Around the Division…. I get calls/ emails for things (and am always glad to help) where it is almost always faster (and with a better response) to go directly to the County, whether these are road questions, enforcement matters, or questions on process. The service standard is generally around 24 hours, as these requests are tracked in our ticketing system and routed to the correct person almost immediately. I can answer general questions based on my knowledge, or if I’ve heard anything happening in our area, though.
I don’t have ready access to staff, and quite frankly, as I learn more and more about what our role as a Councillor is, I don’t require this type of access. I always think that in order for me to move an issue forward, I have to interrupt a senior leader, who then has to interrupt a Manager, who then has to interrupt the person who can actually respond. Most issues are not of an urgent nature so this process is not very cost effective nor do I have any visibility of what work I’m actually interrupting. Councillors are governors and policy makers. We don’t plow the roads, measure potholes, or take pictures at the side of the road to determine if there is an enforcement issue. We have skilled, qualified (and much better equipped) people for this who quite frankly do a much better job at operations than I do.
So how do you get your concern looked at?
- Start here: www.rockyview.ca/Government/ContactUs.aspx
- Submit an online form or call our 24 hours/day number
- Send an email
If you’ve done that, and haven’t heard from anyone in a day or two, please let me know. I can absolutely try to find out why things are taking longer than expected. So far, I haven’t heard back from anyone saying a response has taken too long, so I do hope that is your experience too.
Recreation: I presented a notice of motion in June to have Council review all of our Fee Simple land holdings to determine where we may monetize the value of those lands and dedicate those funds to recreation capital in Rocky View County.
Fee Simple land is land that the County owns outright (ie not Municipal Reserve where there is a shared contract with the School Board).
There may be lands that we’d absolutely want to keep for the County’s future use, or for other purposes, but we do have lands (especially in neighboring municipalities) that the County may not have a long-term use for.
We have had underfunded or inconsistent funding in many areas of our County for many years. We do provide operational funding, for example (ie Springbank Park for All Seasons $400,000/annually, which is not insignificant), but we haven’t invested in improving or expanding. Even contemplating support for Capital improvements is difficult until you know how you can fund. While the County is in great shape financially and mostly certainly we could look at borrowing funds for expansion – I’m sure residents would prefer a self- funding model rather than borrowing.
The notice of motion is not a direction to sell anything yet, it is just an inventory of lands, approximate value, determination of what is needed and what isn’t, and then Council would vote on whether or not lands could be sold, and Council would also need to decide if net proceeds should be earmarked for Recreation. Lots of moving parts here.
Ultimately, the County needs a reliable funding source for recreation. Recreational groups need to know from year to year they have funding. Operations is one piece, and capital improvements/expansion are another.
I continue to work on this and I hope Council will support, at the very least, a solid review of our fee simple lands with a view to invest any net proceeds back into our recreation.
Approved Development Permits:
- Application for renewal for the keeping of livestock at densities no greater than two (2) animal units per 1.60 hectares (3.95 acres), specifically from 1 to 2 animal units (horses) 243154 RANGE ROAD 31A
- Application for Offices (existing building), tenancy for a real estate company, (8 & 9, 110 COMMERCIAL DRIVE),
- Application for a dwelling, single detached (existing), relaxation of the minimum side yard setback requirement, (43 LYNX LANE)
- Application for a dwelling, single detached (existing), construction of an addition within a riparian protection area (84 EAGLE BUTTE RANCH
- Application for Personal Service Business, construction of an indoor private sports facility, 250031 MOUNTAIN VIEW TRAIL
Kim McKylor
kmckylor@rockyview.ca
Rural Crime Watch: Guest Submission
Vacation time! Whether we plan a stay-cation or an away-cation, we start from our home. Here are some tips to increase our peace and security.
- Use social media to report after the vacation. An announcement of a time to be away may be information to a criminal about an opportunity to check out. Intruders believe when people are away that there is enough time to break, enter, and grab before an alarm brings a response.
- Being ‘noticeably at home’ reduces the risk of intrusion. Next best is the perception of someone at home. Usual cues to an intruder might be movement, yard maintenance and several lights on variable timers.
- Minimize personal items as you travel. A lost address book or chequebook gives thieves an immediate lead to your address and identity theft. Minimize personal information on your Smartphone in case it is lost. Lock personal records securely in your home and have photo cache of these items with someone else. Carry the phone numbers (without account ID) needed to call if your wallet is stolen or misplaced.
- A mail build-up signals absence. Stop the mail or have a neighbour pick it up for you. Ask a neighbour to check for parcels and for unexpected visitors to your home. Be part of neighbour pacts to look out for each other.
- Park your vehicles in the garage. Remove any valuables and lock the vehicle as well.
- Use a smart doorbell that takes video and is interactive through the internet. These work 24/7 with your cell phone.
Enjoy the time, space, and freedom of rural living. Some cautions help with our peace and quiet.
For information on Rural Crime Watch, check out Cochrane Foothills Protective Association, cfparcw.ca.
Our security is greatly enhanced when we work together as good rural neighbours.
Writer this issue – Jim Willson
(Reprint of part of a RCW member newsletter)
