AB Economic Fundamentals 2008-07

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Executive Place may go condo

Does the prospect of owning a piece of Red Deer`s biggest office building intrigue you?

Give Bert Messier a call.

The president of Beca International Ltd. said on Thursday he`s exploring the possibility of condominiumizing Executive Place — which is currently under construction downtown — and selling portions of it.

"We would condo the project floor by floor," said Messier. "We wouldn`t break it up anymore than that. If somebody wants to buy a floor, they could buy a floor."

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...y_go_condo.html

 

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Small business owners need to take time off to avoid burnout

NEW YORK — With the summer nearly half over, some business owners are finding it hard to let go for a vacation, even for a few days.

But many do feel confident about taking time off because technology helps them stay in touch, and talented employees are able to keep the office running smoothly.

For quite a few years now, small business owners have been able to stay in touch with the office or clients with cellphones and smart phones, hand-held computers and laptops.

So questions can be answered, brush fires put out and hard feelings soothed — and fewer business owners can use the excuse of "I can`t afford to be out of touch" that kept many of them from taking vacations in the past.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...id_burnout.html

 

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Local building boom continues; two more projects set to begin soon

If anyone had any doubts about the building boom in Rimbey, all they need to do is take a drive down the community`s main street for proof as two more construction projects are set to begin.

Local land owner/developer Al Ingles announced last week that he has sold one of his two-lot property packages on 50th Avenue directly west of the Rimbey Review and expects construction of a building on that site to begin within the next two weeks.

In addition, a new Best Western hotel to be located across the highway from the new Rimbey Hospital – which is expected to open in early August, also expects to see construction begin within the next two weeks.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/rimbeyrevi...s/25507779.html

 

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Canmore to negotiate with MD on cemetery rights

The Town of Canmore is about to enter into talks with the MD of Bighorn to determine whether or not its citizens should be considered residents or non-residents when charging for services at the cemetery.

The issue came up during last week`s (June 7) council meeting when senior manager of public works Andreas Comeau explained several revisions to the cemetery bylaw to accommodate a new columbarium, set to be installed next month.

He explained the $77,000 project for an above-ground structure made up of niches is designed for interring up to 360 urns, with two fitting in each opening.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/rockymount...s/25559224.html

 

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Mayor seeks remedy to huge assessment hike

Canmore`s mayor is concerned that a sharp rise in assessments for a number of properties in the community due to provincial legislation changes will be too onerous for some long-time locals.

As a result, Mayor Ron Casey made a notice of motion last week to direct administration to review the options for property owners impacted by the provincial assessment regulations.

"Some of these people have seen a 100 per cent increase in taxes, which is a huge burden" Casey said. "This motion will be coming back to council to direct administration to look at what options we have there because it really, truly is a burden."

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/rockymount...s/25559084.html

 

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Proposed Water Valley development raises concerns

A residential development proposed along the eastern border of the MD of Bighorn has councillors worried that the municipality might be getting all of the problems and none of the benefits.

The Rockwater Heritage Ranch, owned by Alberta Mining Corp. Group (AMC), is proposing a residential development of roughly 68 units on two quarter sections (320 acres) of deeded land in Water Valley, located in Mountain View County adjacent to the northwest edge of the MD.

The rest of the property, a roughly 310-acre parcel of deeded land and an 8,200-acre grazing lease, located in the MD of Bighorn, would be used to allow the ranch to continue operating and provide recreational opportunities for the residents.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/rockymount...s/25559059.html

 

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Banff council spares Cave Ave. from higher densities

Cave Avenue residents have won a contentious battle to save the unique character of their street from higher densities for now, but the future of an affordable housing project in Banff is now unclear.

In a close 4-3 vote on Monday (July 14), Banff council decided against an amendment to the land-use bylaw that would have led to higher density along Cave Avenue.

