Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Pass Herald a sign of the times

This week's Pass Herald (On line) is a very good reflection of what's going on in this community at this time. Obviously we start with the flood how could you not. 

At the last council meeting CAO Thompson mentioned that discussions had started with the Bellevue Seniors on their hall, he gave a sense that they were going well and more meeting were to come. 
When I read the article "Seniors Centre debate continues" available @
http://passherald.ca/archives/130625/index3.htm it certainly does not give the impression that we have amicable negotiations going on here.  

Then I read the article "Council severs ties with Pool Board" available @
http://passherald.ca/archives/130625/index1.htm
we seem to be getting a very common theme here in the Crowsnest Pass. 
(For those that want to compare this to when the structure of the ski hill was changed I will be answering that issue shortly) 

Lastly there is an article from guest writer S.C Rudegan titled "Who's in charge" available @
http://www.passherald.ca/archives/130625/index4.htm

Two very important paragraphs that I am taking from this very well written article:

If we forget what made us angry, if we, for example, vote in the same people who caused this community such grief and turmoil, who led us to be laughed at by surrounding municipalities, if we do not continue to demand accountability and transparency, then a year from now we will be whining the same destructful tune. 


There is nothing wrong with being angry, if that anger is turned into action. Action that is positive, life-enhancing, and inclusive. The way ahead is not to return to the path already followed. It is to create something better. Expect more, and that’s what we’ll get. Give up the battle, surrender without winning, believe that we deserve nothing better – and that will be our destiny.
But not a future worth fighting for.

This community and it's people do deserve better, when you read the first two articles above and place that in context with what's happened in the last three years it certainly describes the tone of our community. 
We are indeed having change rammed down our throat, Mayor Decoux said last week the public voted for change and that's what they are getting. We all know that change is inevitable but the question is always how much and how fast and if it is the right change.
Our council and administration are following a script put together (Strategic Plan) that was not created for the most part and or brought into by the vast majority of the residents of this community. That I believe in it's self will mean lots of change at the ballot box this fall, unless of course Bruce is right and he really does have the "silent majority"!     

Note: Keep in mind one very important number $4325

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is true what was written in the Pass Herald but it does not differ from what the ratepayers have been saying all along. No transparency, strategic plan blueprint for economic disaster, frustrations of the citizens, no communication other then to inform us that this is what is going to happen or has already begun with no input or opinions from the people who are paying for disastrous change. They have not only changed but they have completely re-invented us even to the point of taking away our heritage identity. So out with the new and in with the old.

Anonymous said...

The flooding in Blairmore should not have happened. In the Promoter it states that Pincher Creek was warned by Alberta Emergency Management at 2:00 am. I will assume we were warned at that time also. Had we activated men and equipment at this time there would have been little to no damage in Blairmore. All that was needed was to keep those few bridges clear of debris. To think that just in the previous mares newsletter he bragged about how prepared we were makes me sad. I guess in his next newsletter he will tell us how well we did in comparison to many others. How we had very little damage. I think he may even tell us that due to the flooding the decision on that Best Western hotel has been put off. I thought they were meeting to decide this the week of the 17th. Any excuse will do.

Anonymous said...

I know one thing for sure, the next time it rains cats and dogs, I'll be checking on those bridges myself. It breaks my heart to think of the damage and heartache of the people affected by this flood. I probably won't be at a loss for company either!

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:20 The fireman use to do this. I think the article in the Promoter said that AEM contacted the fire chief. The difference being, we had guys who knew what to do in these situations, and now we do not.

Anonymous said...

It was not just a matter of keeping debris. There were complete logs blocking the Lyons River. I am not quite sure how you could have avoided that. Anyways, it is over now. Clean up and go on.

Anonymous said...

And afterwards a big red helicopter circled. Some speculated that it was Stephen Harper, kept on the QT, of course, for security reasons, doing a sweep of Southern Alberta's disaster areas. But no... it was our mayor burning money while making himself feel quite important in fostering his delusions of self importance.

Any person, with a proper understanding of all the local demographics, could have easily driven between Blairmore and Hillcrest in order to derive a very good, hands on, perspective as to the issues.

Personally, I would hope that our next mayor's legacy would be summed up with one word and that would be 'Empathy'. Change is always welcome. It's how you do it.

You are safe Bruce. We thought it was someone more important.

Anonymous said...

3:35

I wasn't planning on removing the debris myself. I would sure hope that there would be a plan for that.

I do plan to remove a bit of debris in October though.

2:20

Anonymous said...

I guess this flood as put on hold the Quebec Manufacturer, Twinning of Highway 3, Annexation of Ranchlands, the new hotel and the coal mine.

Anonymous said...

So did the Municipality get a deal with the SPCA? If not they only have three months to throw them out on the street.

Anonymous said...

The Municipality is deciding what to do with the Bellevue Senior Center since it is in an "unusable" condition. They want the seniors to move to MDM. Have you seen the condition of the MDM. Windows cracked, windows and trimming with paint peeling and other repairs needed.

How can the Municipality "condemn" the Seniors Center when it keeps the MDM in such a state of disrepair? Is this another example of putting the money into a top heavy Administration, while ignoring the basic needs of our infrastructure. Who sets the priorities and why is the maintenance not done? Same for the weeds on Muni property. What a joke!

Anonymous said...

The buildings did not get that way overnight. It has happened through several councils I would think.

Anonymous said...

The building is not in that bad a shape. It costs the town around $6000 a year to run the building. With a portion of that being administration costs that are charged against the building. Those administration costs will just be shifted some where else if this building closes so the real cost is maybe $3000 a year.

Anonymous said...

Anon Jun 27 0:915 AM -then wouldn't a priority for the new Mayor have been to have the previously unkempt Municipal properties repaired -- rather than embarking on a slash and burn policy to dismantle the entire setup? Dollars wisely spent rather than the irresponsible manner he proceeded in to bring us into the 21st Century with his top heavy copy of a School District. Classic ego-bureaucracy.

Anonymous said...

JUST READ YOUR BLOG. ANON 12:O4.YOUR COMPASSION AND CARING IS OVERWHELMING. WHERE HAS A JERK LIKE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE, IDIOTS LIKE YOU ARE REALLY HARD TO FIND. WHERE IS THE CESSPOOL LOCATED THAT YOU LIVE IN??

Anonymous said...

To Anon June 29 1:54 PM. SAY WHAT?