It's been a while!

I know it as been a while since I last posted anything. The only excuse I have? we have been busy. Between reviewing information, going through orientations, looking for a new CAO it as been very busy. Now I will address issues that people have contacted me about.

New CAO:

Last week we hired Mr Sheldon Steinke as our new CAO, several things impressed me he possesses a tremendous amount of experience (Former CAO of Coaldale and the County of Lethbridge, plus a wealth of experience in the Canadian Military). I felt that it was especially important with the challenges we will be facing to have a seasoned veteran in place.
http://www.crowsnestpass.com/media-center/news-blog/post/new-cao

Policies and Bylaws:

In the new year council will be reviewing all of the bylaws and policies that the municipality as in place. What amazed me when I received the complete package of bylaws and policies was contrary to what we have been told over the last three years there were many policies and bylaws in place prior to 2011.

CPO program:

Remember not that long ago we were told that this program would pay for itself? well after reviewing budget numbers for 2013 for this area, it showed  the following; Income of  $110,080 and Expenditures of $357,923 which provides a cost recovery of less than 31%. It remains a long way from being self sufficient.

Ski Hill:

I was asked the question if I "support putting a little money into the ski hill". First of all I sat on the ski hill board for six years. I feel that recreation is important and having a ski hill that is affordable for families, easily accessible and sits right in the middle of one of our communities is one of the many things that makes our community special. So yes I support putting a little money in to the ski hill, actually we have for a long time since I first sat on council in 2004 and for many years prior to that. I believe the community as put in access of $200,000 every year to subsidize the ski hill ($228,703 for 2013). Last week I went up to the ski lodge and checked out the open house for the Chair lift. One of the board members told me they will be bringing there plan to council in the next few months I look forward to seeing that.
On the down side unfortunately our ski hill manager Dave Morrison who as ran the hill for the last 10 years is leaving us this Friday. Best of luck to Dave he did a hell of a job with the resources he had available and I wish him the best of luck in his future.  

Riversdale:

Received the following today, sounds like good news for the Pass.

http://www.alaskapublic.org/2013/12/16/riversdale-puts-chickaloon-coal-prospect-on-hold/

G + P Meeting Oct 15, 2013

James Russomanno:

Appeared as a delegation to present a pile of information on “Water Fluoridation” which I am sure will give next council some food for thought. Was really good to see somebody young taking enough of an interest in an issue to appear before council.

Riversdale:

Peter Murray from Riversdale (project manager for Grassy Mountain) appeared to give an up date on what they are doing in the Crowsnest Pass. Obviously very early in the process, certainly appear to be lining things up to move forward. They have begun the consultation process with First Nations group, mapping for exploration, once that is done they will apply for provincial permits they are hoping to begin exploration late November early December. He announced that he and his family have been in the Pass for a few months, two more employee’s will be here this week. In addition Riversdale have rented office across from the Greenhill Hotel plus they have rented accommodation in the Puchen building. Over all a good news story for the Crowsnest Pass moving forward.

Municipal Website:

Good presentation on our new revamped municipal website first impression it looks very good, administration stated that it, would be launched today. @ Crowsnestpass.com

Council Remuneration and Travel Reimbursement:

Council members receive a Stipend each month as a member of council plus payment for all official meetings required as a council member. They do not get paid for attending as a volunteer, parades etc. The stipend as not changed since 2001 and the meeting rate as not changed since 2008, of course the Mayor decided once again to slam previous council’s for neglecting their duties by not dealing with this issue previously. I was a little disappointed with administration because they all failed to mention, (yes it is in the old council minutes) that the practice as always been that council addresses this issue at their last meeting before an election. So that a new council would not be in a position of setting it’s own pay rate for the next four years. The Mayor was so caught up in his speech about the “travesty and neglect of previous council’s” I guess nobody from the administration team wished to rain on his parade. 

My neighbour will not give, should I take

Interesting article in today's Nanton News regarding the attempted annexation of Ranchlands by the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass by Sheena Read

Couple of quotes

"Imagine having something, and your neighbour decides he wants it, and sets a plan in motion to ensure he takes it from you."

"Now imagine finding out that there’s not one, but two industries wanting to develop right in those areas that the neighbouring municipality wants, and that’s what the neighbour is wanting. There will be development, and that means taxes.
Imagine not telling your neighbour that such developments were going to happen on his land."

Rest of the article available at:

http://www.nantonnews.com/2013/06/19/on-the-neighbours-side-of-the-fence


Note: Keep in mind one very important number $4325

The Mayor's catching up on the good news

In the Mayor's last newsletter he stated that the mine may be actually starting sooner than he previously anticipated. My first impression of that was good news especially when you see next door in the Elk Valley that the Bingay mine is now in it's eighth year (That's right 8 years) and they have still not started. So I have spent the last week searching the internet and trying to determine where the Mayor's optimistic out look is coming from.

Lo and behold the Mayor stated on his 15 minutes with Randy show this morning that Riversdale is doing a share offering in the next couple of months. Which means they will have money to begin construction. 

My heart skipped a beat that's nothing new back on Jan 29th Riversdale announced this share offering that will be taking place in June.  You can read it at the following address: http://crowsnestpasshome.blogspot.ca/2013/01/riversdale-resources-finding-money.html 

Now looking at the article you can clearly see that they are raising $63.4 million, the companies doing the share offering will take 5% which drops that number down to $60 million then they are paying $47 million for the land in the Pass which will leave a whooping $13 million which in today's mining world does not mean a whole lot they will need that money just to keep doing what they are doing as far as preparing for the regulatory process, and don't forget they are also working on their property in Alaska. So I would expect that the $13 million left over will get gobbled up very fast.

Sounds like a politician trying to put a new spin on old news. 

MD of Ranchlands and Annexation

Check out the story on John Prince's Blog regarding the MD of Ranchlands position on the Annexation process and Riversdale.

When Riversdale came to the Pass the local leadership should have told them to involve Ranchlands, was there a "don't worry they will be part of the Crowsnest Pass before the first snowfall"

I also suspect that Riversdale just like any other corporation will not be standing up and demanding the opportunity to pay more taxes.



http://blog.johnprince.ca/2013/02/ranchlands-on-riversdale-resources-and.html