have heard just two more weeks and the deal will be in place at least a half dozen times?
3. The Quebec manufacturer I hope they are collecting air miles for all their trips out west?
4. MD of Ranchlands surprisingly it was never mentioned in previous discussions that it would take a minimum of 18 months to deal with this issue starting in spring?
5. Heavy Industry looking at the Pass in the first quarter of 2013, 700 jobs wow?
6. River Run, that’s going to be tied up in the legal process for years?
7. $1.5 million set aside for recreational purposes we now find out that it is waiting for the same recreational feasibility study that was discussed two years ago.
8. Then we have the Economic Development committee that was so important just a few months back, and yes I remember the Mayor stating at a council meeting that the Development Officer will be in place by Christmas. Now I read that this is being pushed back to at the earliest “May” this council will have four months left? What if the next council chooses to go in a different direction?

I understand has a politician you have to sell hope, but when you create expectations especially with timelines you better be prepared to meet them.    
Looking forward to 2013 let us hope all of the things listed above become real, and please stop trying to satisfy our appetite with so much salt.   
  

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dean I still have the vivid memory of Gallant scoffing at all the ridiculous rumours floating around town. He high lighted his presentation with the most ridiculous of all rumours…the out of town consultants hired to shoot gofers. There was the town management sitting quietly not correction any thing while Gallant made a bigger fool of him self. Nice team work eh. The councillor in the dark and CAO watching him miss lead the public.

Anonymous said...

I liked the part of meeting where the mayor asked the public if they wanted one or two town hall meeting between June and the end of year. The show of hands seemed to be evenly split so the mayor said it could be either one or two meeting. Guess what, we got none. I really wanted to go to a town hall meeting this fall but I guess that was meant to be taken with a gain of salt also.

Bill J

Anonymous said...

As our Ringleader directs your attention to the spectacle about to unfold before your very eyes in Ring #3...the Circus without a tent.

Anonymous said...

Lets not forget the Jamboree that we were going to have in Bellevue this coming summer. Until the rate payers screwed it up by doing the petition.

How those two issues have any relevance to each other could only be justified by a supreme BS expert somebody with a Phd in the subject.

Anonymous said...

I think the RiverRun tax auction must be held by March 31 and must be advertised (again) in The Alberta Gazette by mid Feb.

From Sasha's report on the Oct. 9 MDM meeting with the Ratepayers:
"Bruce replied. He said that currently there are 285 lots coming back to the municipality and will be put out for public auction. However, the Municipality wants to sell the lots as a package and needs permission from the courts in order to do so. He said that we are waiting for an answer back and should have one by March of 2013. They want to attract another developer, that is why they want to sell the lots as a package ..."

Will the courts require notifying owners and creditors and giving them a say in court? If so, not much time.

Anonymous said...

3:46,

At times like these, a person can't help but to wonder if Phd does not stand for 'Piled high deep".

Anonymous said...

Here is what was precious to me of the June town hall meeting. Watching Jerry Lonsbury’s emotionally charged defence of the mayor at the end of the meeting was the best part of the dog and pony (mare) show. Anyone who knows Jerry knows he has never taken a stand on anything in his life and avoids conflict at all cost as he works better behind the scenes. It was quite a site watching him take a stand and vigorously defend the mayor; declaring the mayor did not have to explain where he was during the Bellcrest parade. You are right Jerry, the mayor does not have to explain his absence but it would have shown a little respect to the citizens if he had volunteered some information on his absence. I guess in all fairness the mayor did let it slip out before the end of the evening his parade absence may have been reasonable but I am still not sure. I think he showed up latter in the day. One thing made clear is the mayor feels no need to explain anything to any one and Jerry clearly backs him.

Peter Rosner said...

Do you mean there is no Santa Claus

Anonymous said...

Peter Rosner said...
Do you mean there is no Santa Claus


Yes there is Peter! As long as you are willing to believe that the treats some stranger has left out for you are safe for consumption...if they are taken "with a grain of salt".

Anonymous said...

take back the river run land and step on the destroyed victims (investors), again..go ahead..lawyers will be contacting them.

Anonymous said...

I am looking forward to the late part of 2013 when the Pass returns to being salt free

Anonymous said...

Just give us something that somewhat resembles Meat and Potatoes, then tell us how good salt would be.

Anonymous said...

Meat and potatoes in the distant future - hot air and salt in the near term.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Happy New Year to all those progressive types that can appreciate the changes coming in 2013 and future years. To those that can't embrace change I suggest that you have a Happy New Years also. But unfortunately for you the rest of 2013 is going to suck.

Happy New Years

Misty Schitz

Anonymous said...

Misty is partly right - 2013 will indeed suck - but it will mostly suck taxpayers money to fund more "efficiencies." The rest of it will be just fine. Happy New Year Misty.

Anonymous said...

Misty, I know one change that is coming. Actually 7 changes, in October!!
Happy New Year all!!!

Anonymous said...

I have found that you never can tell what will happen in election. I am sure most people will tell you now that the council will be completely gone, but I have seen people complain and complain before and vote the same people in. It all depends on who is running. You just can never take it to the bank.

Anonymous said...

The petition numbers speak volumes. It does not matter what announcements are made in the coming months regarding any industry or the necessity for change. Our councillors can retire proudly and write a book about “How Not to Bring Change to a Small Community.” If memory serves, they started with a book, they may as well finish with a book.

Peter Rosner said...

Fool me once shame on you
Fool me twice shame on me
Whatever this group is selling the majority of the locals are not buying it. Heres hoping that 2013 brings this group of councilers a new vision for this municipality.

Anonymous said...

The Newsletter appeared on the website New Year's Eve.

Down in the CAO report it says:

"a new Hotel Developer is partnering with the main developer"

Does that mean there was no hotel developer back when Bruce made the grand announcement? Or did the original hotel developer back out of the deal.

Anonymous said...

It is now 2013 and I can only say regarding our present state of affairs...LET THE GAMES BEGIN