March 6, 2003
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MuniMall News and Views

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Scroll down. The Newsletter can be lengthy, and if you're interested in a region east of Alberta, you'll have to scroll to get there. The sections in today's edition are:

Well, Are You? Part IV -- The Vote
MuniMall has been proud to host quite a boisterous discussion over the last month on the professionalism, or lack of it, in municipal managers. It all started with an ingenious article by Dick "The Dean" Tindal, who caused such a flood of email that we took the discussion public. The academics spoke, the heavy-hitters waded in, and the rank and file had their say, too. While the "Yes Side" is winning, it's far from decisive, so it comes down to that most democratic of all institutions: a vote!

Read the article, see the discussion, and cast your ballot MuniMall's first-ever Reader Poll. Your voice, the voice of the municipal employee, counts on MuniMall! Complete results will be published next week.

Compelling Executive Workshop From LGL
The Local Government Leadership (LGL) Institute proudly presents "Efficient Community Services: Service Review and Delivery" March 29 to April 1 at Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC. Instructors include the renowned Gordon McIntosh. Check out the details on MuniMall, and download the pdf brochure.

NACLAA News

Introduction
MuniMall is proud to bring you NACLAA News, a weekly feature on the distance learning program everyone is talking about, the National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration, or NACLAA for short. Offered on the Internet by two of Canada's leading universities in partnership, NACLAA is emerging as Canada's new national standard in local government administration certification. For more information on NACLAA, click on the graphic below.

NACLAA animation

Writing Across 6 Times Zones -- Part V
NACLAA News continues its series on the course development process with a look at The Rules of the Copy Editor (or The Copy Editor Rules). Penned by the UofA's own Susanne Glenn.

To see all previous articles in this informative series, please drop by the NACLAA News Archive.

Municipal British Columbia

CivicInfo BC Newsletter
For BC's best roundup of municipal news, MuniMall recommends CivicInfo BC. Check out their website for the latest news, and subscribe to their weekly newsletter, published every Friday afternoon.

Municipal Alberta

County Audit Countdown
EDSON -- Yellowhead County's audit by the newly- selected auditing firm of Hawkings Epp Dumont is scheduled to start this week. (Edson Leader)

Structure Plan Sought
WILDWOOD -- The Wildwood Community Economic Development Association (WCEDA) believes an Area Structure Plan (ASP) will speed along development in the hamlet. (Edson Leader)

Needs Assessment Will Give Focus
HIGH PRAIRIE -- High Prairie will see a new "needs assessment" study and the Regional Economic Development Association is encouraged by what it means for their efforts. (South Peace News)

Toothless Garbage Bylaw Trashed
PEACE RIVER -- To crack down on careless disposal and unsightly rubbish, Town officials have trashed the old garbage bylaw and upped the penalties on the new one. (Peace River Record Gazette)

New CAO
SLAVE LAKE -- The hunt for a new town manager for Slave Lake is over. (Lakeside Leader)

Time To Act, Says Mayor
SHERWOOD PARK -- Following a year of consultation it's time to act, said Mayor Vern Hartwell in his annual State of the County address. (Sherwood Park News)

Stock Market Tailspin Hits Hard
EDMONTON -- A disastrous stock market has put the city's finances in such "critical condition" that council will have to cut projects and possibly boost this year's tax increase, Mayor Bill Smith said. (Edmonton Journal)

Pipeline Proposals Flowing
MORRIN -- Starland County is currently working with two different rural water supply groups, to run pipelines into their areas. (Hanna Herald)

. . . In More Than One Place
LACOMBE -- Things are still progressing toward the goal of having a water pipeline from Red Deer River, through Lacombe and ending in the First Nations in Hobemma. (Lacombe Globe)

More Caring, Sharing Future?
OLDS -- After a facilitated meeting between Chambers of Commerce and representatives from Mountain View County and its urban centres, many of those in attendance are looking forward to a brighter future of understanding among all stakeholders. (Olds Albertan)

Annexation Opponents Won't Let Up
CALGARY -- Residents in Springbank are continuing their opposition to Calgary's annexation proposal, and are providing some important information to the area's representative on the negotiating team. (Rocky View Times)

Radical Trash Revamp Eyed
SYLVAN LAKE -- Homeowners could be throwing their trash cans on trash heaps in a few years if the Town of Sylvan Lake adopts a waste management plan recommended by Tagish Engineering Ltd. (Sylvan Lake News)

Hefty Hike For Mayor, Council
CALGARY -- Mayor Dave Bronconnier would be paid $120,000 a year -- more than any other mayor in Canada -- under a proposal that could also hike the pay for some city council members by as much as 39 per cent. (Calgary Herald)

Residents Give Ratings
AIRDRIE -- According to the city's annual report card, the majority of Airdrie residents rate their quality of life highly -- but are concerned about traffic congestion and growth management. (Airdrie Echo)

