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WhatsNew
Kamia Kennels - Puppies Available
Please visit our newest directory member Kamia Kennels, raising quality
Elkhounds and with a new litter of pups available now. To see some
terrific dogs, visit the Norwegian Elkhound site listed in our
Pets Section!
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CurrentNews
Pathways Animal Clinic
Welcome To Pathways Animal Clinic! Veterinarian Dr. Lillian Hidalgo has
opened a new animal clinic in Ryders Ridge.
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UpcomingEvents
2010 Community Breakfast
Starts on April 17th and will be held at the Sylvan Lake Community Center
more details
Sylvan Lake Pond Hockey Tournament Action & WinterFest Information!
Read On For Details
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Sylvan Lake Council Makes Huge Mistake
Sylvan Lake Former CAO, Helen Dietz speaks out
I have kept very quiet as the media attention and press releases have been
flying by over the last month.
I do however want to start off by saying that I have worked very hard everyday
for, and with, council, staff and the citizens to make Sylvan Lake the place we
all love to call home.
At the very first meeting I attended, in 2001, the council gallery was full of
citizens lobbying to construct a new pool. The town was financially trying to
recover from a flood that happened in 1999. My first phone call to Municipal
Affairs that month was to seek advice on the process for disqualification of a
councillor and the CAO resigned within my first three weeks of employment.
Sylvan Lake has been a very interesting, fast paced, vibrant and challenging
community.
I now feel that I need to defend myself regarding a letter to the editor from a
citizen slandering my job performance, education and reputation in the Sylvan
Lake News last Friday (April 23, 2010).
I have spent 24 years in municipal government, 15 years previous to Sylvan Lake.
Ten years was as a rural municipal administrator and five in a senior management
position for another municipality in Alberta responsible for the finance and
administration department. I have a degree in Local Government Administration
from the University of Regina.
The legacy referenced by Mr. Kostiuk would be the legacy of council, since it is
their role to provide “leadership to the community”. The chief administrative
officer (CAO) is responsible for carrying out the administration and effectively
implementing council directives, policies and bylaws.
Council establishes all boards and committees annually including Municipal
Planning Commission (MPC).
Provided below is additional information regarding a few negative situations
mentioned in the article on April 23rd:
• The condo development application on the green space was submitted to the town
by an ex-CP employee prior to the town owning the land.
• The council of the day believed they could save the taxpayers money by
locating the new RCMP building on town owned land.
• Railway Park Promenade is a vast improvement from semi trucks in a mud hole.
• Council in conjunction with the provincial park hired a consultant to review
potential revenue opportunities to operating the provincial park.
• There was a lot of discussion on the location of new municipal buildings
adjacent to Lions Park but once everyone was on the same page the issues were
quickly resolved.
• The Lakeshore Drive Redevelopment Plan (Pattern Book) has been approved for
quite some time. To date only one business owner has called the CAO and attended
a council committee meeting asking for changes to this plan. The Land Use Bylaw
is a guiding document that may be amended at any time.
• There has always been an open door policy allowing access for any group or
concerned citizens at the town office. When individuals were frustrated they had
no problem phoning directly to the CAO, booking an appointment, lodging a
complaint etc.
• The community needs to utilize the processes in place to ask questions and
keep informed. They should not feel ignored or unwelcome, but it is up to the
community to keep the systems accountable.
Nowhere in Mr. Kostiuk’s letter, did I hear accolades to past and present
council, CAO and administration for a job well done!
There have been “BIG” issues addressed with many changes and improvements such
as:
• Financial stability;
• Municipality has managed huge growth, (including residential and commercial);
• Financial assurance in place to fund future infrastructure and capital
expenditures;
• Reduced dependency on debt;
• No mill rate increases to taxpayers;
• Completed numerous capital projects annually (including a new Aquatic Center
$2.8 million, multi-purpose facility $5 million, RCMP building $6.5 million plus
$1.4 million for land),
• Experienced over 60 per cent population growth (7,000 to 11,200)
• Realized $500 million in development growth
• etc. etc.
We have increased communications with the summer villages administration, Red
Deer County, Lacombe County, adjacent municipalities, MLAs, provincial cabinet
ministers, provincial park representatives, etc.
The town has also received an additional $15 million in grant funding over the
last couple years.
New Initiatives have been implemented such as curbside recycling, yard waste
pickup, toilet rebate program, Municipal Sustainability Plan, strategic
planning, affordable housing society, new schools, construction of 60th Street,
paving, lighting, trail development plus additional trail development throughout
the community, new skateboard park, discussions with Red Deer County regarding
an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP), regional water/wastewater initiative,
to name a few.
You, as citizens, are reading in the paper that “the town is well managed and
well positioned for future growth”, “The town is in excellent shape with
significant reserves”.
I have had a major hand in managing and guiding this municipality over the last
nine years to a community we should all be very proud of. I have enjoyed the
opportunity to serve the people of the Town of Sylvan Lake.
I am very hurt and disappointed in the unprofessional manner in which the mayor
and majority of council have handled this situation.
Helen Dietz,
Sylvan Lake
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The unprofessional behaviour of council is appalling. I attended the council
meeting from start to finish where they announced in public the termination of
Helen Dietz. They acted so poorly it was a disgrace. No plausible reason, no
professional behaviour which the mayor speaks they possess, just low class no
class dumb responses.
As a business owner in this community to have this group of councillors
representing the community is a disaster. They take a perfectly well run
operation, managed by one of the most respected CAO's in Alberta, who has,
through her "Management Style" been able to implement and carry out an
outstanding record of accomplishments and improvements to the Town of Sylvan as
evidenced in Helen's letter, and they are able to disassemble this in a couple
of back door meetings - "with no explanation to the citizens other than - we
want a different management style".
Unbelievable!
As a business owner I have had the pleasure many times of working with Helen,
I can't say enough how professional, how dedicated she was to the Town of Sylvan
Lake, the effort she put forth. Helen was without question the best thing that
has happened to Sylvan Lake in the last ten years.
I have also known the council of the day for years, to witness the way
they have behaved and presented themselves as representatives of this community
is appalling. They are without question the worst thing that has happened to
Sylvan Lake in the last ten years.
Merv Carlson
Owner
Sylvan Lake Online Directory
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