Sturgeon County Real Estate Report

To Build Or Not To Build, Perhaps Where Is More The Question For 127th Street in Sturgeon County

It looks like the province of Alberta re-routed 127th Street without figuring out where that road was going to go and the city of St. Albert is paying the price. The Sturgeon County councillors were wrestling with the problem at its last meeting. The road, which may not be built for several years, must be realigned but it may cause problems with anticipated development projects.

The plan is for 127th Street to be connected to Anthony Henday Drive in 2011 and then eventually connect to Highway 2 north of the city. No formal route has been decided upon yet. A plan for building a new subdivision in Sturgeon Heights is on hold, pending a route that is mutually acceptable to Sturgeon County, the city of Edmonton and the province of Alberta.

Some of the obstacles in rerouting 127th Street are the crossing of a major rail line, which would most likely require an overpass and crossing over the Sturgeon River. The river crossing will require additional environmental and other surveys and several regulatory approvals before construction can begin.

The Quail Ridge development, another subdivision planned for north of River Lot 56 may also be held up by the road diversion. It appears that all the proposed routes go right through the section of land targeted for the subdivision. Best guess is that the entire road, bridge and all would most likely not be completed for a good 30 years.

Sturgeon County Property Report

Strathcona County Faces Challenging Deficit

Strathcona County is developing its 2011-2013 business plan and 2011 budget in light of the challenging $13.3 million deficit.

For 2010, Strathcona County did not implement any tax increases due to expenses that are going to be added to 2011’s budget. Municipal operations’ first projected tax hike will be approximately 6.13 per cent and will help to sustain service.

To sustain current service levels, $100,000 in library operation revenue, $4million in utilitiy operations and $9.2 million in municipal operations needs to be raised.

Of those funds, $200,000 will annualize new services, $600,000 will go to the business plan initiatives of 2010, $1 million will go to Station 6 Emergency Services, $3 million will go to the utilities debt for the water supply system, $3.8 million will go to Centre in the Park and $9 million will annualize budget items already approved.

Additionally, $1.2 million will be given by operations to capital contributions, $1.2 million will be reinstated for the internal capital borrowing fund and $1.5 million will be transferred to the replacement reserve for transit.

Strathcona County will also need to make adjustments for revenue loss such as: discontinuing annexation taxes, $1.1 million new initiatives allowance, $3.1 million in one-time adjustments, $2.9 million in emergency dispatch reduced funding, $400,000 in utility operations and $100,000 in library operations.

Sturgeon County Home Report

Man-Caves the New Trend in Housing Designs?

Men are happier when they have a place to put and play with their toys. Of course, as the saying goes, the “difference between men and boys is the size of their toys” does very much come into play. Instead of two wheeled bikes and skate boards, man caves consist of places to put large screen TVs, home theatre sound systems, recliners with built in munchie and beer holders and remote controls within easy reach. Karaoke machines are not out of the realm of possible toys either.

Some man caves become private video game parlours. Collectors of those fast paced brain and finger numbing objects de-non-art fill them with everything from the dinosaur age Pong games, once found only in bars and Chuck E Cheese pizza outlets to state of the art high definition wonders that vie with reality.

Other man caves have items of a more traditional nature. Garages house primo muscle cars such as vintage Camaros or Mustang Cobras that get lovingly tinkered with and polished. Or maybe that treasure is a low slung Harley with dual pipes and a throaty growl that makes its appearance outside as soon as the snows of winter fade away.

Whether a man cave houses state of the art electronics or nostalgic pieces of Detroit machismo, they are becoming more popular in the modern home. Perhaps these sanctuaries, set up to stroke the testosterone gene actually fill a much needed purpose. They do provide, just as much as the off limits sewing rooms of an earlier era, a private gender specific (usually) place to just hang out and stay awhile. Sharing is optional.

Sturgeon County Real Estate Report

Meet Strathcona County’s First Mayoral Candidate

Linda Osinchuk is Strathcona County’s Ward 3 Councillor, a two-term councillor, a one-term Elk Island Catholic Schools board trustee, and now, a mayoral candidate for the 2010 municipal election.

A self-proclaimed people-person, Osinchuk recognizes the importance of self-sustainability and wants Strathcona County to maintain its identity as a strong, independent community.

Osinchuk said that hard work on her family farm in Cudworth, Saskatchewan and her work as a nurse prepared her for a political career.

She noted that the next five or six years will be crucial for Strathcona County and wants to become its advocate, addressing issues like buried transmission lines, a new court house, affordable housing, recreational facilities for seniors and youth, employment, LRT service and a hospital. She also wants to continue advancing the work done on the Capital Region Board.
Naming the people as Strathcona County’s best natural resource, Osinchuk said they are depended on to keep the community growing. And in that light, she adds that it is important to provide them hope that business, low taxes and quality of life be taken care of.

