AB Economic Fundamentals 2008-08

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Concerns about daycare`s impact on neighbourhood

A 3 Avenue resident shared her concerns about the eventual opening of Chrysalis Daycare and how it might negatively impact her quality of life.
Responding to community needs, Chrysalis Daycare Society has been busy developing an all-inclusive daycare. This would include flexible hours and acceptance of children with special needs accommodate children of shift-working parents.
"There is a need in this community for daycare that starts early and extends late into the evening," said Mayor Craig Copeland.

http://www.coldlakesun.com/News/415121.html

 

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Real estate a conundrum

Peaks and troughs in the local housing market have potential buyers and sellers suffering from vertigo.

In the past few years there have been giant swings in the Drayton Valley housing market that have shifted the market from a buyer`s market to a seller`s market and back again. Century 21 broker Roger Coles said at this time it is neither a buyer nor a seller`s market.

"It is not so much a buyer`s or a seller`s market right now. It is very even keeled," said Coles.

Lately there seems to be an overabundance of real estate on the market, suggesting that the market has slowed. Agents in the area do not agree with this observation.

http://www.draytonvalleywesternreview.com/....aspx?e=1161628

 

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Interchange work progresses

Slowly but surely, construction is progressing on 23 Avenue and Gateway Boulevard.

In April, workers began the mammoth task of building an interchange – consisting of five bridges – at one of the city`s busiest traffic locations, with a targeted completion date of 2011.

Despite some early challenges in the ground, the $260-million project is essentially on schedule, says Joe Kabarchuk, the city`s director of roadways construction.

"It`s going slow right now," says Kabarchuk. "The biggest challenge that we have now is just getting out of the ground.

http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/ArticleDis....aspx?e=1165145

 

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Go Centre fast approaching

Fundraising efforts continue for the Go Centre, which will soon begin taking physical shape.

Thus far, organizers have raised nearly two-thirds of the estimated $36 million needed for the 220,000-square foot facility that will accommodate basketball, gymnastics and volleyball. Alongside monies from sport user groups and private donors, the province has committed $10 million, with another $9 million pledged by the city.

The feds have promised to match support from other levels of government, says Go Centre board member David Dorward.

"There` s about $22 million that has been raised, but the federal government piece needs to come together … We`ll do the rest of the private campaign," Dorward says.

http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/ArticleDis....aspx?e=1165148

 

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Major renos planned for hall

Before becoming Willowby`s vice president, Alla Ternikova was in charge of renting out its community league hall.

She says she often heard from renters that the plain grey building could use some sprucing up, and she couldn`t help wanting to do something about it.

"They would step in and say, `Can I decorate it?` Because it looks bland and it`s dark," she says.

Ternikova chose to accept the challenge of rejuvenating the 30-year-old hall, located at 6315 184 St. She initially came out with some bold ideas, including a mural and a series of mirrors to liven things up and make the space inside appear larger.

She spoke with professional artists, designers and architects and says they all expressed interest, but a meeting with the community league last week revealed that Willowby`s board members were a little less enthusiastic.

http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/ArticleDis....aspx?e=1165115

 

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Seniors centre set for large expansion

The South East Edmonton Seniors Association is expanding by over a third its current size.

A $1.6-million renovation project will see SEESA`s centre at 93 Avenue and 82 Street grow from 16,000 to nearly 22,000 square feet.

While a program room, meeting space and an arts and crafts area are all included in expansion plans, the most significant aspect of the redevelopment is a larger cafeteria allowing for improved kitchen services.

"It`s about socialization," says Mary Anne Jaedicke, who helps run SEESA.

"The cafeteria is just packed to the rim both for breakfast and lunch.

http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/ArticleDis....aspx?e=1165135

 

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Committee approves extra-large sign size

A local advertiser has been approved after the fact for an extra-large sign that has been erected on Fourth Avenue, although he will pay the difference for the variance from the norm.

The sign, advertising Fountain Tire, was installed earlier this year, replacing a smaller version.

The new sign is more than double the size of what bylaws allow in that part of town. The town requires signs stretch no bigger than 18 square metres in most parts of town, and this sign is 37 square metres.

Since it was enlarged, the sign now also encroaches closer to the road than the town normally allows.

