When I received this month's utility bill from City of St. Albert, inserted with the bill was information on the Utility Relief Grant Program. I was shaking my head as I read the information about the program that the city and community village and food bank are promoting.
Perhaps instead of a grant for people in the applicable income brackets to qualify, the City of St. Albert might want to take a look at lowering the flat rate charges on everyone's bill. Water consumption on my bill was $48.43. The additional flat rates, capital contribution, etc. made my bill for water more than $200. We also get robbed on the garbage rates. Total bill was $256. Crazy! If a lot of citizens can't afford the utility charges, not only those in lower income situations, common sense would indicate we are paying way too much and a decent council would recognize that and take action to make water, a basic necessity, affordable for everyone. I forgot though, this city doesn't run on common sense.
Then today we get the property tax bill, up $300 from last year ... this city is so wasteful on frivolous things that are not required.
We had representatives from a company from Edmonton stop in on the weekend, they used to live in St. Albert. They made the comment that the city used to be beautiful now it should be renamed the city of signs. Signs everywhere, distracting, not needed and another waste of money. The gong show at the intersection of Grenfell and Grosvenor is a prime example. What could have been easily fixed with a three-way stop instead has flashing lights for pedestrians, outward curb extensions to narrow the road, speed reductions, crosswalks added, yellow posts that are so easy to skid into when turning left as the city doesn't properly sand or grade the roads.
People on council – it is time to enter the real world.
J. Ritchie, St. Albert
