Success for Bragg Creek Orchid Group
A number of local residents requested my input on how they might have 11th-hour changes made to the RVC berm project, in order to protect native orchid populations. I provided advice on how to approach administration, and recommendations for a long-term community strategy to protect the orchid’s unique micro-ecosystems. I’d like to congratulate the community for successfully working with the County to ensure this unique asset continues to thrive. Chase down braggcreekwild.ca or experiencejourneys.ca for more information.
101 St. SW Closure Impacts Highway 8 Communities
With Alberta Transportation’s (AT) closure of Calgary’s 101 St. – Hwy 8 intersection, the impacts on our communities are significant. It is a serious inconvenience for everyone, is affecting peoples’ quality of life, and jeopardizing public safety.
At this time, signs at the intersection indicate that AT is maintaining emergency access through the construction, so our EMS Vehicles can continue moving between the Elbow Valley Fire Station and south Springbank.
Although the closure was covered in AT open houses long ago, the delays in the completion of the SW Ring Road project have exasperated the disconnect between everyone who is affected and the project.
From my point of view, AT probably has three factors behind its decision to close the intersection:
- A purely Engineering constraint exists, (no physical room for a safe intersection)
- A project Scheduling constraint exists, (no time to keep moving it around)
- A new Budgetary constraint exist; (no coins in the Provincial war-chest)
I also fear that Rocky View’s past practices may have alienated it from both Calgary and the Province. Rocky View maintains its developments don’t impact the City, which makes it more difficult to argue now that closing a Calgary street inconveniences our residents. The Council Majority also asserts that the County has a “Made in Rocky View” solution for everything, again making it harder to now ask for help.
Compounding the matter is the “Intangible” factor that SR-1 strongly polarized Rocky View and Calgary; culminating with a Calgary-sympathetic bullish Provincial push last year – lead by Minister McIver.
Given all this, why would Calgary go to lengths to facilitate transporting school children from south of the Elbow River to RVS Schools on the north side of the River? I will continue to support regional collaboration, which might help matters in the future.
Council Continues to Ignore Voting on Motion to Drop Appeal
Last report, I suggested the motion by Clr. Kissel and Reeve Henn would likely be back in September for a decision. The 3 Councillors named in the County’s Appeal (Kissel, Wright, and I) remain recused. With nothing on the agenda for the last scheduled meeting of this Council on September 21st, it appears the Council Majority intends to continue using taxpayers’ money to pursue the appeal; leaving it to the next elected Council to clean up the mess.
Moving Forward on Process to Recruit a new CAO
Davies Consulting Group was the successful bidder for the executive recruitment. As part of their preliminary groundwork, they are interviewing the outgoing Councillors for input on what we think is required for the Administrative leader. The process will continue with the newly elected Council after the October 18th Elections.
Please e-mail me if you would like to be added to my contact list for e-mail and on-line communications – Kevin.Hanson@ RockyView.ca or call 403.463.1166.
