Friday, August 2, 2013

My role as a Ratepayer

Over the last few days I have been accused of being a Ratepayer, and yes a Ratepayer adviser.
Well folks no mystery and intrigue here, yes about 15-16 months ago I paid my $5 and I joined that group of what some people refer to has the elitists old boys club know locally has the Ratepayers Association, along with about 700+ other concerned citizens that did not like the direction this community was going.
Early last summer I was asked by a number of people if I would be interested in running for a position on the ratepayers executive. I informed them up front that I would not do that because I had made up my mind a long time ago that I would be running for council this fall. But that I would be more than willing to assist where I could, after all I did sit on council for six years so I and a number of other people felt I had something to offer.
Some where around twenty people did put there name forth for the executive positions, from that group nine people were elected. That group decided to meet has an executive to work on the issues that were important to their membership and present back information to those members at their monthly meeting. I was asked at that point along with three or four other people if I would be prepared to help share with them the knowledge that I post on my blog and put that information on paper for the members.
No big secret I do a lot of research and pride myself on my ability with numbers and have spent a lot of time keeping up on local politics over the last ten years just read my blog back to 2008. So yes I guess I could be labeled  a Ratepayer advisor, I was also told up front that having chosen not to run for a executive position that I would have no voting rights and that I was there when and if they asked me to attend.
There are times I disagree with decisions the ratepayers make, does every member of every organization agree with every decision their leadership makes? I sure hope not.
I sat on council for six years and gained a lot of valuable experience are people going to ask me questions or for my assistance, once in a while? I hope so and I have no problem helping any group that asks for my assistance if I have something to offer.

Moving forward in this community I think there is a role for the ratepayers and any group that brings citizens together. What I have heard talking to people around town is they are tired of a council that talks at them not to them. So I think the next council should have members that are prepared to get out there and meet and talk with groups not just the ones that agree with them.

For any of my readers that have further questions or seek my position on any issue. Send me a email at deanward4@msn.com or phone 403 563 4128 leave a message. Thank you


Note: Cost of administration $4325 per day

49 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dean, if you are going to report on something you should be both truthful and accurate.

"I joined that group of what some people refer to has the elitists old boys club know locally has the Ratepayers Association... "

No where do I see anything referring to the Ratepayers Association per se as an "elitists old boys club". Some members of the executive have been referred to as such, but ^not the general membership. :-(

Get the facts, or the facts will get you. And when you get them, get them right, or they will get you wrong.

Anonymous said...

Dean I don't give a dam what you belong to.
Keep standing up for less administration, keeping spending under control and you will have my vote.

Anonymous said...

Some of these people should ask why council backed off on the Franchise Fees, plus selling our electrical system.

Anonymous said...

12:49,

How about giving credit for the many quotes of wisdom that are not your own. (In this case Dr. Thomas Fuller)

It may give a semblance of credibility to your criticism of someone else's 'accuracy'.

Anonymous said...

Well said 3:22.

Mr Decoux and his gang must be sitting back loving the opposition fight among themselves!!!!

Anonymous said...

Dean, no need to thank me for giving you a heads up on rephrasing of your opening line in this post. I understand your reluctance and inability in appreciating acts of friendship as I myself have experienced it from you several times, and as such have come to expect it. :-(

Anonymous said...

Who is fighting? Decoux would have done better had he remembered Crowsnest Pass likes to see lively discussion. I am sure it was no different before he left and got indoctrinated into a bureaucratic way of seeing things.

Anonymous said...

A certain bus's termination point should be Arizona. How about a 50/50 draw to help launch our new transit system?

Anonymous said...

Due to the weather, the Country Market will be held at the Polish Hall tomorrow. (Not at Flumerfelt Park.)

Crowsnest Pass Home said...

4:49 thanks for the heads up I apologist if you have found me un friendly. I have no idea who you are but I try to treat everybody has I would like them to treat me.

Anonymous said...

Dean @5:37,

Very eloquent.

Anonymous said...

5:35,
The content of blogs might seem to have denigrated,

On the brighter side, the price and quality of the Livingstone Colony honey, Saturday, is unbelievable. (Seriously worth buying a year's supply)

Anonymous said...

