Price is up by a third but you have to ask for them to pick up the garbage. Here’s the full story. On Monday July 5th I pay $150 + to the city for water sewer and garbage. This amount is up approximately $50.00 from previous bills but I pay it without complaint. Wow I think a 30% increase in fees after an 11.5% increase in property taxes. On the evening of Wed. July 7th my wife collects all the garbage we wash and put into blue recycling bags and the ½ bag of garbage for the bl... [More]

Geez, judging by the numbers of yokels (standing room only) at the Spruce Grove City Council meeting on Monday June 14th 2010 you would think it was an election year. Oh I forgot, it is indeed an election year and the nature of the evening’s proceedings reflected this fact. Cont. Below First on the agenda the City was giving money away Aerials Gymnastics club. To the tune of $300,000.00 split fifty-fifty between a new partnership garnered between the City and the Aerials Gymnast... [More]

Ok, I admit that I actually watch American Idol. Well I have to since my wife insists. Now the main reason we watch it is that she is a music teacher and likes to keep current and since I have been a music teacher in one of my past lives I like to play judge disagreeing with the public and the judges. But I have noticed that over the past couple of years the public was consistently not voting for the most talented performer. This was confirmed this past week as the producers of American Idol... [More]

On the Spruce Grove Regular Council Meeting Agenda of April 12, 2010 was a Public Hearing regarding Bylaw C-730-10 Road Closure Bylaw which would affect the existing access roads to the parcel of land that the City is “assembling” for the development of the Gateway Towne Centre Development. A representative of the current land owners was present. Making reference to a letter from the owner’s lawyers, which was attached to the meetings agenda, the representative stated that e... [More]

This was sent to me by a friend but I thought it was appropriate to post this here.   Tax his land, Tax his bed, Tax the table At which he's fed. Tax his work, Tax his pay, He works for peanuts Anyway! Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat. Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if he Tries to think. Tax his car, Tax his gas, Find other ways To tax his ass. Tax all he has Then let him know That you won't be done Till he has no dough. When he screams and holl... [More]

By addicts I am talking about you. Last night at the City Council meeting the big deal was all about the Mayors task force on the environment. I am not sure that the Council or administration understands how big the scope of this task actually is. If this task force is going to have any real lasting affect on our great City they are going to have to honestly identify the root of the problem(s) first. Second, the task force will have to devise a plan that will convince, at least the major... [More]

Since the most searched for terms at Local-Yokels.com are “Spruce Grove Post Office”, “Saskatchewan Ave” or search terms related to the location of the new post office, combined with the concern we have lately for the environment I thought I would examine what impact the move to the new location might have to residents of Spruce Grove. What I came up with was a big surprise not to mention disturbing. Since this is now a destination that yo... [More]

I have been doing a lot of reading, video watching and talking with anyone who will listen about Climate Change, Economics, Peak Oil and the Environment. It seems that at some point in the future, if we continue with the status quo, we as a species will be in big trouble. There is little debate if this will happen, only when. It is actually very depressing (although recommended) to watch documentaries like Peak Oil, Addicted to Plastic, Food, inc., End of Suburbia and Blue Gold among othe... [More]