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 Gymnastics club, to be used for architectural services. How could council refuse the largest contingent of residents to be seen at a council meeting this past year? No better time to give away money than an election year.

Next there were five public hearings the first three their was no one in the audience to speak to them but the fourth was regarding the zoning of the old Hubers garage on First Avenue. Looks like Council is going to allow it to be restored back to garage once again.

The fifth hearing also gathered a very large contingent of residents as this hearing was regarding the top soil screening operation located at 404 Calahoo road. Adjacent residents and property owners (Qualico Developments being the “biggy”) were complaining of the dust and noise coming from the operation was affecting their health and property values. This was a difficult one for council to sort out as that kind of operation really does not belong in a city centre but on the other hand it has been there for so long it should have been grandfathered. Alderman Baxter was concerned why nothing was done before this time. But yet still the owner had not applied for the proper permits early enough. Now on the other hand no studies had been done to determine if indeed all the dust and dirt was coming from this operation or from the other 5 top soil operations on the cities outskirts. It was a tough call but in the end the City refused to issue the permit for the operation.

The next three items on the agenda were also of special interest to council being election year and all. First was the Restatement of Approved 2009 & 2010 Budgets and the Adoption of the 2009 Audited Financial Statements, next was a delegation from Victim Services Society of Stony Plain, Spruce Grove and District and finally the RCMP Quarterly report.

The Adoption of the 2009 Audited Financial Statements was a presentation by the Auditor mostly explaining the changes of new financial reporting method mandated by our Provincial Government that all municipal governments must adhere to. Alderman Steinberg’s question to the auditor asking if this Audit was a reflection on how well the Council and City administration was managing public funds was obviously posed in such a manner as to be able to use the response as a big pat on the back for Council and the City administration. Remember now it is election year. But the Auditor did not bite. His answer was “it is what it is”. He continued on saying something to the effect that audit does not make a value judgement on the quality of governance. The report showed graphs indicating that according to the provincial guidelines of municipal debt, Spruce Grove could sustain debt up to $65 Million but we are only in debt around $10 Million. Steinberg then went on to spin the fact that since Spruce Grove is only at around 15% of its maximum debt load, that some how equates into superb governance by City Administration and Council.

Mark Twain’s quote seems appropriate, “There are three kinds of lies, lies, damn lies and statistics.”

Next item of note on the agenda was the delegation and report from the Victim Services Society. These people have an unbelievable difficult job. From their report it came out that the need more members or advocates in their terms. Being that this is a most needed service I will be posting the need on this site as how to help out with this. Also, they need money to operate. I was surprised that they were only asking for I think $10,000.00 from Spruce Grove. I should think that we should actually double that amount. Hey, we could use some of the $500,000.00 or so collected from Photo Radar every year to pony up.

Speaking of Photo radar, last big item was the RCMP quarterly report. This was a lengthy report basically giving the “statistics” on crime in our area. After the section regarding traffic crimes Alderman Wayne Rothe commented on how many of local residents view Photo radar as nothing more than a cash cow for the city. When he asked the Constable giving the report if Photo Radar was some how responsible for the drop in traffic accidents the Constable responded that “there have been no studies on this.” Well there actually have been studies; they just don’t want you to know about them. But Alderman Rothe did not seem to hear the Constable’s statement that there were no studies, and blissfully went ahead to spun these statistics into a justification for Photo Radar as if Photo Radar was the only mitigating factor in the reduction of traffic accidents. Oh yea it is an election year.

I guess we will have to forgive our benevolent well intentioned Alderman for such indulgences and spins, as politicians are what they are, and considering that it is an election year, just can’t help them selves.

Again since the Victim Services Society do need more members if you can help here is the link where you can get their contact information.