With the voting already underway, my thoughts this year have been on what I would like to see. I don't agree with wasting residential taxes on new projects, the library for one could be expanded by using space that already exists. Be creative council, for skating space it already exists. There are outdoor rinks in several areas of the town for play space. Servus Place was badly designed for the size of the place, but more skating space could technically be created in underused play areas on the main floor. St Albert could be using space they already have for many projects. I don't see the point of building past Costco for one, it's a great shopping area for people on the north end of St Albert but harder to get to on the south side. I live closer to Edmonton, and shop in Albany centre as it has all I need there, and I don't have to drive for half an hour, fight the badly timed lights and traffic. That in itself could have been diverted by Ray Gibbons being completed. Get business going towards the Edmonton corridor, in the Campbell park area. That spot is always backed up from people who have to drive to Edmonton for work and are probably shopping there for convenience. I am glad St Albert Centre is getting good stores in finally, I am becoming more inclined to go there now instead of West Ed Mall. I feel taking away the basement suite grants was something that took away from building affordable housing, and leaving people who could have used that as income money as well. We do need affordable homes, and we need businesses who want to be here. We need places that employ low-income families to pay better wages. Pay people a better wage, you will have happy long-term employees who will give better customer service. Lise Sitybell, St. Albert
