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Here Comes Peter Cottontail
Two-year-old MacKenzie Drain collects some hidden treasures during the Teen Challenge/Bargain Barn Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday at Lions' Park in Black Diamond.
- photo by John Barlow
Mottas will proceed with lawsuit
By
Staff reporter
The parents of an Okotoks man who died following an emergency appendectomy say they will likely proceed with a $4.5 million lawsuit.
Pina Motta said she and her husband Tom have been advised by their lawyer to take some time to think over their next move.
'We are going to go ahead with it,' Pina said. 'Our lawyer advised us to wait and see.'
The couple launched the lawsuit earlier this year, just in time for a court-imposed deadline of two years after the death occurred.
The Mottas said they wished to file the lawsuit in case they didn't agree with the recommendations stemming from a fatality inquiry into the case.
The distraught parents say they are pleased with the judge's ruling, but doubt the recommendations will be acted upon.
'If nobody does anything the same thing will happen again,' Pina said.
Judge Manfred Delong made 25 recommendations that, in part, suggested a public inquiry into the state of provincial emergency health care and more specifically targeted needed improvements in the Calgary Health Region, the High River Hospital and STARS air ambulance.
'I hope they follow through with what the judge said,' Pina continued. 'I want them to go forward and make things better. I'm so happy with what the judge (decided).'
Pina said the main priorities to improving the emergency health care system in Calgary should be reducing wait lines and building a south hospital.
Currently, the Calgary Health Region is reviewing the judge's recommendations and will be presenting a report with its own recommendations on May 21.
Alberta Health and Alberta Justice are also reviewing the fatality inquiry report.
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Increased levies means tax hike likely
By
Editor
Okotoks residents will likely see an increase on their tax bills this year despite town council maintaining the same tax rate.
At its regular meeting April 14, Okotoks town council accepted amendments to the 2003 operating budget which included several fee increases.
As a result of the fee increases the typical home in Okotoks will see an increase of 3.9 per cent or $77 on their tax bill.
Councillor Ed Sands, chairman of the finance and budget committee said the increases were necessary to address needs within the community.
'Our residents have consistently noted that community safety and quality of life are generally the most important local issues,' said Sands. 'It is evident that recreation services, particularly our arenas and aquatic centres and police service require increased attention and commitment.'
The operating budget amendment includes the introduction of a new recreation levy and increases to police funding and infrastructure recapitalization.
First, council approved the new recreation facilities levy of $66 for the typical home. The levy was originally to be $33, but was doubled.
The recreation levy will raise approximately $340,000 annually which will go directly to improvements to the arena and aquatic facilities.
'Nobody likes tax increases, but this is a necessary evil to meet our recreation needs,' said Councillor Bill Robertson. 'This is extremely exciting, I can see a new twin arena coming and (with the infrastructure levy) it will start to take shape.'
In addition, the amendment included increasing funding for police service by $70,000.
Sands explained the town has underfunded the Okotoks RCMP in the past expecting the detachment to be understaffed, which it has been.
However, Sands said they are anticipating another full-time officer to be added this year and the town would be in a much better financial position if it started to supplant the RCMP budget now.
Finally, the finance and budget committee recommended increasing the commitment to the infrastructure recapitalization fund which is used to rebuild streets, sidewalks, pathways and municipal buildings.
The recapitalization levy is set to generate $540,000 per year.
'We are trying to save money now for projects that are coming due,' said Robertson.
The increased recapitalization levy is anticipated to be a jump of about $21 on the typical tax bill.
With the increased fees the average home in Okotoks will have a tax bill of $2,048 an increase of about $77 from last year ($1,971).
Sands said the amendments balance community needs and expectations with fiscal prudence.
'Our residents also expect council to be prudent, direct their tax dollars wisely and to keep a watchful eye on tax rates,' said Sands.
Council was able to maintain the current tax rate of 1.154 per cent because the fee increases equal 3.9 per cent — exactly the anticipated increase in single home assessment in 2003. Last year the average Okotoks home was assessed at $170,870, in 2003 the assessment is expected to increase 3.9 per cent to $177,530.
Council accepted the operating budget amendments and gave first reading to its 2003 tax rate bylaw.
