Serving the communities of Rimbey, Bentley, Bluffton, Winfield, Alder Flats and Buck Lake
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Volume 15 Number 15
www.rimbeyreview.com
Budget meet a forum for grievances, accusations By Treena Mielke
“What is wrong with having free programs at A public budget the library? Some parmeeting at Rimbey ents do depend on them. Community Centre We want what’s best for April 3 had little to do our children.” with numbers and more The children are to do with grievances, not the reason the liinsinuations and accubrary needs to be exsations. panded, said librarian Once again the poJean Keetch. “Don’t pit litically-charged issue the children against the of the potential sale of adults. It’s not fair.” the town office to the Rueben Giebelhaus library board and the said he would help with possible move to the carpentry work if counprovincial building was cil decided to expand brought to the forefront. Former mayor the town offices. Dave Karroll led Dale Barr “It won’t cost you the charge, accusing five cents,” he said. “If council of not seeking you move to the Provinpublic input about the move, having up to $140,000 in hid- cial Building don’t tell me taxes are den costs, spending $83,000 on side- not going to go up.” The meeting took a new turn when walks and then paying annual rent of former mayor Dale Barr took the mike $36,000. “There are cheaper options out to question council’s decision to budthere,” the former councillor said, not- get $50,000 for a possible economic ing the Ingles building on Main Street development study. Barr, now the manager of the Censhould be considered as well as the Co-op mall, community centre and tral Alberta Economic Partnership, (CAEP) said spending $50,000 on a youth centre. He also slammed council for de- study to bring businesses to town was claring a petition regarding the sale of an unnecessary expenditure. The question and answer period the town offices invalid, noting that the question was clear to those who between Barr and Ibbotson eventually became a verbal ping-pong match as signed it. “A community needs a good li- the former and present mayors debrary, not a social enterprise. If people fended positions about tax incentives, want to get free services, let them go a proposed ethanol plant that was in somewhere else.” His suggestion that negotiations with council to locate the an independent review of the library town in 2001. Rev. Lewis suggested the present be completed was not favored by at and former council and mayors needleast one person in the audience. “Are you paying for an indepen- ed to work together. “Park your egos.” dent review?” asked Rev. Al Lewis. “I Pros and cons regarding walking don’t want my tax dollars to go to it.” trails and recreation services were disParent Natalie Evans spoke in cussed. favor of the programs offered by the “The trails are used constantly and library. are in need of upkeep. You would be
Tom Maddox spoke at the question and answer period of the public budget meeting held at the Rimbey Community Centre, April 3. Maddox expressed concern about the cost of adult recreation and the rising cost of utilities. Treena Mielke Photo surprised how many people use the trails to get to the Parent Link Centre,” said one young lady from the audience. However, opposing views were expressed. “I’m skeptical of the number of people who do use the trails. Perhaps a trailcam should be used to see how many people are actually out there,” a resident said. The town is spending too much money on adult recreation, said resident Tom Maddox, adding he believes one tax dollar in five goes toward recreation. “Where I come from they pay for recreation themselves. You’ve got to have some idea between needs and wants.” But Rev. Lewis argued money spent on recreation facilities such as the aquatic centre was a good thing. “As a parent I’m really happy about the pool. And my 10-year-old son is as well.”
Maddox was also concerned water and sewer rates continue to rise. Coun. Paul Payson said the town has an aging infrastructure and utility costs are coming closer to the actual cost born by the town for water and sewer. Concern about the big trucks driving through town was also expressed. “The town needs to get off their haunches and lobby Edmonton to get a ring road,” a resident suggested. Working together and focusing on the positive needs to be encouraged, said Coun. Gayle Rondeel. “I feel that if as much effort was put into supporting and discussing issues as there was in destroying everything this community would truly be a wonderful place to live,” she said. Mayor Sheldon Ibbotson said the economic picture looks bright for Rimbey. “Our economy is quite strong. I believe we are sitting on the cusp of a great economic surge.”
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