Resident Liz Hogg, who was concerned that any changes to existing development regulations would radically alter the feeling and environment of the street, said she was very pleased with the outcome.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/rockymount...s/25559009.html

 

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Rising construction costs slam new bus fleet shop

The cost to build a new fleet shop and storage facility to house Banff`s new hybrid buses is $1.4 million over budget.

On Monday (July 14), Banff council gave its blessing for construction to proceed on the fleet shop and transit storage facility using a conventional concrete building design, with an attempt to obtain a LEED Silver rating for environmental efficiencies.

Council indicated the town should try to get the full $1,450,000 from the recently announced provincial funding of $4 billion allocated to the Green Transit Initiative project.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/rockymount...s/25559174.html

 

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Real estate market calm and stable

After the property buying frenzy of 2007, the Stettler housing market seems to have stabled.

The Central Alberta Realtors Association came out with their quarterly report, which showed that while the market has slowed since 2007, it`s matching or exceeding the 2006 market, indicating solid growth.

Randy Weins, President of the Central Alberta Realtors Association, said that the market is stable and doing well.

"The way I took the pace of the second quarter this year is that the market is very healthy because we`re still selling a good number of properties, but it`s very competitive so the sellers have to realize … that they really have to be price competitive with their property or it won`t get done," he said.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/stettlerin...s/25507114.html

 

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County proposing to expand areas for bed-and-breakfasts in region

More bed-and-breakfast businesses, restaurants and recreational operations could be popping up in the county of Stettler under proposed additions to the land-use bylaw.

At its regular meeting July 9, county council gave first reading to proposed land-use bylaw (1391-08) to add bed-and-breakfast establishment, rural restaurant and recreation as discretionary uses in the agricultural district and to add bed-and-breakfast establishment and contractor`s business as discretionary uses in the country residential agricultural district.

"Bed and breakfasts are compatible with agriculture and are pleasant for tourists to experience farms and rural areas," said Johan van der Bank, director of planning and development.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/stettlerin...s/25508659.html

 

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Town of Stettler urges improving downtown business properties with funding incentives

Incentives for beautifying unsightly properties and business building facades in Stettler downtown have been adopted as part of a policy with the Town of Stettler.

At its regular meeting July 8, town council adopted the community improvement policy to encourage downtown property owners to beautify and enhance their buildings and sites.

"If we`re going to adopt this policy, we need some solid criteria," said Mayor Jim Hunter.

"We`ve got to have a solid base to offer it, with clear criteria."

To help clarify and define the terms of derelict, all proposed projects and applications would be presented for review by the municipal planning commission, which consists of council members.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/stettlerin...s/25508289.html

 

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County launches first phase of water servicing strategy

A study to develop a rural water servicing strategy for providing affordable potable water in the County of Stettler has been initiated.

At its regular meeting July 9, county council approved a recommendation by staff to contract Stantec Consulting Ltd. of Red Deer to provide the County of Stettler with phase 1 of a water servicing study-strategy for a total cost of $20,000 plus the federal goods and services tax (GST).

“Getting affordable potable water has long been a concern of council and ratepayers,” said Tim Fox, chief administrative officer.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/stettlerin...s/25507514.html

 

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Woman stung by Internet scam

If it sounds too good to be true, chances are it usually is. Unfortunately, some people learn the hard way — just ask Ann Hall.
The 42-year-old Shaughnessy resident had been searching online for companies that offered loans to people with poor credit and found a site called Octine Loans that catered to her needs, prompting her to fill out an application form.
On July 1, the company informed her she had been approved for an $8,000 loan and would have to pay only five per cent interest. Hall thought she had hit the jackpot.
"I was thinking somebody was giving me a chance to get ahead and catch up," she said. "I was hoping and praying that this was the answer to get out of debt."

http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/article_11407.php

 

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BSI excellent planning tool for business

