Re: “Ward 5 county candidates bring experience to the table,” Sept. 7 edition of Cochrane Eagle.
I believe Bruce Kendall’s statements in this article need a bit of clarification. As a candidate in the Rocky View County (RVC) election, he stated,“I will continue to advocate under the premise that less is more.”
I can only assume from his history on council, that he means less communication and concern for the residents and more support and 100 per cent approval rates for the poorly planned developments and unhealthy gravel pit alley along Highway 567.
“He is hopeful (keyword) plans to complete and implement an Aggregate Resource Plan will come to fruition in the first quarter of 2018.” In the meantime, Kendall was the key councillor to push through the approval of four gravel pit operations in close proximity just off Highway 22 on Highway 567 before the required Aggregate Resource Plan is approved and on record. Health and safety for the residents completely ignored.
His statement that he “is most proud of the pumping solution for flood mitigation … at Cochrane Lake” is the real stickler. Residents of Cochrane Lake and Monterra have first-hand knowledge of what went on during the four years of man-made flooding. The flooding was created when the now defunct developer, Medallion and Regional Water Services, filled the lake for esthetic purposes.
The owner of said entities were taken to court to be held accountable with Alberta Environment, RVC, and numerous lawyers involved and this hearing went on for well over a year.
Kendall was responsible for advising Alberta Environment the solution for the flooding problem had been determined and the hearing was cancelled. His “solution” was to place an uncapped Local Improvement Tax on residents living around this public lake to install an output line and because it was taxpayers’ money, he added berms and pathways to the astronomical cost. He was not successful.
During this four-year flood, Kendall and RVC’s answer was to install inefficient useless pumps that ran 24/7 and did nothing. They also, in their consideration for the residents, dropped off a load of heavy sandbags at the top of an uphill driveway for a couple in their 80s to carry to their flooding house.
It was Jerry Arshinoff and the late Al Sacuta that held a meeting with the residents of Cochrane Lake and researched for a grant from the Alberta Government to install discharge lines and lower the lake.
Let us not forget Bruce Kendall’s involvement in the Ag. Society, a lot of opposition from residents there also.
Gloria Wilson
