A failed effort to support Stony Plain Road business owners through construction pain, the sale of the Edmonton Elks, and a potential 13% increase to property taxes were the hot topics discussed in Episode 273 of Speaking Municipally, Taproot's municipal affairs podcast hosted by Mack Male and Troy Pavlek.
No help for businesses
Pavlek described the defeat of Coun. Andrew Knack's proposal to compensate businesses affected by city construction, such as those on Stony Plain Road, as a likely "death knell" for city-funded relief from the strains caused by building LRT and other projects. "I think this is pretty much dead on the tracks," he said. Male, meanwhile, calculated the proposed but axed benefit at just $187 per month for businesses, which have lost as much as $15,000 per month during construction. Both hosts agreed the compensation proposal wouldn't have done much to alleviate the pain anyway.
Is the name debate returning to Edmonton's football team?
The two hosts also pondered the future of the Edmonton Elks, and specifically the team's name. This follows the news that the team has its first private owner since it was formed in 1949. Larry Thompson, a heavy construction investor who once owned the Thompson Construction Group, is now the club's sole proprietor. Pavlek noted that Thompson referred to the team's former name — one that's been called racist many times — in the sale announcement, which also emphasized the team's double-E initials. Does that mean the team's name will revert to what it was before it was changed to the Elks in 2021, despite those aforementioned concerns about racism? "Nothing untoward has actually happened," Pavlek said. "Everything else is speculative — speculative based on reasonable evidence, but speculative."
Potential tax increases?
The podcast hosts also zeroed in on discussions at city hall that indicate homeowners could be on the hook for a 13% increase to their property taxes next year. But Male said he doubts this will become a reality. "This is the usual playbook (for city administration)," Male said. "Let's put out a really high (tax increase) number, and then let's see what we can do to whittle it down. I say 'usual playbook' knowing that (in 2024) they didn't do that. They put out the high number and then made it higher, which was a bit incredible, but still not double digits."
There's much more in the Aug. 23 episode of Speaking Municipally, including commentary about Coun. Jennifer Rice's misconduct inquiry, the disaster in Jasper, increasing transit fares, and the series of topics featured in the satirical rapid-fire segment. Plus, managing editor Tim Querengesser dropped by for his regular dispatch on what Taproot's newsroom is up to and how readers can chime in. Speaking Municipally comes out on Fridays at noon. Listening and subscription options are all right here.
Photo: Edmonton City Council voted against a financial aid package for Stony Plain Road businesses that blame LRT construction for lost business. (Supplied)