Town Hall Meeting a Success

I have declared last evening's Town Hall Meeting a complete success!

I estimate about 30 or more interested folks came out to see Beiseker's Village Council in action, and to voice their opinions on many topics.  A number of issues were raised and opinions given.  It gave all councillors a chance to hear residents voice their concerns in person.  Thank you all for coming out last night.

Council will now deal with those concerns voiced over their next few regular meetings.  We will also decide whether to hold these town hall meetings annually or semi-annually.

Well done, everyone!

Wayward Furniture?

I noticed that an old couch or sofa had run away from home and found its way onto the Public Reserve strip near the footbridge.  It languished there until I had Public Works remove it. 

Here's a reminder to all of you with runaway furniture;  Public Works will remove your old furniture and mattresses on Garbage Day.  All you have to do is pay the disposal fee which varies from $5.00 to $25.00, depending on what it is.  Simply phone the Village Office (403-947-3774) at least 48 hours before Garbage Day and make the arrangements. 

We can't guarantee it will be picked up the very next Garbage Day, but it will be picked up!  And it won't become an eyesore in the lane or on the Public Reserve.

Curfew?

Many years ago, Beiseker had a problem with youngsters roaming the streets after midnight and getting into mischief.  Many acts of vandalism and graffitti happened in the wee hours of the morning. As a result, the council at the time enacted a curfew bylaw for those under sixteen years of age.  It was just one way of getting the kids back home and asleep at night. 

That bylaw is still on the books!  Judging by the complaints I'm hearing, maybe we need to dust it off and inform the authorities we want it enforced again!

Basically it says that all those sixteen years and under must be off the streets by 11:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.  Exceptions would be those accompanied by an adult, coming home from a late hockey game at the arena or a babysitting job, etc. 

A curfew is never a solution, but it can be part of the solution.  I hear back from the young people that, "there's nothing to do in Beiseker," hence they turn to vandalism to oocupy their time.  I'm working on a list of activities available to us here in and around the village to  address that.
And let me know what you think about re-instituting our curfew bylaw.

Stage East is Coming!

That's right! Stage East Dinner Theatre is back. 

For those few of you who have never heard of Stage East, we are a local theatre group who perform every year at the Beiseker Community Centre.  This year's performances are to be held on October 19 & 20. 

It's roast beef this year!  Tickets are $35.00 each and will be on sale at the Mountain View Credit Union and Simply Food For Thought, in Beiseker.  If you and seven friends want to come on Friday night only, you can buy a table of eight for $250.00! 

If you need tickets and can't make it into town, email me and I will hook you up with our ticket folks.  We're in rehearsal now and this year's performance looks great!

Good Bye Peter, You Are Already Missed

Former Premier Peter Lougheed passed away earlier this afternoon. 

Premier Lougheed was recently named the most successful Canadian premier over the past four decades!  Our Heritage Savings Trust Fund, contributions to Federal constitutional reforms, and strong municipal governments in Alberta are all a part of his legacy.  And his battles over resource revenues with Pierre Trudeau were legendary, too! 

He is being referred to as Mr. Alberta, a title he most certainly would be proud of.

Peter Lougheed was the one person who inspired me most to enter politics -- and I met him not long after I was first elected to village council back in 1979.  He was one of the first who explained to me that municipal politics is "where it's at"!  He asked me where else in politics do you make decisions affecting friends and neighbours who you may meet on the street a few minutes after making those decisions?  Others have since mentioned that but I've always remembered that conversation throughout these years.

Thank you, Peter Lougheed.

My sincere condolences go to Peter Lougheed's family and many, many friends.

Town Hall Meeting

Beiseker Village Council has decided to conduct its next meeting as a Town Hall Meeting.  The meeting will be held on our regular meeting time and date; Monday, September 24 at 7:30 p.m.  But instead of meeting in our council chambers, we will meet at the Beiseker Community Centre.

There will be seating for as many residents as want to come.  We will follow an abbreviated council agenda then open the floor to anyone present.  This will be chance for any village resident to watch council work.

They then will also be able to ask council about any issue or concern which might affect the village.  We will not permit personal attacks on individuals either on council or in the village's employ.

While reading Facebook, I expect to hear questions about summer projects, the new fire hall, Grasslands, potholes, garbage pick-up, recycling, property taxes, the Bassano Station, the airport, the Fire Department, the Arena, and many other topics.

Please pass the word along about our first Town Hall Meeting in many years.  Council hopes to make this an annual or semi-annual event and I hope to see you all there!

Fun at the Springbank Fall Fair

I had the pleasure of attending the Springbank Fall Fair held yesterday at Springbank's Park For All Seasons.  I was there as part of the Agriculture Education program.  I was showing the folks over there where their food comes from.  In this case we threshed grain by hand then milled it into flour using a hand-cranked mill.

I talked to many people and I think a few of them learned how important agriculture is to Alberta and to Canada.  Thank you Springbank for inviting me over.