St. Albert’s Place on the Web
Hosted by Don Sinclair
Friday, October 24, 2008

Hi Don,

Thank you for asking my input on this issue, hence I have made a few comments.

” Firstly, I respect the dedication and sincere contributions of all past councils ”

** Have all decisions of past councils been correct? . . . I think not.

** Will this council make some errors as well? Yes . . . I do not think we will sail through 3 years in municipal politics without making a mistake or two.

** Was the approved motion (referred to in this column) one of those mistakes? . . . No.

Many St. Albert Residents want us to at least try to have the Province pay for moving these lines. After all, these power lines are located in a Provincial Park. This could save a potential expenditure of over $300,000, which would have to be paid for by increasing property taxes. The monies that we received from the Province ($300,000) can only be used if we agreed to the split funding.” (Which still may happen).

Councillor Roger Lemieux City of St. Albert

SINC SAYS:

Thank you for your timely response, it is appreciated by readers. But for readers to understand the issue, let me try to get this straight Councillor Lemieux. The province gives us $300,000 to be used towards moving the power line. It can only be used for that purpose, so I assume if we don’t use it we have to give it back do we? Have I got that right?

Now that we’ve got that cleared up, you further state, “This could save a potential expenditure of over $300,000, which would have to be paid for by increasing property taxes.” Huh? The province gives us the money and council will tax us for the expenditure anyway? Or is the $300,000 you refer to, in addition to the provincial funds? Sometimes answers raise more questions.