Category: Notes from Council

Dear Residents & Ratepayers,

It’s amazing the difference a little rain will bring! Everything is much greener in Vulcan County.

There were two meetings of the County Council this month, as well as an all-day Governance and Priorities meeting to work on our strategic plan for the next four years. All councillors were provided the opportunity to identify key priorities and staff provided input from each of their departments. It was a long but insightful day. We plan to review a draft document with staff at the next Governance and Priorities meeting.

Dear Residents & Ratepayers,

The month of May was relatively quiet for County Council; both regular meetings were only half-day. I was, however, invited to the Spring meeting of the Lake McGregor Country Estates Community Association on May 22^nd. This meet was very well attended by the membership and provided a two hour “information session” on all business items of the community, as well as Social Club matters. The meeting was well-organized and the volunteer board of directors each took turns speaking to a different item on the agenda. I was greatly impressed by the thoroughness of the presentation (over 1 hour, 50 minutes), as well as the quality of the questions asked and answers provided. While the community does have significant challenges, being only phase one of a development that was initially foreseen to have three phases, the board is diligent about infrastructure and facility maintenance, as well as working toward a longer-term agreement with the developer for these installations. Longer-term viability requires that the planned three phases of development are realized, especially when provincial and federal infrastructure grants are not available for a private community of both permanent and seasonal residents.   

Dear Residents & Ratepayers,

A budget meeting kicked-off a busy month of county business on April 5^th. All of council sits on the Budget Committee and this provided a second opportunity to review the budget since we first did in November. We reviewed required modifications from the interim budget with Administration.

Dear Residents & Ratepayers,

March started off with our regular meeting on the 9^th where we heard a presentation from STARS air ambulance providing an overview of their 2021 operations. We were able to finalize loan arrangements for the Carmangay Curling Association and the capital improvements that they are making to their facility. Also addressed was a minor land use bylaw amendment to rezone a parcel near Travers. We discussed the new draft recreation agreement with the Town of Vulcan as well.

Dear Residents & Ratepayers,

Viable and thriving communities rely on responsive representation in local government. Resident and ratepayer interest in the affairs of a municipal corporation allow an elected council to better understand the needs of the community, as well as the challenges faced by individuals. It is individuals reaching out and contacting their elected council, sharing perspective that might not otherwise be known, that can make a difference. To this end, as the municipal councillor for Division 6, please contact me about municipal business or community matters where you believe local government has a role to play.