AB Economic Fundamentals 2008-07

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Few grow ops found here

Cochrane RCMP haven`t busted a residential grow-op in town for a few years, but aren`t naive to believe that it isn`t happening in the area, Sgt. Audrey Robinson said.

"They undoubtedly are going on, we`re just not aware of them," she said. "They`re lucrative enough that we`d be probably very naive to think there aren`t some in Cochrane."

Robinson gave some tips on some behaviours that may be indicative of a grow-op or drug house: "Lots of traffic (cars or people) coming to a house, people at the house appears to have people show up for a short time and then they`re gone … people who seem to not leave for work at the same time, people coming at odd times of the night, you don`t see different lights coming on in the house or the yards are unkempt."

http://www.cochranetimes.com/News/411183.html

 

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Council red lights transportation plan

Cochrane`s transportation plan went back to the drawing board after council met July 14.

Operational Services Director Jim Anderson presented council with an updated version of the transportation plan, with hopes council would approve it and schedule an open house for public debate.

But Mayor Truper McBride and the rest of council voiced concerns, unanimously voting to postpone the motion until September so that administration can make further revisions to the plan.

Council passed a motion that administration provide more background on economic indicators, revise its approach to transit, changes to Horse Creek Road Crossing and plans for an interchange on Highway 22 and Highway 1A before it`s presented to the public in an open house.

http://www.cochranetimes.com/News/411190.html

 

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What`s happening in the MD of Bonnyville?

Information from the July 9 meeting of the MD of Bonnyville.

Finance
• As of July 3, the MD`s revenues were sitting at $42,823,910.64, while expenditures were tagged at $15,756,629.17.
• Council approved a jump in FCSS funding. The original agreement saw the MD contributing $46,827 to help receive a grant of $187,309. The amount of the grant went up, therefore so did the municipality`s commitment. The funding from the MD now sits at $51,332, or $4,505 more than originally budgeted for. The matching provincial grant now sits at $205,329.

http://www.coldlakesun.com/News/410871.html

 

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Mill`s closure now permanent

The temporary closure of Drayton Valley`s OSB mill has been made permanent. A July 8 news release stated: "Weyerhaeuser Company announced today that it will permanently close its idled Structurwood mill in Drayton Valley, AB."
Wayne Roznowsky, spokesperson for Weyerhaeuser Canada, said that most of the employees from the OSB plant had moved on in December. Roznowsky estimates that 40 employees moved over to the company`s sawmill, which remains open, for employment. This was able to happen because other employees at the sawmill voluntarily took their severance packages so the employees from the OSB plant had a position to fill at the mill.
The reason for the permanent closure of the plant is partly the decline of the US housing market said Roznowsky. He said 80 per cent of Weyerhaeuser`s lumber was shipped to the United States, couple that with our high dollar and we have a deteriorating situation for our plant.

http://www.draytonvalleywesternreview.com/...ies/410723.html

 

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Coulee road nearly done

The barricades on the coulee road connecting Drayton Valley to Township Road 494, also known as the ski hill road, are set to come down either late summer or early fall.
County project manager John Evasiuk said the paving contract has been awarded to Ledcor Group and now it is just a matter of waiting on the contract company.
Currently Ledcor is scheduled to begin the paving portion of the road at the end of August or early September. Evasiuk said the County gave the company a general timeline in which they wanted the project to be completed.

http://www.draytonvalleywesternreview.com/...ies/410727.html

 

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New gallery location to help revitalize Alberta Ave.

Alberta Avenue`s cultural scene got a shot in the arm last week as construction kicked off on the new Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts building.

The $6 million project located at 93 Street and 118 Avenue will boast more space than the current location and offer 16 affordable housing units for low-income residents.

It`s also the first major construction effort of the City`s Avenue Initiative, a proactive plan to bring new life to the troubled 118 Avenue area.

Though the road is regarded widely as a hotspot for prostitution, drug dealing and homelessness, Alberta Avenue teems with over 200 artists who constitute a vibrant cultural community, said Christy Morin, president of Arts on the Ave, a local nonprofit group.

http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/ArticleDis....aspx?e=1117048

 

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South LRT openings approach

Progress continues on the south LRT extension.

Opening of the Belgravia and South Campus stations is scheduled for April 26, 2009, says Wayne Mandryk, the city`s transit project branch manager, while stations at Century Park and Southgate Shopping Centre are planned to open April 25, 2010.

