Leaving a Footprint

[Horse]

Cowman you seem to have a hate on for everyone that wastes money you feel is your taxs I have a hate on for everyone that wastes my money including oil companys and gov, and when I see the oil companys and the way they operate I think they could teach the liberals a few tricks ,I guess it all dpends on who butters your bread.
Emerald do you think the economie can sustain itself the way its going with people driving hundreds of miles per week to work and building 2000ft plus houses and all the amenities .
I think a large percentage of population are living on credit and will be like a neibour of mine that told me it took him 5 yr to go broke but he now has to move on.

[Horse]

Horse, frankly I think that people that build 'hotels' for houses, have a huge mortgage and drive miles to and from work every day are totally NUTS, but its their business.
The fact of the matter is that people are demanding this sort of lifestyle and in most cases both partners in a family are willing to work to have that lifestyle.
My idea of living the life of luxury is having the back forty to walk in peace and quiet....and I wouldn't trade that lifestyle for the biggest mansion in the fanciest country residential subdivision in AB.
Just came in from checking the cows out on the pasture and got soaked in a nice shower.....that means more to me than playing on the ritziest golf course in existence but to each his own.

[cakadu]

Cowman, seems to me that I read recently in the County news that they are putting in new/additional pipelines at Gleniffer. I'll have to go and look at the paper again to see exactly what it was, but they were advertising it and the whole ball of wax.

The real meat to all of this is that the residents around the lake should realize that in order to have that lake (or more correctly in this case the reservoir for the dam) be in the condition that they want it in to be able to enjoy it, that they will need to help look after it. That means no "golf course" lawns that they put too much chemical on not understanding that the drainage ends up somewhere, sewage systems - whatever they may be - should go beyond the current legislation etc.

Some people around here have bought lots at the lake on speculation that they will someday realize "big bucks" for them. Many of the lake residents do not want the county getting too involved as that means more money going to the county.

If they want buy-in to this concept about growing the lake and the potential for it to get really big, then the best solution would be to be upfront and transparent about what they want and include the permanent residents of the area from the outset. We aren't going to stop the development from happening, but we can sure try to do what is best for everyone.

[cakadu]

Linda, if the County is concerned or if residents are concerned about the water quality in the lake then a ban on chemicals or chemical fertilizer could be a condition of the ASP.
Is the county putting in waterlines or is a developer doing it or is the county the developer ?

[tower]

There's the problem, we all want to have the lake and eat it too. By the time the cumulative impacts of the development are noticed the development is done and the developers are on to the next scheme.

Anyone who is relatively satisfied with the way things are now, and I think we all ought to be pretty d#%& satisfied, should be getting the development agents to pay for projections of final costs, including environmental, social, and financial.

[tower]

I assume that the county is funding a lot of the development costs. Some municipalities do this in order to encourage development but believe me residential development costs municipalities vs being a financial windfall !! The demand for services, street lighting and other infrastructure rar outweighs the tax dollars injected in the long haul.
The environmental affect is something that needs to be addressed upfront in large projects or the loser will be all Albertans .

Any resident can attend public hearings and make suggestions for conditions to development permits, ASP's etc. Common sense suggestions should be given consideration.

[cakadu]

Emrald, the public notice regarding Gleniffer Lake had to do with the approval for renewal of an existing water treatment facility. The renewal was to include the approval of a major upgrade of the facility. The upgraded facility will be located in the SW 19-35-2-W5 - about 20 miles from Innisfail. With a treatment capacity of 870 cubic meteres per day, the facility will include a package conventional filtration plant (coagulation, flocculation and filtration) chlorine and UV disinfection as well as two underground water storage reservoirs. The combined storage capacity of the two reservoirs will be 643 cubic metres. Waste water from the water treatment facility, after solids removal and dechlorination will be discharged into the lake.

Hopefully this will be safe for all users of that water.

The other thing that we residents of the county are going to have to pay attention to is the fact that the county is going to look at building up areas such as Gleniffer, Springbrook so that they can save on agricultural land. It should be okay as long as they include public consultation right from the outset. They are going to be releasing the results of the third study that the county has commissioned very soon regarding development rights, which includes building up these smaller areas.

There is serious growth projected for Gleniffer as the baby boomers want to retire and have some place nice to reside in year round. Not quite the Okanagan, but the best we've got?????

Do you ever get the feeling that things are moving far too fast for us to have any idea of the cumulative and/or long-term effects and consequences of what we are doing?

