Saturday, May 18, 2013

Breaking News: MD of Ranchlands responds to Annexation request


Below is the MD of Ranchlands response to the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass on the issue of annexation.
Below that response is my opinion of what they are saying.   


M.D. of Ranchland responds to Annexation Proposal

M.D. of Ranchland Open letter to the Community 

On March 22, 2013, the Council of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass (MCP) approached the M.D. of Ranchland with a proposal for MCP to annex all that portion of Ranchland that lies to the south and west of the Oldman River.  Such an annexation would result in the loss of one-third of the M.D. of Ranchland.
The catalyst for this annexation proposal is the renewed interest in coal deposits stretching from the Grassy Mountain area by Riversdale Resources, and up the Forestry Trunk Road by Elan Coal Ltd.  The type of mining involved is large scale, open-pit mining for metallurgical coal destined for the Asian market.
If such an annexation were to occur, the MCP is also requiring that Ranchland transfer $200,000 per year for five years to the MCP to cover the cost of servicing the proposed annexation area prior to any new potential tax revenue being realized.  The MCP proposes that Ranchland raise its mill rate on linear, commercial, and machinery & equipment to pay for this transfer of funds.  In other words, tax the Ranchland ratepayers to subsidise the MCP.
It is the considered opinion of the M.D. of Ranchland Council that this annexation should not proceed.  We believe that our first duty is to act in the best interest of all the taxpayers in our Municipal District whether residential, farmland, commercial or industrial. This proposal does not fit within our mandate as a responsible Council.
Mining in the area is currently in an exploratory phase.  Mineral rights are bought and sold frequently. Proposed resource developments do not always come to fruition.  It is a complex process to prove reserves, find capital, confirm contracts with customers, obtain regulatory approval and construct the facility.  If a mine does not come to fruition that would leave MCP in a dire situation as the annexed area would become a revenue drain as tax revenue for the area will not cover the cost of servicing.
If any proposed coal mining venture does proceed then, as the immediate service center, not only will such economic development benefit the MCP, but Ranchland would be open to discuss revenue sharing with neighbouring communities, including the MCP, to ensure that all benefit.

With Respect,
The Council of the Municipal District of Ranchland No. 66

My opinion: The Crowsnest Pass made a request for one third of the MD in addition they requested that the MD provide $200,000 a year for five years to service that land. CNP proposes that the MD raise their tax rates to cover this cost. I wonder how our residents would feel about us paying more taxes to enable a neighbour to take away one third of our municipality. They mention this interest coming about due to Riversdale and Elan Coal looking at coal deposits, Elan as been sniffing around for at least three to four years anybody hear of them?
The second to last paragraph makes a lot of sense they are telling us to consider that it takes a long time to bring a mine to fruition, not the two to three years that some people have been trying to sell around here. At the end of the letter they talk about being open to discussing revenue sharing down the road with the neighbour communities, very smart on their part remember in my previous post I stated the letter would  be written for both the benefit of the local residents and municipal affairs in Edmonton

28 comments:

Jin said...

Ask and you shall receive. NOT

John Prince said...

Well done, Dean. It looks like you beat me to the scoop on this one. Good for you. But now it begs the question, who your mole is at the office (or playing favourites newspaper) that you were able to get a copy of this letter before it was even officially presented to mayor and council at their meeting next Tuesday? :-0 :-)

Besides the $200K and the one-third of the M.D. of Ranchland parts (and the gall of it all), the second to last paragraph is of particular interest to me in that it clearly shows our guys once again put the cart in front of the horse in not fully thinking this through, while at the same time risking putting our community in, as said, "a dire situation".

As I said in my post of the other day News Tip: What goes around comes around when you don't play nice when first breaking this story, "These guys are a walking disaster..."

JP

Anonymous said...



In other words... Get Stuffed!

Anonymous said...

I find it a little odd that they would address it to the community. A little high handed, I would say.

Anonymous said...

