My fellow blogger is reporting that we have an Holiday Inn on the way.
http://blog.johnprince.ca/2012/10/word-on-street.html
I sure hope his source is right.
Between the millions of dollars that will be received for the municipality from the sale of the property, a very quick source of tax base. The employment that this will create and the large number of people that this will drag in of the highway. These are all good things for a community that needs some good news.
I always knew that this was the most likely location to attract new business to our community, assuming that this news is correct the battle over that property and all the BS that went with it, will have been worth while.
Also let's not forget the people that went through the same fight back in the late 90's former Councillors Prince and Montgomery hard to believe that it took so long for common sense to prevail.
29 comments:
If this is true it is good news.However rumour has it that it is a group of investors who are hoping to get a holiday inn franchise.Then I think I understand why there is talk of having a public meeting with this group.My best guess is that there will be talk of an indoor pool at the hotel and whether it would be accessable to the public and at what cost to the municapality.I hope I am wrong as it never seems to work out very good for the government side.
If it all works out then congrats to this council and the 4 members of the previous council on getting it done.
This is good news which ever way you cut it.
Thinking about the last council with the only hold over being Larry Mitchell. Who was very much opposed to doing anything with the center. Remember him driving around with that silly "save our center" sign on the side of his truck.
Decoux must have had a hell of a time twisting his arm to get him on board.
Still good news hopefully this time next year the Hotel will be open, in time for the snow mobile season.
Anon 10:22 LOL You must not know Larry Mitchell.He is a follower, not a leader.Maybe you meant his rubber arm.
I also do not think a new hotel will be completed for at least 2 years from now.
If you read on John Prince's blog he speaks about putting a casino on that site. Actually I think that would make a lot of sense.
Anybody have any idea what the council will do with the money they receive for this property?
Yes, that would be a win win if public could use the pool and perhaps fitness centre at the new hotel. Not subsidized by anyone though, kind of pay as you go as in the real world.
You would be surprised how quickly a hotel can be built. I heard it would start in the spring, so perhaps by the next spring...
At least this opens the door to future commercial development. Its got to start somewhere.
With the next announcement hopefully the manufacturer from Quebec we will be in very good shape.
Mark
Yes, let's keep our fingers crossed for the Manufacturing Plant. That would be so nice.
I was googling the other day to see if I could find some info on this.
To my surprise, the Mayor was on Alberta PrimeTime in July taling about it. The title of the show was "Crowsnest Pass, Manufacuting Hub? What disappointed me the most was this was never ever posted on these blogs, whereas every other little thing was; i.e., firemen getting rid of their pagers, etc. That to me seems very unfair and biased.
Press release: Really informative. They answered a lot of my questions.
Municipality of Crowsnest Pass
AS A MATTER OF FACT - A Message From Your Municipal Council
It is often said that change is difficult and people resist it. These have been difficult days in Crowsnest Pass with much misinformation circulating.
This Council campaigned on change to improve the Municipality. Despite the challenges, Council is united and continues to seek input on our plans and efforts.
We developed a Community Strategic Action Plan with help from a number of dedicated citizens who worked hard to provide public input. It contains “action items” under four main pillars. This plan is essentially a roadmap to our future.
This document has been made available to the public in hard copy at various public events and at the Municipal Office. It is also available for review on our website. We have also provided this document to businesses, agencies and to government officials including the Minister of Municipal Affairs. We have been commended for the effort and foresight in developing such a document and for implementing the recommendations, rather than allowing them to sit on a shelf.
The changes contained in the Strategic plan will make our services more efficient, more effective, and more cost-effective. They won’t be easy and they will have some impact but it will be worth it.
It is easy to say we need change but when it comes to actually implementing that change there is always resistance, especially when it has a personal impact. Consolidation of Operational Services and the Fire & Rescue Services are two areas where concerns have been expressed. To be honest, the changes we are undertaking should have been made 30 years ago when amalgamation first took place. Over the years successive councils have attempted to make the changes required but always met resistance. This council intends to complete the changes required because we are all agreed they are necessary and overdue. We also have the support of the Fire Commissioner in this initiative.
The Fire Services Master Plan Review is complete and will be rolled out to the Fire Rescue personnel shortly. The purpose of the Fire Protection Master Plan is to develop a successful Fire Protection Program. A great deal of work has gone into the development of this Plan which is intended to ensure our emergency services provide industry best practices. The Master Fire Plan has reviewed present resources available relative to the needs and circumstances of the Municipality. The Plan is an objective evaluation and focuses on operational capacity, resource deployment based on community risk, response protocol, training, public
Not enough room for the whole article. It is on the web page number "Press Releases"
The following was posted on my blog
http://crowsnestpasshome.blogspot.ca/2012/09/good-news-for-crowsnest-pass.html
Just copy and paste, I can't wait to hear the announcement on the manufacturing plant. This and the commercial development on the old CLC site are indeed good news stories for the Crowsnest pass
Whoever writes the press releases for the municipality is not very good with media. Too condescending, too long, and probably a little annoying, considering the cost. They should have posted the release directly on John's and Dean's blog to start with. (a little humor)
CNP is hiring a DIRECTOR of CHANGE MANAGEMENT to help citizens embrace strategic changes.