Dean just to clear up a few things from the ratepayers meeting. Nowhere did I hear anybody from the executive endorse Blair Painter. They gave Blair a few minutes to introduce himself then Bill asked if there was anybody else that wanted to announce Ed Strembecki stood up and introduced himself. At that point Bill stated ANYbody else that wanted to come to a future meeting and introduce themselves as a candidate was more than welcome.
At the end of the meeting Bill gave everybody in the room an opportunity to raise any issues or concerns just has he does every meeting. There was no major pressing issues raised by anybody.

Joe

Anonymous said...

You have my support at least you have shown more interest in this community than probably 90 percent of the people that will put their names up nomination day.

Anonymous said...

Dean please do not get sucked in to the ranting and raving. I enjoy reading your blog but I will stop if you go in that direction.
God help us we are going to have enough trouble fixing our own problems over the next four years. Lets not worry about the rest of the world keep the focus of your blog on here and be reasonable cleaning up the mess we have created.

Anonymous said...

12:32 well said I was under the impression that if you wanted to read ranting and attacks on everybody in the Crowsnest Pass. One would go to the Mayors Corner apparently that's not the only source for that kind of nonsense.

Joan

Anonymous said...

Mr Jason Greensmith do you think I don't read the other blogs? Quit playing games.
I will control what is posted on my blog no different than any other blogger. Censorship no the control of stupid, tasteless comments yes. And any blogger that says they post 100per cent of the comments they receive are not being truthfull.
So if you want to keep talking about the focus of this blog, politics in the Crowsnest Pass and what this council has done to this community you are welcome. You want to slam me or anybody outside of the focus of this blog go some where else.

Dean Ward

John Prince said...

“I Come In Peace”

Between old school and new school there is a “middle-way”. It’s the path that leads to liberation for our community from the tyranny of extremism and exploitation that we have endured these past two decades or so. The middle-way advocates a broadly centralist approach to our domestic problems. It is at times what is quite often advocated here on this blog by Dean. It is the only real way we have of maturely and fairly dealing with the morass we find our community stuck in. It is what I believe is the solution to our problems.

I hope you will think on this and come to that conclusion to and work towards fielding and supporting candidates who will work towards those ends. The middle-way serves the majority, whereas the other two extremes keep us down, hold us back, while serving only a tiny minority for their benefit at our expense. The “middle-way” is the way.

JP

Anonymous said...

Mr. Greensmith, I see you have enthusiastically offered someone support.

I am just a bit curious as to the reason that I don't see your name on our list of electors.

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

And, I am curious as to why you would have a list of electors.

Anonymous said...

Keep up the great work Dean you have my vote

Anonymous said...

Dean you have stated that you attended the ratepayers executive meetings. Is it true that Mr Prince and Mr Painter also did?

Anonymous said...

I think if anybody is so concerned about the ratepayers perceived or not supporting a particular candidate(s). They should come to the next ratepayers meeting and ask that this issue be added to the agenda. Then stand up and make their arguments and ask for a vote of the full membership.
Problem solved.

Anonymous said...

11:56

As per John Prince's blog...

"Judy, I think you need to re-read John's post here again. You obviously missed the parts about his being shown the door, smeared, ostracized, and the subversion of the democratic process in order to get rid of the perceived competition to make way for the coronation of your man Blair by certain members of the exec. You are entitled to your perception of things but some us have ours too, but ours is based on actual factual insider information."

11:56 I don't believe it is a case of, as you said, "I think if anybody is so concerned about the ratepayers perceived or ^not supporting a particular candidate(s)." but rather a case of supporting a particular and 'special' candidate, by circumventing the democratic due process.

For further clarification read:

Ratepayers: What have they done?

Anonymous said...

To:11:56:00 AM 2013

But not everyone is interested in going to Ratepayers meetings.
I think some people are starting to question them.

Anonymous said...

If the ratepayers came out and supported John, would he change his thoughts about them???

Anonymous said...

12:08 :
JP wrote:
"Late last year I was invited to sit with the executive at their monthly and special meetings as an adviser, ...
I was so passionate about this issue that I called for a vote on the matter. It was agreed that the very next meeting of this board (and their advisers) be devoted solely to discussing and resolving this matter at length, if need be."


