Crowsnest Pass Ratepayers Latest Update

The following information update appeared in today's newspaper.

Are Crowsnest Pass Ratepayers concerned?

We ask all taxpayers of the Crowsnest Pass to look at what has happened over the last two years. We are now gathering names on a petition requesting municipal affairs to take a look at the issues raised by the Taxpayers of the Crowsnest Pass if you are equally concerned please contact us at the numbers listed below.

  

• Taxes are climbing every year in 2010 (Bylaw 794) showed the municipality collecting  $6,432,821 in General Municipal Taxation in 2012 (Bylaw 851) that number is $6,820,152 an increase of $387,331 per year.
• Utility Bills in 2010 our utility bills were providing the municipality $182,054 per month today we are paying $201,945 a difference of $19,891 per month or $238,700 per year
• Franchise Fees in 2010 were bringing in $295,551 today we are paying $569,749 a difference of  $274,198.

Those three numbers above come to a total of $900,029 per year more. Right now council has a proposal to increase Franchise Fees another $336,945 next year plus an additional 2.5% in residential taxes. That will transfer $1,400,000 more a year from the Taxpayers pockets to the Municipality versus 2010. This does not include all the other Fees, Fines and charges that have been increased by a council and administration that are focused on maximizing revenues.

• Municipal Hiring: Council would have you believe that the Municipal workforce has not increased in size. At the date of the last election there were 19 employees in the municipal office (Administrators and Staff) Today that number is 25. In addition we are concerned about the never ending turn over at the administrative level. From June of 2011 to July of 2012 we had six changes at the administrative level.
• Consultants: Do you feel like every week there is another consultant determining the future of our community. Up to April 5,2012 $19,000 to Abiocon Strategies, $49,000 to Friesen Tokar, $102,447 to Park Enterprises, $43,570 to All Fire Investigations, $13,055 to Inn Heaven Bed & Breakfast, $203,545 to Transitional Solutions.  Now we hear about consultants being used for Branding and Fire Hall location studies. Where does it stop?
• Debt: Prior to 2010 previous councils had a policy of putting money aside to purchase new equipment, 2011 $550,000 was borrowed to finance equipment that is barely ever used. (Almost $300,000 on a track hoe alone), 2012 $140,000 was borrowed to finance the two community Peace Officer trucks.

Changes: Let’s look at what else as happened over the last two years.

• Spring Cleanup eliminated for the vast majority of the public.
• April 2011 Bellevue Library closes.
• July 2011 announcement regarding consolidation of Blairmore/Coleman shop does not happen until a year later.
• September 2011 Mayor Decoux informs Chamber of Commerce that the municipality will be hiring another Peace Officer at “no cost to the Taxpayers”
• September 29,2011 fire and rescue services will be amalgamated to facilitate a more efficient Emergency Response model
• December 2011 Tax Penalties increased from 20% to 52%.
• Feb,2012 Census results show Crowsnest Pass population drops 3.2%
• March 2012 Council makes decision to “defer Thunder in the Valley”
• April 2012 Devon Gas Plant announces closure
• May 2012 Mayor announces request for proposals going out on the Crowsnest Centre Site
• May 2012 Tender for demolition of the Crowsnest Centre put out with a closing date of August 30^th
• June 2012 Town Hall meeting Mayor Speaks about Centre being gone before first snowfall and the building process beginning next spring. Discusses approaching the Province and the MD of Ranchlands to share tax revenues.
• June 2012 Mayor releases first “Mayor’s Corner” Very critical of coffee talkers and people that write letters to the editor or on web sites.
• June 2012 Rate payers organization revived, meetings with the public begin.
• July 2012 Water/Sewer rates increase by 4.5% electrical increases by 6%
• July 2012 Community Peace Officer Trucks arrive ($140,000)
• July 2012 Despite predictions of huge turnouts Rum Runner Days takes place with very poor attendance at most events
• August 2012 Pass Promoter runs story about Municipality hiring gopher hunters despite denial at previous town hall meeting.
• Sept 2012 Community Peace Officers are introduced at Council meeting
• Sept 2012 Announcement that Chinook Pipelines is suing the municipality
• Sept 2012 Safety codes Fees are going up 120%
• Sept 2012 Mayor interviewed on Alberta Primetime regarding potential Quebec Manufacturer
• Sept 2012 New Fire Chief and his new pickup show up
• Sept 2012 Debate on Municipal Franchise Fee Increases begins.
• Sept 2012 Final report on Rum Runner Days “deferred” to Oct 2 then again to Oct 16.
• Sept 2012 Community Branding Town hall meeting.
• October 2012 Municipality relives   Blairmore Fire Chief of his position.

The ratepayers association requested information regarding the three year budget, we were informed that this information would be given to us by the middle of September and released to the public on the Municipal Web site. At our meeting with Council on October 9,2012 we were finally presented with a pile of papers that are suppose to answer the questions asked.

Interested in joining the Ratepayers or signing our petition contact the following

                                   William Kovach 564-4709         Gail Montgomery 564-4077

                             Troy Clark 563-0381                  Sasha JaegerBaird 563-6073

Ed Strembecki 564-0184        Marilyn Milley 562-2719

Marlene Anctil 562-8180        Larry Ruzek 564 4384

Rudy Pagnucco 562-8147

Please check out our Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crowsnest-Pass-RatePayers-Association/441790612539166?fref=ts

Council meeting of May 1,2012

• The Municipality now has its own Facebook page.
• The closing date for the hotel development proposals on the Crowsnest Centre site is May 18.
• The tender for the demolition of the Crowsnest Centre calls for a date of August 30 for the completion of the project.
• There was an announcement that a collective agreement containing “numerous changes” was concluded with CUPE last week they are waiting for CUPE to ratify it.
• Administration requested to continue the new meeting schedule until September, and re stated their preference to go to two meetings a month.
• Municipal Off site levies are suspended until the end of January 2013, then to be reviewed at that point.
• Taxes for the Food bank were waived.
• Mayor Decoux asked the rest of council what kind of reaction they received to the budget information letter, most of council stared at each other and gave the impression that they  received little response. Mayor Decoux announced that he had received “146 emails and 15 phone messages” most of them very favorable to the newsletter.
• Administration requested that council approve the release of half the funding for the Museum now and the other half after administration meets with the new Historical Society board. Administration is also looking at ways to assist the museum with their Insurance, Utilities, and Maintenance costs. They were instructed to report back to council on May 15.
• Request to allow the use of quads for the Sinister seven event approved by council, lots of comments around the room about how great it is to have an event that brings thousands of people and lots of money to the community.
• Bylaw 847,2012 Peace Officer/Enforcement Bylaw, Passed first reading
• Bylaw 849,2012 Municipal Emergency Management Committee and Agency Bylaw, Passed first reading.
• Bylaw 846,2012 False Alarm Bylaw, Passed first reading
• Councilor Gail requested that the municipality write a letter to the provincial government supporting the push to twin Highway 63
• Rum Runner Days web site has been updated.