Albertans will continue to keep their fingers on the pulse of Alberta businesses, with a renewed partnership between the Western Centre for Economic Research at the University of Alberta (WCER) and ATB Financial.
The two entities will continue the Business Sentiments Index until the second quarter of 2009, after the bank recently agreed to extend its original sponsorship, which began in 2005.
The BSI is a quarterly survey of businesses in six key sectors of Alberta`s economy: Oil and gas exploration and development, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, wholesaling and professional and technical services.

http://www.airdrieecho.com/News/411082.html

 

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Residents challenge Leduc County

LEDUC COUNTY -- Not everyone in the county`s west end is offended by the existence of a decades-old gravel pit.
But what is irksome for residents like Lloyd Rosenke, is not the fact the pit was never properly approved in its more than two decades of operation, nor that county council wants to exponentially expand its area.
What troubles Rosenke are roads and his perception of how council is "arbitrarily" dealing with them.
"First of all there is nothing wrong with the pit," said Rosenke prior to council`s May 3 decision to rezone the area to Direct Control.
"This is done all over the world. What`s wrong with this thing is the way (council) is handling the road-use agreement and how they are looking after the road."

http://www.albertafarmer.com/News/410880.html

 

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Property tax fairness gap in Alberta

In the week where property tax bills have come due in Alberta municipalities, a new study from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) finds that the property tax system is placing an unfair burden on small and medium-sized businesses in most Alberta municipalities.

The research report, titled Property Tax Fairness in Alberta: Small Businesses Pay More Than Their Fair Share, examines the difference between commercial and residential property tax rates in municipalities across the province. When commercial mill rates are higher than residential mill rates, this results in what CFIB calls a Property Tax Fairness Gap.

http://www.camrosecanadian.com/News/411196.html

 

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Sewer upgrade

A tender from NU Edge Construction Ltd. has been accepted by city council for the upgrading of the city`s sanitary trunk sewer from the CN trestle on 50 St. to north of 44 Ave. The total project cost is $1,224,211.57 plus GST.
Funding for the upgrade will come from additional ICAP funds, the funds set aside for the sanitary relocation project that was cancelled, the 2008 utility rates, the off-site levy reserve and the New Deal for Cities and Communities grant funding.

http://www.camrosecanadian.com/News/411182.html

 

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Province ponies up big cash for transit plans

The hopes for a rail link from Cochrane to Calgary got a big boost last week with an announcement of $2 billion in provincial funding to boost public transit in Alberta.

Premier Ed Stelmach made the announcement of the Green Transit Incentives Program last Tuesday as part of a $4 billion climate change action plan that also includes funding for carbon capture and storage projects.

"What we`re trying to do with this program is get public transit to areas that don`t have it yet and make it better where they do," said Jerry Bellikka, transportation communications for the Province of Alberta.

http://www.cochranetimes.com/News/411169.html

 

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Looking to build a sustainable future

Green roofs, grey water systems, Cochrane off the energy grid, these are some of the hopes and dreams Mayor Truper McBride and 12 Cochrane citizens envision for the town 50 years from now. And they want every Cochranite to add their ideas to the wish list.

The Town of Cochrane hired John Lewis, president of Intelligent Futures, and invited a dozen volunteers plus the mayor to form a citizens` advisory group to develop a sustainability plan for Cochrane.

"This is a plan everyone can rally around," said McBride. "It will change the way the Town sees itself."

http://www.cochranetimes.com/News/411177.html

 

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Residential/commercial and parking leading way

Discussion continues over what is the best use for the Old Town Hall site at the corner of 2nd Street and 1st Avenue.
The building officially came down July 11, after some delays.

Kelly Learned, long-range planner with the Town of Cochrane, updated council on the steering committee and process Monday.

The steering committee was formed to provide conceptual ideas of how to develop the land. The committee`s recommendations were to be brought to council by early summer, followed by public hearings, however the committee is still working on recommendations after losing committee members Tim McLeod and Ken Hynes -- Hynes moved away from Cochrane and McLeod resigned due to conflict of interest because he wanted to develop the land.

http://www.cochranetimes.com/News/411187.html