Troy Sorensen of Alpine Exposure, explained to the Municipal Planning Committee on Aug. 12 that the sign`s size came as a result of a misunderstanding with town administration.

http://www.edsonleader.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1161883

 

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Housing prices stabilizing

Local real estate experts seem to agree that the housing market in Edson is mirroring that of the Alberta`s biggest metropolitan centres, having largely stabilized.

"From April to April it was exactly the same," said Henry Boxma, of Remax. "Nothing`s changed. Edson`s stable."

Boxma insists that there is a misconception amongst local residents that housing prices have dropped dramatically of late. He agrees that while list prices have changed, there have been few sales, and actual sales prices haven`t fallen noticeably.

http://www.edsonleader.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1161886

 

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Weir road source of confusion for MD

The MD of Fairview is waiting patiently along with Glacier Power on a final decision as to whether or not the weir project near Dunvegan will be authorized to proceed or not. The decision on that should be made soon, but the road that is to lead to the proposed project has become a source of confusion for the MD.
At Tuesday`s MD council meeting assistant public works superintendent Myron Croy told council he was ready to start work on the half-mile access road just north of Dunvegan, which started a discussion amongst council on who is responsible for what when it comes to the road construction.

http://www.fairviewpost.com/News/415246.html

 

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Alberta loses 4,000 jobs in July but local unemployment rate still lowest in 20 years

Fort McMurray bucked a countrywide trend of job losses in July.

Statistics Canada has released the latest employment numbers, and the Fort McMurray area is reporting a 3.3 per cent unemployment rate. That`s the lowest rate since statistics have been recorded in the region since 1987.

That means the city is beating Canada`s national average, which, despite job losses, is currently seeing one of its lowest rates in 30 years, at 6.2 per cent.

Fort McMurray`s statistics are based on its economic region, which also includes Lac La Biche, St. Paul, Cold Lake and Bonnyville.

http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1163610

 

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City comes up with a compromise on control of dandelions

The city has come up with a proposed solution to the long-debated issue of dandelion control it hopes will not only make most people happy, but also save taxpayers a few bucks.Of the 295 people who responded to the survey about whether the city should continue dandelion control, 41 per cent voted against dousing the little yellow flowers with chemicals, while 59 per cent voted for continuation of the current program. So, city officials came up with a compromise. "We presented at the protective services committee our report on it and the motion was put forward by committee to accept city recommendations and to stop doing dandelion control on class B and class C turf grass," said Jim Donnelly, integrated pest management co-ordinator for the city.

http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ArticleD....aspx?e=1166215

 

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Plans for pine beetle battle - Recommended early start dependent on funding

The South Peace Municipalities` (SPM) pine beetle program presented a list of improvements for next year`s control work to the County of Grande Prairie Monday, making an earlier start date a number one priority. As the program ends in late September, SPM is getting ready to apply for the 2008-2009 budget. Co-ordinator Jerry Bauer, hopes the program`s launch and funding will come as early as Oct. 1, more than a month prior to last year`s Nov. 26 start date."We can`t do anything without the approval. It`s a provincial program, so we need their approval and we need their dollars," said Bauer. Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) is currently assessing the pine beetle`s survival and how many new outbreaks there are. The size and approval of next year`s SPM program depends on their findings. Until their completion and the end of the pine beetles` flight this summer, surveying is at a halt.

http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ArticleD....aspx?e=1165061

 

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High gas prices fuel local tourism

Despite the rising fuel prices discouraging long-distance travel this summer, some of Hanna`s key tourist destinations reported a surge in unfamiliar faces this tourist season.

Both the Tourist Information Centre and the Hanna museum reported growth in their visitor logs, and Bridget Benoit of the information centre is positive that this growth is a good indication for the town.

"We keep track of how many visitors we get," said Benoit, managing staff at the Tourist Information Centre, "and it`s usually between 60 and 65 people per day."

http://www.hannaherald.com/News/415041.html

 

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Town water bill rises to $9 M

The bill for providing provincially-regulated clean water is skyrocketing.

A new treatment system the Town is examining in order to meet stricter upcoming provincial standards has nearly doubled in price, according to an engineering company.

The Town is having to foot the bill, currently backed by a Provincial government financial commitment, to install a state-of-the-art filtration system as it begins taking control of the town`s water supply from West Fraser Mills Ltd.

