Councillor objectivity called into question

Times Reporter

 

Concerns about council members having a fair and unbiased opinion regarding the downtown beautification proposals were brought into question by Councillor Bob Sobol at the Oct. 3 council meeting. 

At the April 28 spring workshop a request was approved for Councillors Blokland and Sobol to be able to discuss downtown beautification ideas. 

Sobol said there have been both pros and cons brought forward by both community members and downtown businesses as different ideas have been tossed about.  

Councillor Rempel had previously publicly stated he was not in favour of the proposal being brought forth. Councillor Earl Best also previously made it clear the beautification ideas being proposed are not being done under the direction of council. 

Sobol questions the councillors’ ability to cast an unbiased vote on the matter as they have already made their opinions clear. 

At the council meeting Rempel said he is not in favour of it being a project taken on by council and asked for the matter to be held off until Oct. 17.

“I never did support the idea of them going out there and promoting this boulevard and beautification of the downtown. First of all it’s not even a council item or thing that council would get involved with, it’s something that the Chamber of Commerce would get involved with,” said Rempel.

“I would have fully supported recommending it to the Chamber of Commerce to go ahead and research the possibility of doing a downtown beautification, but it is not a function of council to go out there and promote this and definitely not with taxpayer dollars.”

Sobol had asked for an apology about the comments made that he said were disrespectful and presumptuous. Rempel didn’t apologize and the matter was dropped until the Oct. 17 council meeting when all of council and the mayor will be in attendance. Councillor Best and Mayor Steve Grajczyk were not in attendance of the meeting. 

 

Franchise Fees

The town’s electricity charges have been increasing steadily which made council direct administration to look into the franchise fee agreement with Fortis Alberta. 

The previous franchise fee agreement was at five per cent, which relates to about $2.30 for the average residence. In an effort to recoup some of the money the town is spending on electricity council brought forward a proposal to see the franchise fee increased to 10 per cent which will cost the average residence $4.60 per month. Even with the increase Councillor Rempel said it just brings the town a little closer to the breaking even point, though they are still not there. Deputy Mayor Pat Fule wanted to see more information about what the shortfalls were. Those numbers weren’t available and the deadline to apply for the revised rate was Oct. 4. Fule voted against the motion to increase the rates. 

 

Waterline connection 

The Wheatland Regional Water Partnership (WRWP), which includes the Villages of Rockyford, Hussar and Standard and Wheatland County, submitted a request for support from the town. The WRWP would like to tie in to the East Regional Calgary Waterline and receive potable water from Calgary via Strathmore’s waterline. The WRWP made the request to Strathmore so they may continue the process with grant applications for design and construction. 

The town has drafted a letter to be sent in response to the request. Council supported the motion with conditions in principle, at a later date actual conditions will added. 

 

Leave of absence 

Last month Councillor Earl Best had requested a four month leave of absence. Things have since changed for him and at the Oct. 3 meeting he requested a return to council after only one month’s leave. Council approved the request.