Recent partisan "Fixes"

[bucket]

Thing is you don't know me. I am in my second term as councillor on an RM. I post my cellphone on the website and answer all calls. We have the lowest taxes in the province. Do our best to keep the roads in fair shape and post a surplus every year.

You armchair quarterback all the time. You apparently have a high opinion of yourself claiming you will clean up my mess. You seem to hard to get along with and yet you state "wouldn't it be easier to take good advice and listen to constituents or farmers". Almost more than anyone on Agriville you have a my way or the highway approach. Priceless.

I might bitch and complain but I also offer solutions...I dont have a patent on good ideas but I expect politicians to listen to them...

I have been an RM councillor decades ago...I well understand local RM politics...

If you read my post you would have noticed the phrase "there are very few elected politicians "

You are right I don't know you, but I did peg you as a politician....you may fit into the very few that actually know what they are doing...

I think we would get along just fine...because both sides get discussed on issues...you don't seem like a cheerleading type.


This is way off topic.

oneoff is pointing out issues with the council that has been ruled on by the provincial ombudsman and they still refuse to comply....thats a problem.

[LEP]

I might bitch and complain but I also offer solutions...I dont have a patent on good ideas but I expect politicians to listen to them...

I have been an RM councillor decades ago...I well understand local RM politics...

If you read my post you would have noticed the phrase "there are very few elected politicians "

You are right I don't know you, but I did peg you as a politician....you may fit into the very few that actually know what they are doing...

I think we would get along just fine...because both sides get discussed on issues...you don't seem like a cheerleading type.


This is way off topic.

oneoff is pointing out issues with the council that has been ruled on by the provincial ombudsman and they still refuse to comply....thats a problem.

This is slightly off topic I agree. No I don't sitback very often and watch shit happen without saying something. I also step up and work on quite a few projects when no one else will. Some comments from the sidelines are to be expected but when it goes on for years from the same people it really just becomes hard to take.

I agree that the situation with Oneoff is wrong. But was it so much about getting the gps coordinates for a wellpad or was it to try and antagonize and shit disturb. If it was the information he requires he could easily have gotten it elsewhere.

But I don't think that is his reason for the continual complaints.

Edit: Oh and just because you suggest things doesn't mean it is right. It still has to pass council or be fully considered before agreed to. That is where I think being on council or a board would be good for you. You realize you are just one vote and have to present something that has the support of the majority.

[oneoff]

I didn't reply because this has been ruminated several times. At least two elections have passed since you started bringing up these issues with your council.

The obvious answer to problems with local government is find others whom are just as concerned and run for council. You had atleast two chances so far.

I think the resistance you have received on your request for information is probably rooted in your history of constantly headbutting with them. It isn't right. But you can expect maximum resistance with your approach.

The long and short of the issue is if you had a valid reason for needing the gps coordinates for the wellpad talk to Vermillion Energy yourself. If you are an affected party, I am sure they would help you out.

If you aren't an affected party then WTF is all the fuss about?

P.S. A hint. It's a bad sign if you are the only one to reply to your own thread, multiple times.

This is response is for LEP and his flawed analysis

P.S. A hint. It's a bad sign if you are the only one to reply to your own thread, multiple times.


You always neglect to acknowledge council attempts to completely hide all council business.

Even to the extent of every adopted council minutes that have not been disclosed by any means. Add to that outright council rejections of recommendations of every Ombudsman investigation and the decision posted above (from Office of Privacy Commissioner lawyer, Q.C and head of that body you are compelled to respect; and the decision recommendations which has been quoted from the CANLII website).

There is but one conclusion. You dear sir are also complicit in this spreading governance problem....if you can catch what is being said.

[LEP]

This is response is for LEP and his flawed analysis

P.S. A hint. It's a bad sign if you are the only one to reply to your own thread, multiple times.


You always neglect to acknowledge council attempts to completely hide all council business.