[cakadu]

Linda, public consultation must take place at each stage of development if it involves rezoning, approval of ASP's or approval of subdivisions by MPC. I think that pressure on municipalities such as Red Deer, Rockyview etc. and Parkland and Leduc is tremendous and councils are put to the test dealing with the balancing act that is necessary to ensure that they manaage there land base in a way that will sustain agriculture as well as allow choices for those who wish to live in the rural areas.

[cowman]

Horse: I have been a little slack of late trying to find time to visit this site, so missed your comments about oil and gas spending. Busy building up another little offshoot business, catering to what I hope the coalbed methane boys might need!
Yes I do hate waste. Have been basically pretty tight with my money all my life. I believe that is essential to be a businessman...or so it is my belief?
Yes, the oil and gas industry, blow money like a bunch of drunken sailors! And I have no problem helping them spend some of that loot!
But you must realize that your own Alberta government has helped create this monster? The actual royalties paid on a barrel of crude net the Alberta government around $4/barrel, while Alaska gets $9! And Norway gets over $11! Gives the companies a lot more money to play with?
You should also realize no one is sitting there with a gun telling you not to get in on the action? The oil patch is screaming for all kinds of services and people! Of course you need to pay your dues and get out and do your homework before you can get in on the gravy train!
My buddies kid is just starting out as a "power engineer"(steam ticket) at Fort Mac. Went to school for one year, while being subsidized/working for Syncrude....starting off at $80,000/yr.! By next year he will have his 2nd class ticket and be making $130,000! Not too shabby for a 21 year old kid?

[cowman]

cowman, you are so right . The opportunities are available in AB., for anyone wanting to take the chance; investigate what services and expertise are needed, and seize the opportunity to cash in on the AB Advantage.
My eldest son formed his own company two years ago, after being an employee of an oilfield service company for years. He works in the drilling end of the 'patch', and has done extremely well. He is a welder by trade, but has expanded his knowlege and areas of expertise over the years and it is paying off for him.
It is a case of getting on the bandwagon at an opportune time, and many enterprising folks have and are taking advantage of it.

[cakadu]

At the very least I should think that muncipalities should put a moratorium on new coalbed methane drilling activity at least until it is determined just how many holes can be dug at what layers etc. Right now there are some pretty big denials that 27 holes can be dug per quarter section, but if that comes to pass, how much land are we going to loose and become useless for farming? How sad will the day be when we become a net importer of food?

As far as making lots of money in the "patch", I can't say I blame anyone for doing it, but it sure has the problem to set up some huge social problems. When you're young, you don't think about the fact that it may last for just a short time and you over-extend and before you know it, the bank has all that you thought you owned.

I'm old enough to remember the last real oil boom and also old enough to remember the plea when it ended "Please God let there be another oil boom and I promise not to P*&% it all away next time." I also remember doing a wagonload of mortgage takebacks because people were just walking away from houses. Sure it's great to have $600 per month vehicle payments, a $200,000 plus mortgage and all the toys that money can buy, but there is always that rainy day. When you're in your early years, do you think about putting money aside for that rainy day or do you like spending all that you earn so that you can have fun, because you deserve it?

In today's society, many kids expect to leave home and what their parents had into the exact same thing, not realizing that it took their parents 25 years or more to get to that stage. Many of the ethics and values that we grew up with have long since disappeared in this instant gratification - me, me, me society.

Again, I don't begrudge anyone doing what they do and know that we all make choices and do what we can live with.

Change is happening so rapidly now that we had more changes in the last 3 years than were seen in the previous 30, which were seen in the previous 300. To be on the cutting edge, we don't have time to think long-term, strategically or give consideration to the consequences (particularly the unforeseen ones.)

Oh my - it is Sunday isn't it, enough of a sermon.

[cowman]

Actually Linda, there are a lot of "kids" out there who have no intention of just blowing the money, but look down the road to a future? Emeralds son would be an example?
It is my personal belief that the best way to live is to work for yourself. It will teach you all kinds of good things about responsibility and the concept of "the buck stops here"!
Nobody can take as much interest in any business as the guy who owns it?
I also believe every young person should have a trade or some area of expertize that is bottom line necessary? We can all muddle through without lawyers, or accountants, or for that matter a doctor....but we sure need mechanics, electricians, plumbers, and various engineers! I also believe everyone can educate him/herself in some of the basics in these type of things...but the time comes when you might really need an expert?
And yes, there are lots of young people who blow their money and never give a thought for tommorrow...and in a way that is okay too? After all you are young and you will never enjoy it as much! Somehow I find it ironic that when a person is young and could really use the money, they don't have any...and when they are old and don't need it they have lots!...now mind you that doesn't necessarily apply to me(the having lots)!