Issues and decisions
Published October 17, 2008
I wish we were allowed more space to discuss issues but as space is limited I will try to get a few issues addressed in this column.
The first topic I would like to discuss is that everything one reads is sometimes not the complete picture when a person reads information in the paper. Sometimes a sentence out of a two to three minute presentation is not an accurate portrayal of a Councillor's opinion or direction on an issue. Please, if you have a concern about a comment made in the media, phone that person about your concern.
The next subject I would like to clarify is our organic waste pickup. While I am pleased that we are embarking on a program that will help the environment and make the world a better place for our children, we should not forget the people who presently have to change their ways and ideas to make this happen.
We should have planned to eliminate as much as possible, potential problems that may occur with our implementation of this change. One of these problems was organic pickup during the summer months resulting in a number of concerns for residents. I believe this concern should have been foreseen while developing the program and eliminated before it was implemented. I attempted to overcome this situation with a motion to have organic pickup done on a weekly basis over summer months at no additional cost to our residents.
After a few months' delay in obtaining a three month report (that I could have predicted the answers before the report was written) administration came back and asserted that they could implement the weekly organic pickup but at a cost of $1.45 per month or a total of $17.40 per year per household. This rate would be charged only to the residents in Sherwood Park. Administration also informed us that the program cost could potentially increase by approximately $2.00 per month in 2009. In other words, starting in January 2009 the program could cost $3.45 more per month for Sherwood Park residents. They showed us a number of other options which could have been implemented at no cost but decided not to recommend those options.
It was then decided to split the motion. The first motion was to accept weekly pickup of organics for the summer months which was passed by Council. The second motion was put forward by a rural councillor, whose residents would not be affected, to implement the extra cost of $1.45 per month for Sherwood Park residents and it was passed with only Councillor Osinchuk and I dissenting.
The next subject would be our upcoming 2009 budget. Council will be debating another potentially significant increase in your taxes for 2009 and it needs your input to make an informed decision on what your needs are versus any increase. I personally will be fighting to keep any increase at a very small number, if any at all. I believe we can find, as I have asked for since I was elected to represent you, efficiencies in our departments and programs that could substantially reduce any possible increase if one is needed at all. We must start tightening our belt as the economy is at present not as buoyant and our revenue sources (upgraders) have been put on hold. More importantly, only when the Regional Board has determined where we are headed, can we accurately predict our future revenues and expenditures for this region. Until then, we must be conservative for the sake of our residents or we may be put in an unwinnable situation.
Vic Bidzinski
Councillor, Ward 1
780-464-8005
bidzinski@strathcona.ab.ca.
Last updated: Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Page ID: 1932