Happy New Year, 2012!

Here comes 2012!  I'll take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year! 

Our little village is facing some very difficult challenges in 2012, but I am confident we will be successful in finding solutions during this calendar year!

Challenge One:  The Water Crisis;  Our water commission has a new name but the same old problems exist.  We are paying some of the highest water rates in the province!  I really believe that 2012 will be a "Make or Break" year for this water crisis.  The fact is that the five urban municipalities in the Aqua 7 system cannot afford to continue buying water.  And the Aqua 7 system cannot afford to continue on its present funding course!  Stay tuned.

Challenge Two:  The Beiseker Fire Department;  The Village of Beiseker cannot afford to equip its fire department to an appropriate level on its own.  Nor can Rocky View County properly give fire protection to its north east corner without Beiseker's firefighters.  I predict that an agreement will be hammered out over this next twelve months that will meet the requirements of both village and county.

Challenge Three:  Residential Development;  This is related to Challenge One.  We have two stalled residntial subdivisions in Beiseker!  Both need a swift kick in the butt to get them moving again.  All five councillors are putting on their steel toed boots for this one!

Challenge Four:  Economic Development;  In 2012 we're all going to have to find ways to stimulate economic development within the village.  We have too many empty lots and shops on Main Street and too many people taking too much of their shopping to Airdrie or CrossIron Mills! 

Challenge Five:  Waste Water Disposal;  Beiseker has always had trouble pumping its waste water out of town!  Both runoff water and sanitary sewer water systems are overtaxed in the spring of each year.  Council is going to have to work on ways to make these systems work efficiently and effectively throughout the seasons!  We've made some significant headway this past year but more needs to be done!

Well, there they are; the five biggest challenges I see the Village of Beiseker facing in 2012!  I am confident that we'll tackle these problems head-on and prevail!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!