Crowsnest Pass Moving Forward

Well its been a week now since the election, only 1090 days to the next one (but who's counting).

Many lessons to be learnt the first obviously the agony of defeat, but that's OK that's part of what life is all about.

Another lesson is the kindness in the comments made by many good people over the last week those I appreciate.

Next lesson I have learnt is how two faced a "few" people are, they know who they are the one's that say one thing to my face and another behind my back.

After the dismay of losing I have spent the last three or four days asking people where I went wrong, (any constructive comments I would appreciate).
I found real strange the fellow at Tim Hortons that told me that I should have lied to the Quad Squad, I said what do you mean? he said well you told them you would not look at the OHV bylaw but I know of at least three candidates that said they would, but have no intention of doing anything about it. I hope those are not the type of people we elected to our council.

I always prided myself on the ability to understand numbers, and recognize very much the financial situation of the municipality, its massive dependency on the residential tax base.

In a way its almost a relief to know that others are going to have the burden of dealing with that for the next three years, I will watch very curiously to see how well these folks do with that.
Keeping in mind that we raised taxes 3% this year and left the new council with an anticipated surplus of $450,000 for the 2010 financial year.

The commitments that were made during the election, I am very excited to see how the new council follows through with these:

• The 90 day Task force made up of prominent citizens with some outside expertise.
• The make up of that committee, and more importantly the recommendations they bring forth and the implementation of such recommendations.
• The marketing of the community, the rejuvenated economic growth that will be brought forth.
• Bringing in of new Business and how that will be achieved (Tax Incentives, etc).
• The ongoing commitment to reduce inefficiencies at the municipality, whether it be the issue of duplication of services and facilities, or anywhere else that tax dollars are not spent effectively.
• The drive to keep tax increases at or around 0% or even reducing them, budget will be in there laps in November and hopefully keeping with last councils precedent of having it completed prior to year end we will have a clear picture of this council's financial direction in 2010.
• The issue of affordable housing, where will the homes go, how many will be built, the types of affordable housing, what financial commitment will the municipality make.
• The Recreation Facility/Indoor Pool, this issue created a lot of conversation and excitement during the election, where will it go, when will it be built, what will it cost the taxpayers.

Now I recognize that all of these commitments will not be achieved over night, but I wish the new council well there are some fairly lofty expectations out there. But when they achieve the things listed above that will be a good sign that this community is doing well.

At the end of the day that is what is most important that the community is successful.

My position on concerns raised at the Crowsnest Pass Forum

Question: Building of a Recreation Centre including a Indoor Swimming Pool.

I have addressed this issue previously here but I will reinforce my position again.
This is something this community needs in the worse way, the issue of course which we all recognize is how do we pay for it and would the taxpayers be prepared to make a twenty five year commitment.
My position would be that council would direct administration to come up with a business plan, design, costs etc, and sources of revenue, ie. Federal/Provincial grants, Corporate opportunities, and fundraising. Then determine what it would cost the Municipality for the capital costs (that's why I use the 25 year number) and ongoing operations. Calculate exactly what its going to cost the individual tax payer in additional taxation.
Provide all this information to the taxpayer and let them decide if they wish to proceed in a plebiscite.

Question: Should we do more to enforce the Bear Smart Bylaw.

Of course we live in an area where this issue can not be ignored, we also have to find ways especially in the country residential areas to encourage people to work with this. Lots of them already do but for the ones that don't we have to find ways to help. Enforcement yes but education first.

Question: Road Conditions, Pot holes etc

Over the last few years we have spent $20 million on infrastructure under the ground, we are now reaching the point where the major jobs have been done, we need to focus now on the roads themselves, I recognize that we have a problem I drive these streets every day of the week.
But we also need to take a look at the way we do our road maintenance program, right now we basically take the dollars that we allow for repairing roads and chase the areas that have the worse problems or where the people scream the loudest. That only works short term we need to come up with a long term plan that is maintained year after year.
For example the District of Sparwood does 10% of its roads every year.


Please keep in mind I was sitting at the far end of the forum so if I do not have your question exactly right, please let me know.