Don Kochan – Division 2
Hi everyone, the following Division 2 information is for your use:
Day of Remembering – On November 11th, I presented a wreath on behalf of Rocky View County at the Cochrane Legion ceremony to remember our fallen soldiers. Wreath presentations were also provided by MP Blake Richards, MLA Peter Guthrie and Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung as well as many other community members. More importantly a wreath was laid by Leona Stock, The Silver Cross Mother, to honor her son and other Canadian Force members who were killed in action. Leona Stock lost her son Stephan Stock in 2008 in Afghanistan. Her son Stephan was killed, along with three others, when a roadside bomb was detonated near the light armored vehicle, he was travelling in. My eldest son was in combat in Afghanistan that year as well and fortunately although experiencing a similar incident returned home safely earning the Medal of Military Valor from the Governor General of Canada. May we never forget the brave ones protecting our right to freedom.
RVC 2024 Budget – On November 29th the Operating and Capital budgets were approved signifying a 3% tax increase for 2024. The final determination of increase will be determined after the Master Rate and Mill Rate Bylaws are established in the spring. Further to the budget discussions, I had introduced motions to consider the following:
a) That in accordance with User Fee policy C-224, full cost recovery be established for utility customers and that they be applied upon approval of the 2024 Master Rates Bylaw. The need for this motion was to address a fairness issue regarding how utility costs were being recovered for the County run utilities. In 2023, Administration undertook a detailed analysis of what the expenditures and revenues are for the respective utilities systems and it was revealed that the tax payer at large was subsidizing the utility systems in excess of $2,000,000. What this means is that Water Coops who may experience significant costs to pay for their system expenses are also subsidizing the County run utilities and they get no benefit from it. Council eventually agreed that a full cost recovery will be implemented over three years.
b) That Administration prepare a report to be presented to Council, no later than the end of Q1 2024, with additional information on the connections to any pathways that may result from the construction of SR1. A Provincial task force was established that had gone through an exercise of providing recommendations on what recreation facilities can be incorporated in the SR1 project. It would be beneficial to know what projects on the County side would be required for continuity of recreation initiatives in the area.
c) That Administration be directed to prepare a report to be presented to Council, no later than the end of Q1 2024, with additional information on the pedestrian access to the Bearspaw Reservoir. In my previous newsletter I reported that the staircase at the Springbank Heights MR and the Bow River had been removed by TransAlta due to liability reasons. TransAlta have recently indicated that they would be willing to work with the County on a proper agreement to possibly have the stairs reinstated for a river access. The requested report would identify the options that Council may have regarding this project.
South Springbank Community Facilities Update -During the 2024 budget discussions Council approved $1.1 million for the preliminary ground studies and initial planning of the Community Event Centre in south Springbank. Starting in early 2024, administration will be preparing Request for Proposals which is to initiate the hiring of multiple contractors to complete the studies. The studies will provide the County with valued information about the 75 acres and assist in further defining the concept for the Community Event Centre. The internal project team is working to have the studies completed and presented to Council as soon as possible however, some of the required site studies may take up to a year to complete. As the internal project team works through the studies, they will also be scheduling multiple engagement opportunities in the Spring of 2024. These engagement opportunities will be available and communicated to residents, potential users of the facilities and key community stakeholders to help develop the design and function of the Community Events Centre’s main hall, studio space, and multipurpose rooms.
To learn more about the project and for more frequent updates please check out the engagement page here: South Springbank Community Event Center | Your View (rockyview.ca)
Wishing you and your families a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Don Kochan – Deputy Reeve – Division 2 Councillor – kochandiv2@gmail.com