Today's Dilbert
:^)
New hotel great news, they have done one thing right which I give them credit for. Can anybody name the second thing they have done well?
Jack
Well, I think that is a pretty big "thing". They are the only ones that have actually executed a deal like this. I also agree with the Peace Officers to clean things up, and I agree with getting rid of the animal control officer. I also agree with all the meetings they have, and all the updates they give us.
There are a few people who agree with the way our council is conducting our business. If there were any phone booths left out there, these people could hold a convention. Imagine a council that calls the police on its own volunteers. Did they take a vote on that , or was this a one man initiative?
"the millions of dollars that will be received for the municipality from the sale of the property, a very quick source of tax base"
I will be happy if we get full market value:
"An appraisal done in 2010 appraised the land at $1.4 million. The buildings and land combined were appraised at $1.75 million to $2.3 million." - Promoter
It has been hinted that they will pay for demolition, but I suspect they will want to subtract that cost from the $1.4 million.
If the investors put up a performance bond, it will tie up a big chunk of their capital and expose them to risks if anything goes wrong. I can't believe they will do this for free - they will want an even lower price or a tax break or some other goodie.
A million is optimistic, millions is dreaming.
I just hope they don't get us into a mess because of this:
Municipal Affairs and Housing
Interpretation Bulletin
Number: 01/97
Date: June1997
________________________________________________________
SUBJECT:
DISPOSAL OF LAND
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ACT - SECTION 70
Situation
Section 70 of the Municipal Government Act states that if a municipality proposes to transfer or grant an estate or interest in land for less than market value, the proposal must be advertised.
Interpretation
The advertising requirements in Section 606 must be followed. The notice must contain the procedure to be followed by anyone wishing to file a petition. The procedure as outlined in Section 231, refers to the petition being filed with the chief administrative officer within sixty days of the last date on which the proposed bylaw or resolution is advertised. Council must ensure that title transfers do not occur prior to the sixty day timeframe for a petition to be received. If a sufficient petition is received, council must either decide not to proceed with the proposed resolution, or within ninety days of the sufficient petition submit the resolution to a vote of the electors.
Anon 9:09 It is a pretty big thing.But they just finished what the previous council started.
As for the peace officers cleaning things up, if you mean writing speeding tickets then they have done a great job.But if you mean enforcing CNP bylaws they have not done anything.
I do think that getting rid of tha animal control officer is a good thing.
As for all of the meetings and updates it is better but they still are failing at communication because all decisions are made behind closed door with no open debate.
12:41 How do you determine market value? The appraisal you refer to is from 2010. Market values are way down since then.
1:30 These guys got the easy end of this project. But I guess that's what politics is all about. The Peace Officers were anticipated to be a cash cow. Next council will have a rude awakening there is no government position in the world that pays for itself.
If they were all about CNP bylaws they would have hired one and left Highway 3 to the RCMP and Sherrifs.
Communications the fact that I am receiving the Dictators decrees in a more timely fashion does not impress one iota.
M
12:41
Are you telling us there will not be enough money to build an Indoor swimming pool?
"Anonymous said...
12:41 How do you determine market value? The appraisal you refer to is from 2010. Market values are way down since then."
I do agree, but why is it that no one's tax assesment reflects the crash in property values following the speculation that occurred during the Bridge Creek fiasco?
Well with the big drop in values. The bright side will be that all our taxes will go down.
Anom 8:23 you are mistaken. When the real estate value goes down the mill rate is adjusted up to get what ever money the town has budgeted. There is no up side to the real estate values dropping.
Anon 8:23 Sorry it does not work that way.Your taxes would only go down if the budget went down or if the tax base increased. Your taxes will rise.
That's BS I listed my home this summer failed to sell but its down 25% in value since I purchased it in 2009.
My taxes have to be going down.
Prices have actually held fairly well.
Ratepayers is now history according to the letter John posted; maybe we can get on with business now, and quite all the bs with people hoping to get on council next year. I am glad that democracy is still alive according to the AB government.
Properties can fluctuate anywhere. In 2007 our house near Calgary was listed for $480, last year sold for $390. Everything just goes according to market everywhere. But when people keep drawing on all the negatives continually and never talk about all the positives of CNP which is many, can't help.
Anon 4:38 If democracy is still alive according to the AB government then they will have no choice but to intervene when they receive the petition with over 40 % of the population signing it. The required amount is 20% so they will have no choice other than breaking the rules that they themselves have written.
Earth to Anoy. 09:03:00 AM 2012
Anon 9:52 Great rebuttal, is that the best you can come up with.
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