We elected the board members. I don't think an invited advisor should be pushing issues or calling for votes.

Anonymous said...

In October we won't be worried about who likes the Ratepayers or who doesn't like the Ratepayers, all this is beside the point.

In October we need to elect a council which will need to rebuild trust and respect - all based on common sense and what we can afford. This can only start when we send the entire present council packing, everyone of them.

Anonymous said...

Although there is no prohibition on doing business with the municipality when you are a member of council, every contract or agreement with the municipality in which you have an interest must be approved by council (section 173 of the MGA).

This means by passing a resolution:
MGA 180(1) A council may act only by resolution or bylaw.

Did Brian do this for Sin 7 ?

If not he is disqualified (MGA 174(1)(h)).

Of course this is just a formality, a legal technicality, like paying your taxes a day late.

Anonymous said...

Dean avoid all the drama and "maintain the high road".

Thanks for being the voice of information over the last three years. Very easy for people to suddenly become interested in our community now.

Anonymous said...

11:17
"Very easy for people to suddenly become interested in our community now."

My thoughts exactly with the recent announcement by Blair Painter.

Anonymous said...

My 10:10 post about Sin 7 is on topic in that I was hoping that the Ratepayers would be aggressive about transparency and accountability issues, but I am disappointed.

Municipal Inspections of other towns have focused on such issues. Example:

http://www.southpeacenews.com/newsdesk/volume50/120815/news1.html

Anonymous said...

11:43 "suddenly interested in our community now" give me a break the man volunteered for 30 years.
Plus contributed in this community by supporting how many different groups.

Anonymous said...

@12:27 Agreed! He's put in more volunteer years than the current council combined. I would bet he's volunteered more years in this town than several candidates running have lived here.

Anonymous said...

Oh I think it is safe to assume that Sinister 7 will be highly scrutinized by next council. Of all of the counselors agreeing to cancel Thunder in the Valley, people were most disappointed in Mini Me as he has a full understanding of how much work goes into building a successful event. Who knows, maybe the Police will not be able to “guarantee our safety” during S7 and we will be forced to shut it down.

Anonymous said...

@12:27

Don't care. Has nothing to do with anything. Just because you happen to volunteer lots of hours, like many people do here, does not necessarily mean that you are council material. Lots of other things involved.

Anonymous said...

5:00 you are right that by itself does not qualify an individual to sit on council.
Maybe 30 years experience in business
Maybe being a certified electrician and former municipal employee.
Would you think those things would help

Anonymous said...

9:38 wrote:
"And, I am curious as to why you would have a list of electors."

I looked this up:
LOCAL AUTHORITIES ELECTION ACT 50(3) The list of electors may be used only by
(a) candidates for the purposes of campaigning for election, and
(b) officers for the purposes of carrying out their duties under this Act.


So I am also curious how 3:49 has this list.

Anonymous said...

Maintain the high road, the only road to credibility, respect and success.


Anonymous said...

10:20
Is that the road he is on? Hard to tell as we hardly ever hear from him. For example, this post 40 comments and only one from him??? And no answers to questions asked or comments made.

Anonymous said...

Why don't you quit baiting Dean and get on with your life. It's his blog and you keep spitting out garbage. As John Prince said start your own blog if you don't like it on this one. You have a choice of,not,voting for him so move on. This is not Dean FYI.

Anonymous said...

Well said anon 1157.

Anonymous said...

It would be very nice if blogs were free of what appears, to this reader, as repeated attempts at character assassination.
Information, ideas, and opinions would make for a much more pleasurable and constructive read.
I am sure that this approach would most certainly result in the 'desired' two way communication.

Anonymous said...

11:57,
You get it, I get it, Dean gets it, and I am sure that a lot of other's get it.

Properly, it should stop and issues be the focus.

Anonymous said...

I should have expanded on that last one...'opinions' that are based upon constructive ideas.

4:10

Anonymous said...

John Prince's "I Come In Peace" comment @3:12... no one hadn't anything to say about this here on this blog, really?

Anonymous said...

To anon Aug 5 1:08. Yes those pesky ultra marathoners laying waste to our community we need to figure out how to deal with them. GET REAL!

Anonymous said...

2:35

So, if they run marathons, they are automatically angels? YOU GET REAL!