The company has supplied drinking water to HInton since it opened in the 1950s.

http://www.hintonparklander.com/ArticleDis....aspx?e=1161504

 

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Wheelchair accessible parks planned for Blackfalds

BLACKFALDS - The gravel and sandy areas of many playgrounds and parks are inaccessible to children who have limited ability or are bound to a wheelchair, but that is about to change in the town of Blackfalds.

A new park in Blackfalds will offer children of all abilities a place to play.

Harvest Meadows Park, which is being constructed near the Riser Park and Aspen Lakes area of town, will include areas that are 100 per cent handicap-accessible.

http://www.lacombeglobe.com/News/415189.html

 

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Boomtime hits a bump

The latest data shows Lloydminster appears to be following Alberta`s lead into a building slump.
Coming off of record highs last year, it looks as though Lloydminster`s building frenzy hit a plateau this summer, mainly due to a cooling housing market.
As of June, the city issued 309 building permits, down 30.7 per cent from last June. There have been 190 residential permits issued so far this year, which includes 115 single-family homes and 74 multi-family homes. By contrast, there were 253 single-family homes built last year.
"Realistically, when you have 253 last year ... it`s tough," said Ald. Alan Cayford, chair of the City`s planning and development committee. "You can`t keep growing and increasing those numbers every year. You`re bound to have a flat spot someplace."

http://www.meridianbooster.com/News/415268.html

 

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Labour shortage

Local business owners are feeling the pinch when it comes to finding skilled labour, which has many businesses looking beyond the border to fill positions. "I remember a couple of years ago when you`d put an ad in the paper and you`d get a bunch of applications," said Jason Calvert, plant manager at Mountain Top Foods in Nanton. "You just don`t get that anymore." Calvert had been running ads continuously for a year-and-a-half in the Nanton News advertising positions in the company, but no one replied.
"It was a little depressing," Calvert said. To fill the positions, Mountain Top Foods had to go a route travelled by more and more businesses across Alberta -- bringing foreign workers into Canada to fill the positions.
"I`d rather hire Canadians than bring in foreign workers," Calvert said. "(We`re) just trying to get the positions filled and keep production going."

http://www.nantonnews.com/News/415436.html

 

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Town council adopts new tangible capital assets policy, considers sewer privatization

At its Aug. 5 regular meeting, Nanton town council voted to adopt a new tangible capital assets (TCA) policy.
"The province has changed how they deal with tangible capital assets," said Mary Robley, chief administrative officer with the Town of Nanton.
Robley and Jennifer Beagrie, director of corporate services with the Town, spent the last year developing the new TCA reporting policy.
Under the new provincial TCA guidelines, all municipalities must now report information regarding the inventory and value of its tangible capital assets every year. The new reporting system also requires each municipality to reflect amortization of these assets in its financial statements to demonstrate stewardship and the cost of using those assets to deliver programs and services.
The new TCA reporting policy was reviewed by both Scase and Lively and Sharon Plett, the Town`s financial advisor.

http://www.nantonnews.com/News/415439.html

 

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Roundabout construction killing business

For most people, the ongoing roundabout construction along Main Street is a serious inconvenience.

For certain business owners however, it`s something far worse.

In a delegation at Peace River council Aug. 11, Theo Jensen from the Sawridge Inn told council the construction has been killing almost all the hotel`s business.

"We are down substantially in business because the roadway is gone and been cutoff almost entirely," he said. "We don`t know what else we can do but complain to town council and look for help.

"The 108 people employed by the Sawridge Inn are being affected," Jensen added.

Jensen was upset with how little notice was given to businesses along Main Street of the roundabout construction, but councillors said they gave notice as soon as they could.

http://www.prrecordgazette.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1163591

 

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Hospital deconstruction continues

For nearby residents, its been a long time coming as the demolition on the old Peace River Hospital site continues.

Last Friday was the original deadline for an injunction placed against McColman and Sons Demolition to continue the deconstruction of the site.

However, talks between Graham Smyth, the Town`s bylaw enforcement/safety officer, and the company last week gave way to an indefinite injunction on the work order as long as work began by last Monday.

"They assured me that they were going to have a crew here next week and work on it until its done," Smyth said. "If they come in and carry on then everything`s good, but the order still stands and I`m not going to cut my own throat and take it off and not have them appear and not fulfill it."

http://www.prrecordgazette.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1163590