Over the course of the next five months council/administration plus potential politicians are going to be jockeying for position. Everybody with the possible exception of Bruce recognizes that there is no silent majority. Administration could potentially have new bosses I am sure some will want to be on the good side of those people. Current members of council will be looking at their co-Horts to determine who will be an asset and who they should attempt to distance themselves from prior to the election. Potential candidates will be looking for the unpopular issues and failures of the present council to exploit to maximize their election hopes.
The message here is there are lots of politics to be played in this very political community, people, groups, organizations will all be attempting to feather their nests through that timeframe. Everybody should be watching the papers and maybe even attend some council meeting over that period to see who turns on who.

Anonymous said...

To anon.2.51 ODD you say.They have more respect for the people in the Pass than our underhanded administration. I guess they think WE the people should know what is going on. You must be one of the underhanded.

Anonymous said...




3:11,

'Survivor Crowsnest Pass'. Brilliant.

Anonymous said...

Haha only the cnp donkeys would expect ranchlands to give up land and money. The arrogance will never end.

Anonymous said...

2:51

Maybe the md of Ranchlands has realized that there is a huge disconnect between the residents of the Crowsnest Pass and it's leadership.


Anonymous said...

3:38

I can think of about 14 people that have already started the next round of survivor.

Let's hope those severance plans are not too large.

Anonymous said...

Our council and administration have handled the Riversdale announcement very poorly. They have not done right by our neighbours and now they are getting some of their own medicine right back. If this annexation or a revenue sharing arrangement is to go forward – our current council is clearly not up to the task. They have bungled pretty much everything they have touched. We need someone with decent people skills on council and then we can move forward.

Anonymous said...

Press Release: The MD of Pincher today made an offer of $500,000 a year if the CNP would take Beaver Mines of their hands.





Anonymous said...

Anon 9:43, Is this a joke??????

Anonymous said...

Maybe they could annex us.

Anonymous said...

Why can't people just get along with our council? They really are a group of nice guys, doing the right thing for this community.

Anonymous said...

09:46 Very funny. Are you from this planet?

Anonymous said...

Shame on you for saying something positive; not supposed to do that in the Pass, and definitely not on the blogs.

Anonymous said...

They are such a great bunch of guys. I assumed Ranchlands would have been eating out of their hands. After a few sessions with our leaders I fully expected them to offer us half their MD and $400,000 a year. Wouldn't you?

Anonymous said...

To anon 9:46 aother joke. You gotta love these low information people.Anon 10:28 has it right, you must be from somewhere else. The planet DUMBO?

Anonymous said...

It would not take very long for Bruce to offend every one in the room. The meeting would have been interesting so much so the reply is coming through the newspaper. Not surprising at all.

Anonymous said...

Anon. 09:46 Ask yourself why this council can’t get along with the people who elected them. This would be a better question to answer. Did you read the Mayor’s Corner last week? 2500 Cavers? More like 7 Cavers.

Anonymous said...

Anon 09:46AM The Mayor, his Council and the Administration will all have a career after October. The title of their first book will be " How Not to Run a Municipality - Jumping into the 21st Century and the Mine Pit". This will be followed by "How to Work With Your Neighbors and Come Out Behind".

Anonymous said...

Can't we just send Bruce to Ranchlands and give them $200,000 a year for 5 years untill they can make the necessary raise to their tax base? We would save a fortune.

Anonymous said...

Off topic, Has anyone heard if Best Western gave approval for a hotel at the CC site. They were suppose to meet last week. I am assuming that no news must mean their answer was no .But do not worry, Holiday Inn is just waiting their turn to jump in.I am still hoping for the best, but fearing the worst.

Anonymous said...

Excellent editorial in today's Promoter. Way to go Joni.

Anonymous said...

If I were Bruce's neighbour I would look out and be very carefull. He may soon demand your snowblower (as he doesn't have one) along with a few bucks a year, for gas, just to keep it going.

Doesn't Bruce get the picture that the MD of Ranchlands may actually have their own 'strategic plan'? They have a lot to work with. Good for them!

This is an embarrassment for the whole community.

Anonymous said...

Just read latest Mayor's Corner. The man is very much at home with the idea of Entitlement - explains much what happens here.

Anonymous said...

This mayer is worth less than a pile of manure. At least manure is usefull , he is worth less than NOTHING, He is not the worth the air he is breathing./