Toiling with a scheduling conflict that forced him to remain in the city at the Calgary Regional Partnership mediation, Cochrane mayor Truper McBride was forced to miss his monthly ‘coffee with the mayor’ at Seniors on the Bow (SOTB), but that didn’t stop members from asking questions regardless.
With around 25 seniors packing the room, it was one of the largest crowds that came out to speak with the mayor, who was also to be accompanied by councillor Ross Watson.
Despite the absence of McBride and Watson, Doug Cave starting the discussion by asking, “Why start a new school over near Mitford?”
Cave not only questioned the thought process behind the move, but what the addition student population will do to ever-increasing traffic on Quigley Avenue.
The speed limit on Quigley Avenue was also addressed, with many holding the belief that it needed to be reduced on a more broad scale to alleviate motorists from rapidly accelerating once past the school zone.
Traffic, in and of itself, was a primary concern for many in attendance, with several seniors fretting over what they feel is becoming an issue throughout town.
Taxes were also thrown out for discussion.
Andy Marshall questioned the Town of Cochrane’s statement that there would be no change to municipal property taxes for 2013.
“There is, in fact, quite an increase,” said Marshall, pointing to the 6.87 per cent recently indicated by the town.
Marshall said the town was simply ‘blaming the fire department’ for the increase, but pointed to what he believed to be a 10 per cent increase in the town’s operational budget, and how town employee salaries going up beyond inflation was part of the problem.
Marshall said the salary increases were based on what he called a grid, one that he is concerned allows for salaries to rise each year.
Staying on topic, seniors were also curious as to what future businesses on the Quarry site would bring to the town with regards to taxes.
With the majority of those in attendance supporting the development of Wal-Mart on the site, Marshall raised another question: is Spray Lake Sawmills paying its fair share of taxes?
Marshall’s concern was that the local forestry company was ‘not paying their way’ when it comes to its tax contribution, and that the amount is ‘miniscule’ compared to what the company should be paying.
Transit was another hot-button issue.
Jamie Kleinsteuber, former MLA candidate for the NDP, attended the meeting and said he feels that Cochrane is ‘off the grid’ with no connection to the outside world when it comes to transit.
Opinions on transit were somewhat split, with some holding concerns over how the service would affect taxes and others feeling a bus service was a necessary step for the growing community.
Another worry about transit was that it did not service every community in town, such as GlenEagles and Fireside.
Kleinsteuber said there needs to be a transit system that provides access to the Calgary airport for those with ‘only a backpack on their backs.’
Some members of SOTB also said they would like to see a rail service come back to Cochrane.