"Witch-Hunt" Alleged
CANMORE -- Canmore Coun. Jon Frolick sees himself as the victim of a "witch-hunt" after being pressed on his Canadian citizenship during a public question period. (Canmore Leader)

Police Union Warns Town
COALDALE -- Replacing its town police with RCMP would be a mistake for Coaldale, warns the head of the association representing rank-and-file cops across Alberta. (Coaldale Sunny South News)

Town, MD Talk Tiered Fees
PINCHER CREEK -- Those who don't help foot the bills may soon have to pay more to step foot into Pincher Creek's recreation facilities. (Pincher Creek Echo)

Municipal Saskatchewan

Smoke Eaters Pumped
SWIFT CURRENT -- The Swift Current Fire Department unveilled the newest addition to their fleet yesterday afternoon. (Swift Current Online)

. . . While Others Patiently Wait
BROADVIEW -- The Broadview Fire Department is still negotiating with SGI over the Fire and Rescue Unit destroyed in a blaze late in 2002. (Broadview Express)

Brace For Tax Hike
MELFORT -- Property owners should prepare themselves for a tax hike in 2003, according to the city's mayor. (Melfort Journal)

Healthy Decision
YORKTON -- The plebiscite votes have been tallied and as a result the health levy instated by City Council last year will remain in place. (Yorkton This Week & Enterprise)

No Exemptions
SASKATOON -- There will be no exemptions to the reduced speed limits mandated for every school zone, despite a number of requests from motorists and school administrators, a city committee has ruled. (Saskatoon Star Phoenix)

Municipal Manitoba

Hog Expansions Approved
ALTONA -- Council members of the RM of Rhineland have approved conditional use permits for the construction and expansion of three separate operations. Meeting on February 12, the council handed out the permits on the basis of strict conditions. (Altona Red River Valley Echo)

. . . But Others Confused
LA BROQUERIE -- The reeve of the RM of La Broquerie is puzzled by a study suggesting hog barn development is threatening the safety of drinking water in the municipality. Fourth story down. (The Carillon)

Students Pitch Skateboard Park
BEAUSEJOUR -- The regular meeting of the Town of Beausejour Council saw two students from Edward Schreyer School as delegates representing a Beausejour Skateboard Park Committee. (The Clipper Weekly Newspaper)

Resident Wants RM Rules Enforced
CARMAN -- A Stephenfield resident says the Rural Municipality of Dufferin is not enforcing its own rules when it comes to conditions for an approved campground development.

Arena Funding Skates In
DAUPHIN -- The dream of a new arena for Dauphin is closer to being reality after a funding announcement from the federal and provincial governments. (Dauphin Herald)

Modest Showing In Assessment Rankings
WINKLER -- In addition to population figures, one of the things council members point to when it comes to municipal bragging rights is assessment, the value of taxable property in any municipality. (Winkler Times)

Rink Rats Warned
STONEWALL -- Stonewall's outdoor rink is once again open to the public but town council has warned it will be closed immediately if users of the rink don't follow the rules. (Stonewall Argus/Teulon Times)

Municipal North

Minority Approve Spending
YELLOWKNIFE, NT -- Only 114 out of nearly 4,000 Yellowknife ratepayers turned out for a city referendum, but they approved a scheme by the city to borrow money for road work. (CBC North)

Fete For New Town Hall
KUUJJUAQ, PQ -- Politicians and candy drops officially opened the Katittavik Town Hall this Tuesday in Kuujjuaq -- four months after the building's completion. (Nunatsiaq News)

Cool Idea
IQALUIT -- After hearing the high-praises of a group recently in Iqaluit to perform cold-weather testing on helicopters, Iqaluit city council wants to capitalize on the idea by offering the same services to other companies. (Nunatsiaq News)

'Serious' Charges, Hefty Fine
DAWSON CITY, YK -- After almost 20 years of dumping sewage into the Yukon River, the courts have waded in, forcing Dawson City to build a secondary treatment plant or face more fines. (Whitehorse Star)

Municipal Ontario

Parkland Purchased
BLUE MOUNTAINS -- The Town of the Blue Mountains, and the Ministry of Natural Resources recently made a joint purchase of a 3.8 hectares of land between Delphi Point and Craigleith Provincial Park, in the Camperdown area. (Collingwood Connection on simcoe.com)

New Smoke Eaters May Ignite Tax Hike
ORILLIA -- A proposed two-per-cent tax hike could include the hiring of additional staff to bring Orillia's fire department closer to meeting response guidelines. (Orillia Today on simcoe.com)

Planner Calls It Quits
NEW TECUMSETH -- Senior management positions with the Corporation of the Town of New Tecumseth are becoming available at an accelerated pace of late. (New Tecumseth Free Press Online)

Lowest Taxes In Region
KESWICK -- Georgina homeowners will pay $66 more on average in taxes this year, but still have the lowest comparative property taxes in York Region. (yorkregion.com)

Huge Shortfall Possible
TIMMINS -- Preliminary figures have revealed a major shortfall, estimated in the $2M range, for the 2002 city budget. (Timmins Times)

