Dear Editor,
I wish to comment on the “Report to Bearspaw” article by Councillor Al Sacuta in the Oct. 9. edition of the Rocky View Weekly and further articles appearing in the Weekly of Oct. 16.
Whilst I am in complete agreement with Mr. Sacuta in his observations as to what are some of the problems afflicting Rocky View County, I feel that he is somewhat hypocritical in his comments and some of the councillors in divisions that support his comments, have no compunction in voting for what ails the hamlet of Langdon without even living in Langdon or caring to find out what the residents of Langdon may care about the motion upon which Mr. Sacuta and others voted. (Re: Special Tax for Recreational Services - Bylaw C-7168-2012).
The motion referred to, and subsequent carrying of this motion, was introduced by a councillor who has no knowledge (by her own admission) of the motion.
She was asked by the reeve to introduce the motion so that he (the reeve) did not have to request the deputy reeve to chair the meeting (he does this regularly). The second reading was introduced by the original introducer (once again because the reeve would not request the deputy reeve to chair the meeting).
The final reading was passed after a motion by Councillor Boehlke, who once again has no knowledge of Langdon and once again because the reeve would not step down from the chair.
This motion was introduced as a matter of emergency (Kent Robinson – CFO of Rocky View County).
What does Mr. Robinson know of Langdon and why would he feel that this was an emergent motion – obviously, in my opinion, he was requested to do this.
There was no public debate which is in itself a travesty and which I have requested of Mr. Ashdown for two years now.
Further to the above concerns are those which reflect upon Langdon infrastructure, or the lack thereof. Rocky View County, in the past year has donated funds to Chestermere, Cochrane, Airdrie and now Crossfield. None of these municipalities has, to my knowledge, donated anything to Rocky View County and it is about time that our County started using County tax dollars for the County.
When these items were recently mentioned at a Town hall meeting in Langdon Mr. Ashdown seemed very keen to move on to other items.
At this same meeting, when Mr. Ashdown was asked why he was pushing for County funds to be spent enhancing Chestermere (in the Chestermere brochure), he stated that he was unaware that that was what he had said.
Whilst Mr. Ashdown notes that he has the honour of being the reeve of the County we should all be aware that this honour comes with an extra $20,000 (over and above the $60,000 salary) other councillors receive.
My wife and I live on approximately $24,000 per year.
Mr. Ashdown does not, in my opinion, fairly represent Langdon and should step aside immediately.
Phillip Grimison, Langdon
Editor’s Note: Kent Robinson is the general manager of corporate services with Rocky View County.