"We`re still on schedule as we had laid out in 2005, so we`re happy with that," says Mandryk.

http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/ArticleDis....aspx?e=1116995

 

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Residents bittersweet about amendment to north LRT extension

After an eight-and-a-half hour hearing at city hall last week, Central McDougall community league president Warren Champion says council has settled for "second or third best" on the north LRT extension proposal.

Council voted unanimously at the July 8 meeting to shift the contentious line so it will run down 105 Street from 105 Avenue to 108 Avenue, instead of going down the back alleyway between 105 and 106 Streets, which was the earlier recommendation.

Central McDougall and Queen Mary Park residents had been pushing for a "cut and cover" method, which would put the LRT slightly below grade and allow it to run in a straight line down 104 Street, preserving 105 Street as an arterial and allowing further residential development in the area.

http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/ArticleDis....aspx?e=1117053

 

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Crumbling neighbourhoods must take a number

Eighty city neighbourhoods need more than a facelift – they need reconstructive surgery. But some could wait decades before seeing their pipes and roads replaced.

To catch up, city council is debating a four per cent yearly tax hike over 10 years dedicated to neighbourhood infrastructure. This would add about $2 billion to the $420 million in provincial grants set aside for the program.

The city`s current budget allows for two neighbourhood reconstruction projects a year – a pace Coun. Karen Leibovici calls unacceptable, especially for the last of the 80 neighbourhoods.

If the tax increase is approved, the city will stick with its policy of rebuilding about two neighbourhoods a year and use the extra funding for preventative maintenance and fixing neighbourhoods that are on the brink of total disrepair. Crews would work on 15 neighbourhoods a year.

http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/ArticleDis....aspx?e=1116950

 

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Community debates apartment proposal

The Westmount community is divided on a proposed redevelopment plan that would see a new six-storey residential apartment at 11042 122 St.

The city held a public meeting at Westglen elementary school, 10950 127 St., last Thursday to discuss specifics of the rezoning proposal and allow the developer to present a design and an overview of the project.

City planner Jarred Friedman says community reaction was mixed, and some concerns raised included the height of the building and a potential increase in on-street parking.

"There were concerns," he says. "Some people thought it was a great idea to have a new building in the area and thought it would have some sort of positive contribution to the area and that there would be more development like this."

http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/ArticleDis....aspx?e=1116967

 

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Nuclear project will create thousands of jobs: Bruce report

Bruce Power released a report last week on the preliminary economic and financial impact analysis for the proposed nuclear reactor in the Peace region.
The analysis, based on computed models and statistical numbers, is only a prediction of what may happen and is focused on providing a prediction of the fiscal and economic impact during the construction phase and the 60-year operational life of the proposed nuclear reactors. The report states, it takes a conservative approach "as not to overstate the potential economic benefits to the Peace country."
The report projects the creation of hundreds of new jobs that would be needed for construction of the nuclear reactor. During operational years, an estimated 1,940 full time positions will be required to keep the proposed plant running.

http://www.fairviewpost.com/News/411025.html

 

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New interchange pitched for Hwy 15

A Highway 15 interchange, realignment of Josephburg Road to 119th Street and a new intersection at Dow Chemical`s east-gate entrance are among some of the options that could be included in a new industrial park planned for the 590-hectare area between Josephburg Road and Dow Chemical.

In the ScotiaBank room at the Dow Centennial Centre last week, city staff presented about 16 Fort Saskatchewan and area stakeholders with five different area structure plan options for the triangle-shaped area located on the south side of Highway 15 between 119th Street and the city`s eastern and southern boundaries with Strathcona County.

An area structure plan (ASP) is a top-level document that gives a general outline of how an area of the city should be developed. Each ASP needs approval from city council before it comes into effect.

http://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/News/411424.html

 

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Rebates coming on future electric bills: Atco

EDMONTON – Nearly 200,000 Atco Electric customers in northern and eastern Alberta are getting refunds on their utilities bills for the next five months. The Alberta Utilities Commission has agreed with Atco`s calculations that consumers were charged slightly more than the actual cost of power for the first half of the year. So the regulator has approved a monthly refund to affected customers that will show up on utility bills from August through December.

http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ArticleD....aspx?e=1118798

 

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Residents OK with going pesticide-free

Grande Prairie officials are mulling over the idea of making Grande Prairie pesticide-free and that seems to sit perfectly fine with residents."I guess we should consider going that way. Besides, a few weeds here and there never killed anybody," said Norm Dyck, a retired farmer in the area.A pesticide-free Grande Prairie could be a reality in the near future after the Canadian Cancer Society recently called on the city to pass a pesticide-free bylaw. Mayor Dwight Logan said he supported the initiative, but wanted to wait to receive significant input on the matter before a decision was made. The CCS conducted a survey in nine Alberta communities, including Grande Prairie, and the results show that most Albertans would welcome legislation restricting pesticide use.

http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ArticleD....aspx?e=1118699

 

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Residents voice opposition to area structure plan

They came from all walks of life but the same reasons motivated them to voice their concerns over many of the same issues.