Osinchuk says this is a community journey and wants to communicate with the people by creating a new spirit of collaboration, listening and mutual respect.

Sturgeon County Property Report

New Budget Aims to Have Books in the Black In Seven Years

Canada’s economy appears to be back on track and the federal government is taking steps to trim down the deficit with the latest budget proposal.  Still awaiting approval from the House of Commons, the budget aims to take the next seven years to try and get the deficit reduced to $1.5 billion.  The original intent was to have the budget balanced by 2014 but the stifled economy made it necessary to increase the timeline.

Starting next year, all department budgets, except National Defence, will be frozen.  That department won’t take any cuts until after the Afghanistan missions are coming to a close, sometime in 2012.  Governmental departments are expected to review their procedures and expenses in order to save money.

Reaction to the budget has been mostly positive.  The opposition parties, though they did complain somewhat, were rather weak voiced in their opinions. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, led by director Kevin Gaudet, thinks that government can do more to control costs. He believes that some of the roughly $164 billion that will be spent over the next seven years could be saved, rather than having that entire amount fall into the debt column.

Though a balanced budget is preferable sooner than later, the government will continue its stimulus funding which will amount to $19 billion this year.   Canada just went through the worst recession in over 60 years, and it is needed.

Sturgeon County Home Report

North West Upgrading Partners with Canadian National Resources in Profitable Bitumen Processing Venture

Edmonton’s economy is getting a boost.  The North West Upgrading plant, located near Redwater is the first company to partner with Canadian National Resources in a $4 billion project with the intent of keeping bitumen upgrading in province. Up to 3,000 construction jobs will be created by the project, set to begin in the fall of 2010.  Projected opening date is targeted for sometime in 2013 according to Ian MacGregor, North West chairman.

The mayor of Sturgeon County, Don Rigney is happy to have such a big venture in his backyard. Not only does it create jobs for local residents, but greatly increases the tax base of the area. The project may just be the cornerstone to Sturgeon County’s industrial future.

Premier Ed Stelmach is making good on his 2006 promise to make Alberta’s bitumen resources more profitable.  Rather than exporting it raw, upgrading bitumen in province makes it more valuable.  Some have suggested banning the export of the raw material, thus keeping more money in province.

Other companies have submitted proposals for upgrader projects. It could be that the North West co-venture with Canadian Natural Resources could be the beginning of a potential billion dollar industry for Alberta.  The province has the natural resources. Processing those resources in house would increase their value, exponentially.

Sturgeon County Real Estate Report

- January 11th, 2010

Local Officer Faces Assault Charges

The provincial court recently heard the case of Fort Saskatchewan Mountie, Mario Jimenez, who is accused of pinning a fellow officer up against the wall and making sexually harassing comments directed to the officer.  Jimenez claims that he cannot remember the incident because he was intoxicated.

Jimenez plead guilty to assault charges, and he was discharged from the force.  He will not face a criminal record as long as he completes a successful probationary period.  Jimenez says that it is unfortunate that is has taken the incident to make him realize that he has an alcohol abuse problem.

He is accused of grabbing a female RCMP officer by the arms, pinning her against the wall, and making multiple sexually suggestive comments after she refused to drink his whiskey.  The next day, Jimenez showed up at work still intoxicated, and the RCMP began a formal investigation.

Jimenez was sentenced to twelve months of probation, while abstaining from alcohol.  He also must perform 100 hours of community service and avoid contact with the complainant.  The decision will be subject to an appeal.

Sturgeon County Homes and Property Report

- November 19th, 2009

Transmission Line a Nightmare

Life has been quite and peaceful in Sturgeon County for the past 35 years.  The county is a agricultural area, comprising mostly of ranches and farms.  As of late, residents find themselves at the center of the Heartland Transmission Project.

AltaLink and Epcor are the two corporate giants building the project, and they seem to have no regard for the county’s citizens or their wellbeing.  The project will comprise of tramission lines heading straight through the county, and residents say they have aready caught survey teams on their land.  Residents believe that the surveyers are taking measurements for the site of transmission tower.

The thought of a 200-foot-high, double-circuit, 500-kilovolt transmission tower is a nightmare to residents who appreciate their serene home of natural habitat and wooded forests at Sturgeon River.  Not to mention, the environmental impact of an industrail project could ruin the natural habitat that so many creatures call home.

The good news is that the AEUB has not yet authorized the construction of the transmission line.  AltaLink and Epcor say that the line is needed to supply industries in Strathcona and Sturgeon County, but residents say the size of the line is excessive.

The AEUB insists these transmission lines area absolutely needed, but many knowledgeable people do not agree.

