8 The Rimbey Review, May 7, 2013
Reader disappointed with council’s decision to hold a public vote in June Dear Editor, Regarding the plan to expand the library to move the town office to the provincial building, I was disappointed with council’s decision to hold a referendum on the issue rather than deciding the issue themselves. It was a good plan. I see only good things happening once this project is underway and I am impatient to see it started. I am also disappointed half the users of the library (the ones who live within Ponoka County) will have no say on the outcome of this vote. However, I do understand council’s reluctance to proceed without clear support from the community. They were elected in a controversial election on a platform of accountability and transparency. To give the community a say in this project is only extending this policy and council should be commended for this approach. What disturbs me more than anything is the tone of the attacks against town council. Although there are some who have legitimate concerns over the
library expansion — and council has bent over backwards to try to listen to these people — I feel that there is a concerted effort to harass and discredit this council. At public meetings, in letters to the editor and attack ads in the newspaper, you can’t help but notice how free some people feel to express their anger and show their disrespect for what council stands for. This is strange, for council was elected by a good majority. They do have the support of a huge part of the electorate. At any rate, there is going to be a referendum on the library expansion on June 3. Whether the expansion goes ahead will depend on the results of this referendum. It will be important that all the supporters of the library get out to vote on this day. Remember you are not just voting for yourselves but also for those disenfranchised users of the library who live in Ponoka County. Jim Moore
WWW.MSWFARMS.COM Specializing In MST Longhorn Breeding Stock, Ropers & Lean Meat Sales (including longhorn beef, elk, bison, pork, chicken, turkey and pheasants - all raised free range and organically grown.)
LETTERS
Physician offers factual driving info Dear Editor: Having recently becoming a senior citizen, I attended MLA Joe Anglin’s presentation on Senior’s Right To Drive. Although billed as an “information session,” it was actually more of a mis-information session. So I feel compelled to provide some facts: • By provincial legislation, all seniors who wish to maintain their driver’s licence beyond the age of 75 must have a medical examination regarding their physical and mental suitability to drive. That senior can attend any physician in the province, not necessarily their own family doctor. • During the medical examination, the doctor is required to decide if a road test is recommended. To assist the doctor in making this determination, I and my Rimbey colleagues have adopted a tool called the Simard test. The Simard is a simple mental questionnaire administered by a nurse and is free of charge. This test correlates with the mental skills needed for driving. It is not a test for dementia. The Simard test is not a requirement of the province and can be refused. However refusal makes it more difficult for the doctor to determine the need for road testing and makes it more likely that road testing will be recom-
MLA slams council’s stand on referendum Dear Editor: More than 400 people signed a petition opposing the town council’s decision to relocate to the provincial building. The town council rejected the petitioners’ call for a referendum declaring the petition was not legal. Matter closed, as some might think. Now, the council has flip-flopped and decided to hold a non-binding referendum based on the illegal petition they themselves rejected. Non-binding means the outcome of the proposed vote will not matter (count). Complicating the situation, the referendum (vote) will be scheduled approximately 100 days before a mandated municipal election. Provincial law prevents having a byelection within six months of a municipal election. The law also suggests all public votes planned within one-year of a mandated election can be delayed until that year’s fall election. The law was drafted to prevent unnecessary elections, however this council will ignore the suggestion and hold a vote that doesn’t count.
Do you have a play you would like to direct for the 2014 Liberty Hall dinner theatre? You are invited to submit a short synopsis of the play for consideration on Monday, June 10th at 7:30 pm at Liberty Hall. For further info and to confirm your participation call Elaine at 403-843-4008.
meats
Great selection of 2 yr. old and yearling Longhorn breeding bulls available for this summer.
Mark & Tina Stewart RR #4 Ponoka, AB. 403-704-1138
mswfarms@gmail.com Cell (Mark): 403-357-9833 Cell (Tina): 403-783-0226 On Farm Store or at local Farmer’s Markets in Ponoka, Rimbey, Red Deer, Bentley and Lakedell. Visit cilantro & chive Restaurant, Ponoka to try our products done right.
mended. • If road testing is recommended, the current best test of driving competence is provided by a privately owned company, Drive Able. The expense of the Drive Able evaluation is borne by the senior. Drive Able is not a requirement of the province and can be declined. The alternative is a road test with one of the province’s local driver examiners. • Contrary to the statement made by Mr. Anglin’s senior’s advocate, there is no fee paid to the doctor for the Simard or the Drive Able test. For many years the province has downloaded the responsibility of determining fitness to drive onto doctors. This can be a difficult task most doctors dislike. After all, family doctors advocate for their senior patients and do not like to be responsible for limiting their mobility or independence. If Mr. Anglin is concerned about a senior’s right to drive, he could use his influence as an MLA to have the province take rightful ownership of a standardized testing process so that all seniors are assessed equally throughout the province. M. G. Boorman, MD
MSW
Come join us for our
5th Annual Customer Appreciation Saturday, May 11 4 - 9pm MSW Farm - In our on-farm shop FROM Ponoka—5 miles West on #53, 5 miles North on #795 (toward Usona) & 1.5 miles West on Twp Rd 435 BBQ & camping Packages on Special Stock up before the Long Weekend!
Join us for a FREE Beef, Bison or Elk on a bun.
Call 403-783-0226
Interact
Door prizes & Draws
Confused? The mayor and council intend to manipulate the question to make the non-binding referendum about a library expansion and not just a planned relocation of the town’s offices. There are several suitable options available for a library expansion in town but those locations are a separate issue and will not be up for consideration in the proposed non-binding referendum. Ironically, regardless of the vote, the library does not have the necessary funds to expand anywhere. Rimbey’s citizens are being asked to go to the polls approximately 100 days before a mandated election, to vote in a referendum that doesn’t matter, to decide a question that was never asked — only to satisfy an illegal petition? If the referendum passes, the town offices will relocate so the library can sit in a half-empty building for quite sometime because there are no approved plans or funds available to finance an expansion. It’s tough to make this stuff up, and if it was published in a book, I wouldn’t burn it. We could always cancel the referendum and the proposed relocation, and give the money that would have been paid in annual rent ($18,000) to help fund a new location for the library. But that would take time, which raises a new question. Does anyone know why this must be decided now? Joe Anglin, MLA Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre Editor’s note: The annual rent for the Provincial Building including janitorial and utilities costs will average $30,000 annually.
INTERESTED IN AN APPRENTICESHIP? Alberta Apprenticeship and Trades Information Session May 16 from 10 am – 12 pm At the Rimbey Employment Centre, 4907 – 49 Street Who should attend? Anyone considering a trade, a career change, employers hiring apprentices, etc.
Please call
403-843-2034 to register