More than 150 people turned out for an almost four-hour public hearing to have their say on the controversial Hwy 2A Urban Corridor Area Structure Plan (ASP), which was given first reading from Lacombe County council a month ago.

Numerous written submissions and more than 20 speakers said in a collective voice that the ASP is "25-years premature" and "horribly, horribly flawed."

"This plan is very premature," said Art Wiebe, who owns about 100 acres near Lacombe Lake. "The land hasn`t been annexed. As this plan stands, the councils are planning for something that could take 30 years to happen, and in the meantime, the ASP will hold people`s lands hostage, tying their hands from using their lands the way they want.

"The plan isn`t viable the way it is now. It will leave landowners in a straightjacket."

http://www.lacombeglobe.com/News/410892.html

 

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Town, developer getting back on track with mixed-use development talks

Four months ago, the Nanton News
reported that a company called D2S Farms was planning a 123-acre mixed-use subdivision that, if approved, could see Nanton`s population double within eight years.
Shortly after that story was published, the developers held an open house at the community centre to answer questions and gather feedback from area residents concerning the proposed subdivision on the northwest corner of town.
However, since the open house, the project seemed to disappear off the radar.
At the July 7 regular meeting of Nanton town council, Robert Kelham, the newly appointed special projects advisor with D2S Farms, met with council to discuss the project, and in particular, how to re-open the lines of communication and get things rolling again.
"Our communication has been poor to dismal," Kelham said, adding that he has been brought on board to correct that
problem.

http://www.nantonnews.com/News/411253.html

 

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Riding arena proposed for Fishburn park

Youngsters in the Fishburn area might be one step closer to having an expanded play park.
Last week councillors at the Municipal District of Pincher Creek gave Joyce Taylor, secretary of the Foothills Park Board, the go ahead to research the required specifications of installing a slide at the rural park.
At present the park has just a swing-set and small climbing frame, after a number of pieces of equipment were removed from the playpark several years ago because of potential liability issues.
While councillors were concerned about the use a new slide would have, they agreed to consider the proposal to invest some $7,000 of ratepayer`s money into the slide, provided Taylor investigate the associated installation requirements and confirmed the community`s willingness to help out with the installation.

http://www.pinchercreekecho.com/News/411364.html

 

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Transit routes revamped

After months of planning, studying and testing, Strathcona Transit is revealing restructured transit routes that will be put into action August 5.

There will be new routes to neighborhoods across Sherwood Park as well as popular destinations.

"The changes are very big," Strathcona Transit Manager Matt Carpenter said. "They effect every route and every rider."

The new routes took months of preparation both on paper and trails. Bus drivers have driven the routes and stopped at stops during rush hour, even though no one was being picked up, to get a feel for the routes.

According to Carpenter, some keen drivers have driven on their own time to get used to them.

http://www.sherwoodparknews.com/News/411465.html

 

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City looks deeper into centre

A move to award a contract of hazardous waste material removal from the Kinsmen Arts Centre in Spruce Grove was taken off the table by council this week.

Ald. Randy Palivoda advised council to reject the tenders and do a further examination into the centre to determine the extent of the hazardous materials on-site.

Palivoda`s fellow alderman, Wayne Rolthe, said that if the contract to remove the materials from the building was passed it spelled doom for the structure.

He said that he was prepared to vote against it but wanted administration to provide the costs of reconstructing a replica building as well as all the implications of that decision.

Ald. Louise Baxter said she believed the facility was past being saved.

http://www.stonyplainreporter.com/Top%20Stories/411598.html

 

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City taking survey to citizens

The City of Wetaskiwin is looking 10 years into the future as part of a new strategy to attract and retain business and industry.
The city has hired EcDev Solutions, a consulting firm from Calgary, that will conduct a survey and collect information into the fall as a way to help city officials determine an appropriate direction to steer the `City in Motion.`
"It`s a way to be competitive with not only Alberta markets, but Canadian and global markets," explained Randy Richards, economic development officer.
"That strategy will lead to a three-year plan. Some of the priorities are going to be going after more retail."

http://www.wetaskiwintimes.com/News/410765.html