Dear Editor,
I have the honour of being the Reeve of Rocky View County. I enjoy meeting the many residents of this very diverse and exceptional county, I have had the pleasure of coming to know and respect people from every area.
I also have the pleasure of working with eight other councillors who I have grown to know and respect, they are as diverse as the county itself.
In the last month or so, I have had a particularly challenging time as have my colleagues. We have been struggling to deal effectively with a situation that many find awkward.
Recently, there was a proposal presented that found a community divided. Council’s decision reflected that division.
An application was made (Bingham Crossing at the council meeting on Sept. 11) that required a hearing, to complicate matters it was an application that was presented a few years ago and was defeated. To complicate it even more, it was adjusted to satisfy many of the objections and became an application that was approved.
If you are still with me here, I will explain even more complications. There is a developer that believes he has listened to the public and adjusted his proposal to overcome the problems that most had with his initial concept.
There is a group of residents that are now in favour of the new proposal, the developer believes he got it right this time and is satisfied.
Not everyone is in favour of the new proposal, or any other proposal for that matter.
Quite simply, there are those who are satisfied with everything staying the way it is and were very relieved to have seen the first rejection of the application.
There are others, under the same impression, who are prepared to go to great lengths to convert as many of their friends and neighbours to share their position.
It gets even more complicated when there becomes information that has varying degrees of accuracy as well as a great deal of opinions that are diametrically opposed. Mix that up with accusations and innuendo and what you have is quite a challenge.
This could happen anywhere but it is going on right here in Rocky View County and quite frankly, it breaks my heart.
I am watching information flying around that is full of inaccuracies intended to convince people to adopt a position.
I am also reading letters from people who are passionately explaining all the wrongs they see along with the disaster that will follow that comes directly from information fraught with guesswork and personal agenda. I have seen estimates of County expenditures blown out of proportion. I have seen square footage comparisons that have no basis. I have read blogs that cloud issues.
People have placed half page ads stating opinions, citing emergencies and threatening separation.
I have watched websites be developed to become a forum for disaster. I have been to Facebook pages designed to incite anger and fuel unrest.
I have received emails demanding my resignation, insinuating I have no integrity, questioning my conduct and threatening consequences.
All this in an attempt to steer public opinion and affect Council decision making. Through all this, I understand the passion although I don’t necessarily agree with the tactics, I accept the efforts as genuine.
All is not lost. The policies and procedures at the County, which are always open for review, are working fine for now. Amid the confusion sound decisions are being made. The lines of communication are wide open and residents who are interested are being well informed by the fine staff at Rocky View County.
I have received many emails and phone calls of appreciation for coming out of a 13-hour hearing relatively unscathed.
The 5-4 decisions are the toughest but they still must be made. In time, I know we will see the correct decisions were made, hindsight is generally 20/20, foresight is still a struggle.
Rolly Ashdown, Rocky View County Reeve
