Quality of Life/ Community planning "Survey"

[grrrr]

checking-run for council

[checking]

Grrr.

No thank you.

I'm a disengaged cynic. I'm also a mathematician, which is why I like the number guys on this site. They know that your six ratepaying relatives will out number my four ratepaying relatives in any election. You, being an economist, don't realize that concept is why you are on council.

I think we don't require the involvement of seven people in what amounts to spending a medium sized type farm budget looking after a few roads for the Queen?

My solution would be to contract a waste management business to haul all councils away.

[cottonpicken]

Had to look up and make sure the sky wasn't falling
because i agree with you checking,lol.

[oneoff]

It pains me to say it; but both preceding comments are probably 100% correct.

[oneoff]

Quote:The Town and RM have jointly contracted a certified Community Planner (not me) to work both Councils through the process

Reply: Missed that gem from a post above. You can attend every open council session and miss such supposed resolutions. And you can read the censored report in the local papers and such business never makes it to print. You could ask any ratepayer and they would never have heard of such a fact.
And it happens month after month. For instance the four rural residences per quarter section was given three readings and at the last meeting recinded. Few knew about the bylaw in the first place and the same number will ever know that for unexplained reasons it was withdrawn. But rest assured that it will again arise in one form or another..

It did seem like turning an RM into 40 acre acreages; and potentially having 16 residences on a 40 acre block if you owned 4 adjoining quarters.

[oneoff]

Come to think of it.... was there an advertised process for hiring the building inspector; or the pest control officer? Or was it a pretty low key selection.

[LorriSolomon]

Again to clarify;
July 12, 2012 22:37 was the post I referred to as calling me the 'economic development officer'. It is important to clarify somewhat, because the positions vary in scope and people reading this may make assumptions from the title alone.

You made the comment: "it took some hard prodding, but finally there was a response from the side that has been closely following these threads for months"
Please do not misrepresent me. I have not been following the thread at all until it was pointed out to me that I was being misquoted here. Nor do I represent the RM in this context.

As I stated at the meeting the report will be released publicly once it is complete--once the RM Councillors have had time to consider the content, make responses and come up with a plan. At no time did anyone present request a copy in its current form, and I left five copies of it on the table for anyone who would like to see it.

Also please note: I do not have 'free reign' to bring in grant money from any source I choose. I seek grant money based on the projects that were approved by my joint council with reps from both the Town and RM. Those projects are based on the Quality of Life Survey. Both councils are kept up to date on granting opportunities as they arise and both councils have the right to veto any grant application. Personal bequests are exempt, and the grants that we apply for come from our provincial and federal taxes--not from charities. They are highly competitive, have sustainability requirements and work to allow many of the non-profits in our community the opportunity to meet their goals and objectives.

Re: the validity of the survey
The purpose of the survey was to give people an opportunity to tell the RM what they would like to see happen in the RM. 22 people responded. As I said at the meeting, it wasn't a large enough number, but their concerns are still valid and do need to be addressed. By your own logic, there is no way to determine if anyone posting anywhere anonymously is of age, lives in the area or isn't the same person posting under different names. The concerns expressed are still valid. We collected some good information about what people think is important, and the RM intends to act on that information. It may not be the ideal, but it is a good start I think.

All but two responses were submitted online, and even though we ran an ad outlining the many ways a person could respond and left hard copies at the RM and Town Office, that is how the responses came in. We will be looking into ways to improve response, as we discussed at the meeting.

It is not true that the responses came from more than one continent. The survey program itself does not allow more than one response per computer, so although I suppose if someone was determined to submit more than one survey it could be done, it seems unlikely. I also used very few multiple choice questions, opting instead for open ended questions that allow people to tell us about concerns in their own way. It is unlikely I think, that a single source would write 22 very different responses when so many questions require long form answers.
You obviously have significant issues with the RM, but in the future, I would thank you to refrain from misrepresenting my role.

[oneoff]

My personal opinion is that if the RM were to manage and limit its expenditures; and utilize the administration staff that is already hired; we would not have to hire and pay 3% commissions for any additional employee(s) to attempt to bring in additional money .

[oneoff]

Further; if the council members are not fully aware of the wishes; wants; needs and plans of the ratepayers they are meant to represent; then it is time to call in the waste management firms to arrange a house cleaning.

[oneoff]

Every farmer will be real busy until just after this falls RM election period. A real good time period to involvs everyone in a long term planning session?
But who is interested anyways?

[oneoff]

Democraccy..... The system of governance where if you take a stance or express a point of view....you WILL be shown your place.