Policy Will "Cripple" Municipalities: Mayor
GERALDTON -- The Ontario Forest Accord's Room to Grow plan will cripple any chance Northern municipalities have to expand their economies, Greenstone Mayor Charlie Primeau has charged. (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal)

6.6% Solution Socked To Sudbury
SUDBURY -- After weeks of discussion, debate, controversy and difficult decisions, City of Greater Sudbury city council approved a 6.6 per cent municipal tax hike for most city homeowners Monday. (NorthernLife.ca)

Counties Back Joint Approach
BROCKVILLE -- Leeds and Grenville counties councillors are ready to jump aboard the regional economic development train providing their urban partners are also willing to buy a ticket. (The Brockville Recorder & Times)

Strict Referendum Rules
AJAX -- If Ajax wants to put a referendum question on the Nov. 10 municipal election ballot, it has until May 14 to draft a query and comply to a host of other requirements imposed by the province. (infodurhamregion.com)

Can You Dig It?
FORT ERIE -- Residents planning to build a shed or dig a swimming pool could get a visit from an archeologist before turning sod if proposed changes to the town's planning regulations are enacted. (Niagara Falls Review)

Drivers Hit The Bricks
OSHAWA -- City bus drivers and other Oshawa Transit Commission (OTC) workers walked off the job Monday, leaving more than 10,000 riders without a way around the city. (infodurhamregion.com)

. . . While Others Settle
GUELPH -- City buses were on the road this morning after transit workers accepted a new contract Sunday night. (Guelph Mercury)

Mayor Blames Province
FONTHILL -- With the town poised to raise an additional 21.3 per cent in tax revenues this year, Pelham Mayor Ralph Beamer continues to point fingers at the province for the fiscal woes his administration faces in dealing with a draft 2003 budget. (Welland Tribune)

Municipal Atlantic

Town Mourns Councillor
TRURO, NS -- A flag flew at half-mast at the Truro Police Station Tuesday to acknowledge the death of town councillor Robert Bruce Sandeson. (Truro Daily News)

Council Sniffs For Compost Solution
YARMOUTH, NS -- People concerned about foul odours from the Town of Yarmouth's composting facility brought those concerns to Yarmouth Town Council last Thursday night. (Yarmouth Vanguard)

Birthday Gift Comes Early
SYDNEY, NS -- Although formal celebrations for the community's 90th birthday won't take place until summer, two significant gifts, totalling $1.5 million, have been delivered to residents. (Cape Breton Post)

Taxpayers To Feel The Crunch
HALIFAX, NS -- Halifax Regional Municipality will wring an extra $25 million from taxpayers as part of a plan to pay down its debt as soon as possible, according to the proposed budget tabled Tuesday. (Halifax Herald)

Union Wants Conciliator
TRURO, N.S. - The union representing employees who works for Nova Scotia's Colchester County has applied for a conciliator in contract talks with the municipality. (Broadcast News)

Water Gets Hot
SAINT JOHN, NB -- The tap water may be cool, but talks over water rates are heating up and causing tension between some of Saint John's biggest companies. (CBC -- New Brunswick)

. . . And May Be Unsafe
PORT ELGIN, NB -- The huge fire which destroyed Cole's Grocery, and claimed the life of an 11 year-old boy, last Wednesday night, ultimately played havoc with the village's water system. (Sackville Tribune-Post)

Leash Tightened On Rottweilers
MONTAGUE, PE -- The horrific death of a New Brunswick boy killed by three rottweilers, has prompted the town of Montague to take another look at its dog by-law. (CBC - Prince Edward Island)

Tragic Blaze Heats Up Inspections
GANDER, NF -- A tragic fire that killed 97 people in a Rhode Island nightclub got people talking about public safety in places of public assembly. Using this time and awareness of fire safety, Gander's fire inspector stepped up fire inspections. (The Beacon)

Dog's Life
PASADENA, NF -- The town council in Pasadena has voted to ask the police to look into the number of dogs the mayor owns, claiming the issue is a "criminal concern". (CBC - Newfoundland & Labrador)

Getting Wired

High Speed Gets Closer
HIGH RIVER, AB -- The Municipal District of Foothills voted unanimously last Thursday to approve the construction of a facility which will help bring high-speed internet access to the Hamlet of Cayley. (Okotoks Western Wheel)

. . . And Further Away
VULCAN -- The arrival of the Alberta SuperNet, a provincial initiative to connect rural municipalities to a broadband network, is scheduled to begin in Vulcan County this fall, but a legal dispute between prime contractor Bell West and Calgary-based Axia NetMedia Corp. could delay things. (Vulcan Advocate)

The MuniMall Newsletter is published via email most Thursdays by Government Studies at the University of Alberta. All subscriptions are free. Please follow this link to subscribe or unsubscribe. Comments, concerns, suggestions, submissions? Email MuniMall Editor John Sinclair at john.sinclair@ualberta.ca or call John at 780-492-2783.
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