To the Editor:
I attended the County All-Candidates forum on Wednesday night and came away somewhat unsettled. The subject of roads was most heavily weighted in the overall forum. Mr. Ben Dyck seems most singular in his zeal to explode our current system, promising to change the road world as we know it – privatizing many of the County’s requirements. This approach may not be so surprising given that he is a road contractor. I respect that he has enough knowledge of road construction to be provoked by present methods, but roads are not the only issue facing the county. I hope that he will be willing to sell his company if he is elected as Reeve so that he will not be forced to lead under a cloud of conflict.
Another issue that circulated through the evening was the revitalization of small towns/hamlets within the county. Ashmont was addressed as a very sad example of a community that has suffered at the neglect of the County. Council candidate Donna Hanson very forcefully brought to our attention that “There is no bylaw enforcement in Ashmont!” So buildings are vacated, abandoned, fall into disrepair and become hazardous. People leave, businesses fold and the spiral forms downwards, along with property values. It appears that the County has failed in its obligation to enforce those bylaws that keep Ashmont safe and free of nuisance. To reverse the trend, the County, through economic development initiatives, could work towards attracting businesses, i.e. manufacturing, oil field servicing. People may follow and the direction of the spiral may reverse. I don’t suggest that it’s easy. At the very least, Ashmont should be a safe and attractive residential community. But continuing on the current path of neglect is not an option.
But then there’s Mallaig. The Reeve told us that for years there had been a demand for lots in Mallaig, but that no developer could be attracted to the project. The Reeve told us the County does not always have to make money or even break even – rather it’s a responsibility to support the communities. So, in 2008 the County decided to support the community and service 28 lots on the condition that 10 lots could be pre-sold.
The Reeve confirmed the cost is $1.9 million, which is, as I recall, $300,000 over the original budget. The projected revenue is $1.29 million. That’s a $600,000 shortfall, assuming all the lots are sold. To date, the County has sold 13 lots – only three in 2008. Only five houses have been constructed or are under construction. How long will it take to sell the remaining lots and how long will it take for houses to be constructed? Given the rate of absorption, I suggest it will take many years.
The Reeve told the audience there was a $1.2 million grant for paving Mallaig. Even though the roads are as wide as a Walmart parking lot, that’s excessive. I’m sure he just made a mistake. The grant was actually $300,000 and it was federal funding that was non-specific and could have been applied to other capital or infrastructure projects including rehabilitation of roads and bridges in the county. So it’s really a shell game with funding. If we apply the grant to Mallaig, we’re paying for something somewhere else. If I lived in Mallaig, I would be thrilled and I would be dancing in the new streets. If I lived in Ashmont or Heinsburg or one of our other challenged communities, I might be looking for the same level of support. But living somewhere else, I’m concerned that the project is presently invested by over a million dollars with certainty of a loss of over $600,000, and uncertainty of the timing of the remaining revenues from lot sales. The County may feel that it doesn’t always need to make money, and I may agree, depending on the scale of investment. This project tips the scale, in my opinion. I am hoping that a new council will find more creative and cost effective methods of supporting our small communities – all of them.
Indeed, I am hoping that there are enough new faces on council, with the energy required to propel us into a new era of confidence and hopeful excitement for the future of our county. It’s time for a change.
Sylvia Harder
County Resident, Division 4
