Area Structure Plans and Development Decisions

[cowman]

Linda: The four members at large were chosen by the Ag fieldman and the ASB chair. They actively went out and recruited them...in fact had to talk a couple of them into it!
Here is another small revelation: The current ASB will remain the same for at least another year, whether they advertize the postion or not. I have two relatives on this board, so get the inside scoop!
Right now they are allocating money to buy and equip a stock trailer to clean up livestock rollovers on the roads? You know when a liner is in an accident?
I believe the cost is around $60K...which sounds pretty high with a lot of fancy specialized equipment, but through a sponsorship program they hope to recoup most, if not all, of that cost. The fire department would operate it.

[coppertop]

It never ceases to amaze me to what lengths ASB's can go to be creative in getting specialized grant monies.

When I was first appointed to our ASB in 1992 we were given a two day orientation on what our role was, and what we as ASB's were expected to do for our agricultural community. I think many of the ASB's have strayed a long way from their original mandate.

There are some excellent Ag Fieldmen around, Tim Dietzler from the MD of Rockyview being one of them. He has his hands full trying to keep the agricultural industry on the radar screen in that municipality with all the other land use pressures around Calgary.
Keith Boras from Lacombe County is another excellent fieldman.
Many of the good Ag Fieldmen have left to work in the resource industry where their expertise in reclaimations is very much in demand.