The Okotoks and District Chamber of Commerce report addressed a number of important issues that plague small business in Okotoks. I will address those questions to each individual councillor.
1. Councillor Christophers
Are you making any progress with council and the CRP on studying the pipeline issue and the cost sharing by the Province?
2. Councillor Clark
I know the company you work for have been involved in a number of acquisitions that they are quite proud of. They clearly recognize the importance of investment as they look into the future ensuring that their business continues to grow and prosper. Assuming you support this forward business planning why would you think the Town does not need to grow beyond 30,000 residents and yet still be able to achieve ongoing prosperity with reasonable tax rates
3. Councillor Hodson
For a number of years council has been encouraging administration to explore the amount of water in our aquifer. Have you made any progress with administration in this regards? In studies that were presented to council during my tenure there was reference that we are sitting on a huge aquifer
4. Councillor Rockley
We have quite a lot of industrial land to develop in Okotoks plus possible joint ventures with the MD of Foothills and High River. Where are the future employees of these developments expected to live and pay taxes without annexation?
5. Councillor Sands
Chairman of Finance and Budget – It is my understanding that your committee is musing about a double digit tax increase. Is there a correlation between the slow growth, not getting the extra revenue from developers/building permits and the necessity for such a large tax hike? If not, why not?
6. Councillor Watrin
Has there been any progress on improving our minor hockey situation with an outdoor artificial ice surface?
7. Mayor Robertson
It is imminent that the D’Arcy and Wedderburn lands will be developing sooner rather than later. How do you propose providing them with water which we are required to do so by law?
Re: The Indoor Field house
Is the proposed agreement a 50/50 split? What is the current population of the MD as compared to Okotoks? What is the projected growth of the MD over the next 10-20 years when Okotoks has supposedly reached 30,000 and stagnation, how will that affect the shared operating costs in this agreement?
Bill McAlpine
Okotoks
