Alan Alger

Good day Division 5 residents and indeed to all who are reading this.

March is here and feels like spring! February was a bit testy, but I guess we must expect some cold weather. We were fortunate in January with balmy temps and minimal snow. As always, I tip my cap (toque) to the ranchers of the area as they toil to keep their animals fed, and some starting into calving season.

October this year is an Election year, and with the support of my family and many calls from my residents, I have decided to run for another term. I believe our Council and I have done some excellent work in the past years, and there is more work ahead. This a large commitment and I am happy to continue to represent our community.

Foothills County is near completion of the water reservoir at Aldersyde with the pipeline from the Highwood River soon to be online. Part 2 of this operation is the joint water project with the Town of Okotoks. This will bring water from the Bow River to Okotoks and a share to our Aldersyde reservoir. A new water treatment plant is under construction at our Aldersyde shop that will process the raw water for our Industrial corridor and beyond.

The Foothills Crossing Area Structure Plan (east of High River) is a large Business District that we are building that will increase our commercial tax base. We are developing around the existing machinery dealerships and will supply servicing to the area soon. Recently, Council gave 1st reading to redesignate some of the Business Park lands for a large Data Centre that has expressed interest in the area, and we are excited for further information to come.

A major milestone for Foothills County this year is the abolishment of the Calgary Metropolitan Regional Board (CMRB). Led by Reeve Miller, our continued pushback towards a board that unfairly designated regional planning towards the Rurals based on Urban density and allowed the City of Calgary to dictate where and how we grow was extremely unfair. With allies like Rockview County we fought back, and Minister McIvor has made the CMRB a thing of the past. The Edmonton Metropolitan Board (EMRB) is also disbanding which will save Alberta taxpayers millions of dollars every year.

Two large residential ASPs came in front of Council this year. The first is the Roland/ Highfield lands east of Aldersyde. Council approved first reading of this project and was also approved under the guidelines of the CMRB although no longer necessary.

The second ASP was Foothills Landing in the De Winton area. This project did fulfill the density parameters of the CMRB, but was SO large and garnered so much resistance, it was refused.

A few of the boards I sit on...

County Cemeteries (Chair). The County owns and takes care of 5 cemeteries including Pine Creek which is in the Legacy area of Calgary. Numerous improvements at all cemeteries have been done and I suggest a drive by the Cayley and Blackie area to see the Columbarium's that look like grain elevators! We have just completed a large renovation of the Davisburg church (circa 1889). Our staff does a tremendous job of maintenance of the lands, and we have a dedicated Cemetery Specialist to assist residents in their time of bereavement.

Historical Committee (Chair). This is a great committee that I love as my family has a lot of history in the area. We have recently been approached by a group from the U of C who are doing a study of Alberta oil exploration specifically starting with the Turner Valley/ Longview fields. An interactive map will be the final outcome that will pinpoint historical people and places.

Recreation Boards... Dunbow, Northwest Foothills, Priddis/Red Deer Lake. These boards all provide funding for recreation projects in their prospective areas.

Westwinds Communities is my favorite of all boards and deals with senior and affordable housing in the Foothills. We just completed this year, a10 unit affordable housing project at Drakes town in Okotoks. Next on the list will be another 40 units in the D'Arcy Ranch area. This board is in 3 parts, as I also sit on the Strategic Planning Committee and the Finance Committee. You can get more information on Westwinds from their website.

Please check out my Boards and Committees page that will outline the other groups I am involved with.

In Division 5 over the last number of years, numerous projects have been accomplished. 226th Ave West from 64thSt to 80th St was widened and paved, in conjunction with 64th going North to the City being double chip sealed. This project joined 112th St by Granary Roads new curve and tied in all existing roads leading to the new Stoney Trail. Also, recently the bridge by the Sirocco Golf Course was redone and looks amazing.

Over the last four years with much banter among CPKC, myself, MP John Barlow and pressure from numerous residents, every Railroad crossing in our division has been replaced or upgraded.

Soil hauling out of Calgary has become a concern in our area because of the proximity of County lands to new developments within the city. With assistance from staff and Council we have implemented a Development Permit Application that still allows the hauling but will be regulated and controlled.

Numerous roads have been redone with Maintainable Road Oil (MRO) and I expect this to continue as we have just purchased another Reclaimer which is the focal point of the procedure. MRO roads last longer, are easier and quicker to maintain, and obviously no dust! I have numerous residents that want MRO on existing gravel roads, and we do as much as we can each year. All roads go onto a priority matrix and sometimes cannot be done without a major overhaul.

On a personal note, I have been a director on the board for the De Winton Community Association for the 8 years I have been on Council. I also represent the Red Deer Lake Community Association and have championed thousands of dollars of funding and grants for that facility which is County owned. It looks great and is run by a wonderful group of dedicated people. Both facilities are great locations for your next event!

My ongoing task is to continue pressure on the Federal Government regarding the radio tower flashing lights. This is complete intrusion of our night sky and is a concern in many areas of the County.

I have met with a great number of residents over the years and have assisted many with land applications from subdivisions to secondary suites. There is extreme pressure for development in the area as next generation children take over old family lands. It is a tough struggle and sometimes a tough decision to make, but I am a firm believer you have rights when it comes to your property.

This coming year promises to be busy as ever as we strive to build and grow our economy. And with that growth we continue to monitor our expenses and get more for your dollar. Council is dedicated to the wellbeing of our residents and will continue those efforts into the future.

As always, please check out our new website for all things Foothills County.