The Anchor Weekly – The Chestermere Lake News

Dear Editor, Re: Recreation Open House March 22 2013 I felt sad after looking at the displays in the CRCA hall regarding the future of recreation facilities in Chestermere. What made me sad was the lack of an overall plan for recreation in my community, and instead two groups seemingly vying for my support of their project. The town with their display of the findings of the recent survey and the Chestermere Regional Recreation/Ag Board with their plan for upgrading the existing surrounds and building in which this very open house was held. What confusion! Most visitors did not know [...]

Reference to article supplied by Terry F Roberts/April 18/13 Why businesses fail in Chestermere: I happened to catch this recent article about why business fails in our town, the article by Mr Roberts made some very good points about the present state of our business community in Chestermere, however, high prices or poor business hours, are often a direct result of high rents,& lack of employees, perhaps its important to take a look at some of the grass root causes of why we are losing our businesses, & why prices are high, and what needs to be done to put [...]

In his letter to the editor regarding tax increases, Mr Steve Staples asked the question: “in these days of internet why do libraries even exist?” We exist because every Canadian has the right to access any materials and information that they wish. This right is the foundation of modern democracy, which runs on the simple principle that we are all equal. For us to be equal, we all require equal access to information – after all, information is power. Sometimes this information is accessed in non-fiction form, sometimes it is presented as stories and literature, or music, or movies. Many [...]

In response to Steve Staples eloquent letter I would like to add my bit about our fabulous library. The library receives $15.89 per capita from the Town Council and I am happy to say that as of last December there were 7,544 cardholders who obviously think that there are valid reasons for the existence of libraries. Marilyn King Library Chairperson

Re: Education Tax Increase This increase seems to be the talk of the Town. What if we look at this in a different way. We have been receiving this tax benefit since the year 2000. That’s 12 years. Has anyone considered how much they have saved over this period of time? We now have to pay an extra $400 per year starting this year. This amounts to (400 divided by 365) $1.10 per day. That’s less than the purchase of a half of cup coffee. V. McKenzie

Dear Editor, As a hockey mother of three boys, it is not often that my fellow hockey moms and I leave a game in which we have lost, with warm feelings and admiration for the team that just beat our kids. This, however, was the case on Easter Sunday, at the Tournament of Champions in Innisfail. Our Novice Aged boys and girls (aged 7 &8) were losing their third and final game of the tournament, and playing against a Chestermere Novice team. Needless to say, they were all a little tired of losing, and were playing their little hearts out. [...]

I would like to express my concern over the present property tax situation in Chestermere. It would seem that the Mayor is deeply concerned with the provincial education tax increase that will see all Chestermere residents paying about $400.00 more per year in property taxes. This is a pleasant and surprising change because my property tax has increased by 34% last year plus other increases in prior years and no one at Town Council showed any concern about these increases. We have a “garbage pick up charge” and storm drain charge” added to utility bills. The storm drain charge was [...]

Seems our esteemed Mayor Matthews feels the Redford Governments Education Tax increase of 53% is unfair to the residents of Chestermere. Tell me if I’m mistaken, but it sounds a lot like Mayor Matthews is calling the kettle black….especially after instituting a property tax increase last year that amounted to almost the same percentage, at least it did for me. She certainly didn’t care that the assessed land tax on my lot went from $78,000 to $207,000 in one shot, why then, is she screaming foul? Does no one on council understand the meaning of “Education Tax Mitigation Program?” What, [...]

As you’ve probably heard the Alberta Government rescinded the Education Property Tax Mitigation Program for fast growing municipalities. For the average Chestermere household you can expect a $400 increase in this year’s tax bill and a further $60 or so next year. Before you start choosing a rope, this has nothing to do with the town. 100% of this money goes to general revenue of the Alberta Government to be spent as they choose, such as fat raises for MLAs, $12,000 plane tickets to and empty hotel rooms at the Olympics, or handing 700 million dollars to Royal Dutch Shell, [...]

Just read Michael’s letter to the Anchor. He had a lot of valid points that we are not getting the best service for our tax dollars. I have a couple of questions. Why are we paying for storm water, God put it there in the form of rain, snow etc. not me? But I pay. Why is there a charge on my tax bill with the money going to the WID? I don’t live on the Lake or near it. Don’t use the lake or the Parks either. Let the lake owners pay the fee for the town picking up [...]