Sturgeon County Homes and Property Report

- November 17th, 2009

Alberta is for the birds

AltaLink used a helicopter in conjunction with a very courageous lineman to install special markers on power lines running aside of Big Lake. The project to protect the birds cost $50,000.

The company’s power lines at Big Lake run over the moth of the Sturgeon River. There are also transmission lines running between Riel Pond and a nearby marsh. I know that the lake is an important point for waterfowl during migration. Canadian geese and tundra swans often pass through, along with ducks and many varieties of shore birds.

Birdwatchers report seeing birds hit the transmission lines and plenty of bird corpses have been found beneath them.  AltaLink was willing to relocate the lines altogether in a deal with the provincial parks department, but the city of St. Albert dropped the project, removing it from their annual budget.

The placing of markers on the transmission lines is a temporary measure, necessary until the city of St. Albert determines to help out. Reportedly, the markers used in other areas have reduced hits by 60% to 90%.

AltaLink has been very interested in dealing with these sorts of problems and has taken a proactive stance to do whatever they can. I hope the markers will help until the city of St Albert gets on with the relocation plan.

Sturgeon County Homes and Property Report

- October 27th, 2009

Edmonton Area Faces Swine Flu Virus Head On

As swine flu panic sets in across the world, five clinics throughout Edmonton are offering the vaccine against the virus. The vaccine is being offered on a first come, first served basis; however, health clinic workers recommend that members of high-risk groups such as the elderly and those who suffer from asthma get the shot first.

People who work in large companies or at camps with hundreds or thousands of people are among those who should get the shot right away. Pregnant women and small children are also encouraged to get the vaccine. Health care workers and people who live in small or distant villages with no local health care should also get the shot.

Some people are concerned about the long-term effects of the vaccine. Some nursing mothers and pregnant women are concerned that the shot itself could harm their children, as there are not yet studies demonstrating its safety. However, health officials urge everyone to get vaccinated, although those not in high-risk groups are asked to wait a few days so that the people in most danger of contracting swine flu can be vaccinated first.

Sturgeon County Homes and Property Report

- October 7th, 2009

Sturgeon County Mayor Claims New Power Line Isn’t Needed

According to Don Rigney, the new power line that is meant to feed into the northeast of Edmonton isn’t required, according to his latest statements.  He claims that the province is not accurate in it’s claim that the power is needed for the area.  Most of his reasoning seems to stem from the fact that a large amount of oilsands projects in the Sturgeon area have either been scrapped or put on hold due to the economic slowdown.

The large scale power line is scheduled to be built by a combined Epcor and Alta link effort, and the final route is meant to be decided soon.  There are many voices that are speaking out against the line, however, and if it’s proven that it isn’t need then those voices are only going to get louder. 

Those that are against the proposal mainly want the line to be buried in certain parts, but the mayor doesn’t really understand why the power line is scheduled for construction right now anyway.  According to the provincial government we do need to upgrade the entire system, with this being only one of many projects throughout Alberta.

Claiming forward thinking is the reasoning behind the upgrade, and sources are citing many public debates from the past where residents asked for these types of upgrades.

Sturgeon County Homes and Property Report

- September 21st, 2009

Federal Government to Help Alberta Farmers That Have Been Affected By The Current Drought

Finally, some good news for Canadians that have been hit hard by drought. The Government of Canada is offering the opportunity to delay tax payment to selected communities that have suffered the financial effects of drought.

Many are thankful for this decision, as the tax postponement will allow eligible residents of designated areas to delay paying income tax on breeding livestock for one year. This tax deferral will help replenish breeding stock through next year and beyond.

If you are a Canadian resident and would like to know if you are living in any of the qualified areas, and you have reduced your breeding herds by at least 15%, visit this website: http://www.agr.gc.ca/drought. This website will help you determine if you you are eligible to receive this tax deferral, and educate you regarding what else is required to receive a postponement in tax payments. If you find that you are an appropriate candidate for tax deferral, you can request it when filing your 2009 income tax.

Sturgeon County Homes and Property Report

- September 8th, 2009

Alberta’s Heartland Transmission Project

Conflicting reports emerged concerning Alberta’s Heartland Transmission Project on September 4th, with the mayor of Sturgeon County claiming that its power lines would be used for export. He cited the president of the Treasury Board, Lloyd Snelgrove, as saying that the power was to be sent to the United States even though Alberta citizens would be paying the costs of the lines.

The Treasurer’s Office and Alberta Energy, however, denied these claims. They said the power absolutely was not for export, and that it would be used for Alberta’s power needs. They claimed that it would require more electrical transmission capacity to be able to meet the growing needs of Alberta in the years to come.

Far from wanting to export, an Alberta Electric System Operator spokeswoman said that the province has been a net importer of power over the last several years.

On September 17th, the Capital Region Board will determine whether it should take an official position on the Heartland Transmission Project.

 

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