Highlights:
Approval given for a re-zoning in Frank to allow for a duplex to be built.
Legacy Issue #1
Our Economic Development Officer informs us that Chris Vachon our hotel finder is looking for a Hotel concept development plan from council for the old hospital site. During this conversation she informs us that the $50,000 of our tax dollars that was invested in the Best Western agreement expires at July 1. She also informs us that there is a "possibility" to extend the agreement, the question was asked if that is guaranteed? the answer is No, the thought that goes through my mind is at what cost?
Legacy Issue #2
Remember not that long ago when administration and council told us that the old hospital was being ripped down, and it would only cost us $590,000 well our Director of Public Works informs us that there was more asbestos in the sub floors of the old nursing home side than the original environmental assessment showed, shockingly there appears to be an additional cost over run of $154,000 which is going to be reduced some what by the contractor burying the remaining piles in the holes instead of hauling them away.
Council was not happy with this and passed a motion to have all the tenders, bids, contracts and any motions provided to council for the Feb 21st meeting.
Spring/Fall cleanup, We will be looking at the possibility of working with the Landfill to put in place an opportunity for our residents to have some form of a spring and or fall cleanup.
Capital/Equipment purchases I have received numerous calls concerning a rumor that we will be purchasing five pickups, it was clarified by our CAO that there will be no Capital/Equipment purchases prior to budget being approved by council. (Budget process is anticipated to start the last week of February)
Legacy Issue #3
Tax penalties, previous council had put in place a tax penalty of 52% this is way out of whack compared to 99% of the other municipalities in rural Alberta. Penalties in other comparative municipalities to ourselves range from 20-25% Tuesday night we passed first reading of a bylaw to reduce our rate to 20%.
9 comments:
"Penalties in other comparative municipalities to ourselves range from 20-25% Tuesday night we passed first reading of a bylaw to reduce our rate to 20%."
Good, but I still think it is unfair to ding people 20% for being one day late. Why not just charge interest on the amount owing, calculated daily? The high interest rate should be enough incentive for people to pay on time.
"Our Economic Development Officer informs us that Chris Vachon our hotel finder is looking for a Hotel concept development plan from council for the old hospital site."
Is CNP locked in to a contract with Vachon (or anyone else) regarding this development?
What is a "hotel finder"? If he is acting as a Realtor, that requires an Alberta license. If he is arranging financing, that may also be regulated.
He is not doing this for fun. If we are not paying him up front to act as our agent, then he must be expecting a commission or some other benefit.
Does CAO/Council have a clear understanding of Vachon's role and how he will be compensated?
Wow, So on July 1st if you do not extend the contract the 50,000$ is gone forever? What a joke.
Wow, Sign a rush contract with built in conditions and watch your money disappear.
Wow, good for you guys on switching this to just credit card rates and no longer mafia rates.
The bylaw will not be 20 percent for being one day late it will be 8 percent, which is less than most municipalities plus an additional 2 per cent on the first of each month up to Jan 1.
Have you ever told your readers how much spring and or fall cleanup costs the taxpayers? I do remember a couple of other issues that you made people aware of when it came to spending but I don't ever recall you telling us how much was saved by not having cleanup. Instead of rambling on I guess I'm just wondering. How much does one cleanup a year cost?
The Cleanups we are looking at are in conjunction with a service the landfill provides it's partners at no cost. If council chooses to do something above what the landfill provides then obviously there will be some financial impact. Right now we are just looking at options to see if we can provide our residents additional services.
Well, we used to have a clean up. This was eliminated to reduce costs and, instead, we have hired full time fire chief and a deputy, plus two additional pickups. Plus two additional pickups with peace officers. And .......
The entrance signs don't look quite as monumental as in the design drawing you posted back in May:
http://crowsnestpasshome.blogspot.ca/2013/05/crowsnest-pass-entrance-signs-money.html
I guess those figures standing beside were supposed to be little kids.
Reminds me of:
http://capitolcommentary.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/potemkin-village.jpg
I am still stewing about the Vachon/Penrose situation. CNP is now saying:
"the $50,000 Franchise Application Fee would have needed to be reimbursed to Group Vachon and in exchange Group Vachon would maintain the franchise agreement with Best Western, participate in meetings with potential investors, and act collaboratively in stewarding or connecting potential investors to the Municipality."
http://www.crowsnestpass.com/public/download/documents/6910
If you were hiring a contractor to build a fence, you would not let them start work until you had the price and specs in writing.
We have these guys working for us but nobody seems to know what they expect to get out of it. Suppose a developer comes along who actually has money but doesn't want to deal with Vachon/Penrose? Can we just blow off Vachon/Penrose, or will we find out that Bruce or Myron has promised them something?
CNP needs to get it in writing.
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