Even to the extent of every adopted council minutes that have not been disclosed by any means. Add to that outright council rejections of recommendations of every Ombudsman investigation and the decision posted above (from Office of Privacy Commissioner lawyer, Q.C and head of that body you are compelled to respect; and the decision recommendations which has been quoted from the CANLII website).

There is but one conclusion. You dear sir are also complicit in this spreading governance problem....if you can catch what is being said.

Actually the very meaning of local politics is that it is local. I said previously that it is wrong that they did not disclose the information to you. I hardly think it something that I should get involved in. I live closer to the city of Edmonton than your RM.

It is up to a higher level of government to deal with this, hence the Privacy Commissioner ruling. Next it is up to the electors to decide if this is something that they are concerned about. So your issue is their lack of concern, not mine.

Your fight over several issues are longstanding and well documented. So if the electors haven't made changes to council, (in the past two or more elections) since this began, it kind of tells you who's side they are on and how much they are worried about Council's conduct.

Actions speak louder than words.

[oneoff]

ll necessary information is now published above. Separate who is obstructionist; defiant and unreasonable at each step.
Initially the RM made it abundantly clear they would not be forthcoming in allowing inspection of adopted minutes during regular business hours. Nor would they willingly allow the staff to disclose documents that any person; upon proper application; or through provincial legislation is entitled to obtain.

Upon advice from municipal advisors; and the responsible Provincial Ministry and with reliance on Provincial legislation requiring the production of such documennts (and even the office staff within the RM Office). This is known as the "process". That isn't immediate; requires expenditures of time and money and generates recommendations. Which can; and we now know; are able be rejected for any arguable reason; as well as all other excuses or even ignoring. The final decision remedy is an application to the Courts; probably followed by appeals and unknown open ended potential costs and even being judged as losing the case. And potentially paying both through RM tax increases and personal legal bills. Readers might as well know that even winning a court case may cause the winning side to not be fully reimbursed for anything exceeding the "tarrif" schedule awarded by the court.
The precedent for this is the $2701.01 shortfall in costs awarded some years ago regarding an RM#33 Court of Queen's Bench Chambers. Council asked for "direction" and the judge obliged in "record time" by ruling the Council must "Hold the "damned" vote as required by a "sufficient petition"". And now that is out in the open (or no doubt on CANLII website too) I disclose that years later (as in about a couple of years ago) the council of the day did cut a cheque to the petitioner's representative for $2701.01. And all the numerous petitioners who had kicked in to pay the final installment were reimbursed. Well there were a couple of estates involved by that time...but it did bring smiles to every last standing patriot; if you get the drift.
That does work when you have a case that defies comprehension...and they have no choice in responding to legal documents to "appear represented by a lawyer" because a group such as petitioners; when served with court documents must be represented by legal counsel. Its a learning experience and of more value to democracy than any other party. But back to what is happening today....
And two sets of Ombudsman recommendations (and evidence of every last recommendation being "flipped off") are posted on the government sites for all to see. Not only that but the Office of the Privacy Commissioners recommendations posted above.
And it's a fact that the council members unanimously agreed or weren't present or miight have abstained; but those who voted were unanimous in their position of "flipping off"" those bodies charged with investigating valid complaints. Just as Council flipped of and even threatened those who asked for information required to be disclosed in the first place.

Observant readers and faithful council members should all agree that documents and adopted minutes required by law to be produced MUST be produced ASAP and should be simply provided willingly without any discussion, deliberate delay or impediment. OR NOT. Or a "big lie" or stonewalling or "attempted coverup"

The evidence shows council wishes not to be at all forthcoming; and resists any disclosure even to the point of not publishing the adopted minutes.


They even scrubbed the internet of all past minutes and documents for information available previously.
And someday "soon" I predict the Provincial Government will have to respond....because you can be assured that the Municipal advisers; and the Ombudsman and Ombudsman Annual Report and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner; meet; maybe even as often as every Friday (in some cases) with the Ministries who consider the issues that need addressing though legislative CHANGES.

[TASFarms]

Thing is you don't know me. I am in my second term as councillor on an RM. I post my cellphone on the website and answer all calls. We have the lowest taxes in the province. Do our best to keep the roads in fair shape and post a surplus every year.

You armchair quarterback all the time. You apparently have a high opinion of yourself claiming you will clean up my mess. You seem to hard to get along with and yet you state "wouldn't it be easier to take good advice and listen to constituents or farmers". Almost more than anyone on Agriville you have a my way or the highway approach. Priceless.

Roads in fair shape. Not by my farm. Miles and miies of wash board. My neighbour goes 10 mph down your fair roads, his tractor and wagon bouncing to the point it’s uncontrollable. I hate trucking in the kinderlsey rm. you don’t need a sign to tell you entered the rm. every rm around kinderlsey has way better roads. What’s up with grading the crap out of the low roads then going 2 passes out into the field with the grader making 4 foot high straw piles?

[LEP]

Roads in fair shape. Not by my farm. Miles and miies of wash board. My neighbour goes 10 mph down your fair roads, his tractor and wagon bouncing to the point it’s uncontrollable. I hate trucking in the kinderlsey rm. you don’t need a sign to tell you entered the rm. every rm around kinderlsey has way better roads. What’s up with grading the crap out of the low roads then going 2 passes out into the field with the grader making 4 foot high straw piles?

There are lots of places that we have snow drifting and are ridging to stop it. I haven't seen the 4 ft straw piles you speak of. But will drive around your way and take a look.

We get alot of traffic on main grids. Oil gets haul to our RM more than out of the RM. Speed causes wash board. You might drive reasonable but not everyone does.

As far as grading, in the summer every road gets graded close to once a week. Some of the secondary lesser used roads maybe up to two weeks. The 657 and 658 get graded twice a week.

Not making excuses just explaining what we do.

[oneoff]

LEP: I know you said "that what was done was wrong" but your comments both before and since make one wonder if you truly believe that there are no excuses for a council to not obey confict of interest declarations and any oaths of office that pertain.

There should be no excuse to ALWAYS treat legitimate requests for information and required releases of information without depending on excuses that have no place in public business.
I am glad that you disclosed you are from Alberta. If we operated on the scale of "County systems" as opposed to 1905 type boundaries; then your comments would have much more merit in this province.
You have county gas utilities with 3000 plus customers. We have $15000 to approx $20000 dependents who seemingly look after themselves first.

But the same people who prevent that advance to current electorate realities are the same people are aware there are no checks and balances when a closed group of council members begin to make regular "conficted" resolutions ........In addition there are potential and actual problems of Rural areas largely comprised of conservative politics; mere handfuls of relatives or group beliefs; even similar minded coffee shop patrons; plus deliberate lack of disclosure of any information and claims of only "shit and abuse" that may be all it takes to perpetuate the autocracy.

Would you confirm you support council members pledging to obey the legislation giving them their powers; and practice open disclosure and fair and equal treatment of everyone who becomes involved with council's public business......without forcing a portion of the electorate to go over council's head?
I assure you I believe in getting along; but draw the line at wannabe tyrants.

[Guest]

Well , I spent two terms and it was a thankless job
Every division has one or two pricks that want the world
All about them , I had three
Not saying anything about your situation one-off , don’t know anything about it
All I know is I don’t miss it a bit and the opportunity should be there for anyone that wants it
Our RM is run very well in my opinion and appreciate the time the councillors put in

[LEP]

I am not from Alberta. But I pointed out that where I live in Saskatchewan is pretty far for me get involved in a local issue.

I agree that Council should be open and transparent in their dealings. I have said that more than once. I have also said that some people get fixated about something and make it out to be much bigger than it is. After this length of time if you don't have a big enough group of the electorate that agrees with you then maybe you are hyperfixated on trying to find some misstep by council so you can say "Gotcha".

My biggest beef is you saying everyone who runs for council is corrupt or whatever. I have to admit I have run across those types but I would say generally they are a very small minority. If you know anything about RM politics, no one can run the show on their own.