Ponoka & District Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year 2008 Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013
Vol. 65, No. 39
403-783-3311
editorial@ponokanews.com
www.ponokanews.com
DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION OF PONOKA
County wants Rimoka to cut Bethany ties By Amelia Naismith The majority of Ponoka County council was hunting for the termination of the Bethany Group’s contract, to severe ties between the group and the Rimoka Housing Foundation. However, that suggestion was not accepted by the Rimoka board and was instead accepted for information at their Sept. 18 meeting. Coun. George Verheire stirred a passionate discussion at council’s Sept. 17 meeting. He moved to send a letter of suggestion to the Rimoka board to end working relations with Bethany Group within 30 days, following the stipulations of the contract. The motion passed in a 3-2 vote with councillors Verheire, Keith Beebe and Gawney Hinkley in favour and councillors Paul McLauchlin and Reeve Gordon Svenningsen opposed. “I think this would be a very good move on their part in order to save the integrity of Rimoka as it is right now. We’re losing that very fast,” Verheire told council. McLauchlin, who is also the board chair of Rimoka, was caught off guard by his colleagues’ decision to the send letter and felt there were other options available to deal with the concerns of council and residents. “At the end of the day there’s a due process for complaints and I think that definitely includes you taking your complaints back to Bethany and finding a resolution,” he said. “It was a pretty positive meeting actually,” McLauchlin said in an interview. “It was a strong message.” To move forward from the letter, he says the board is going to work harder to keep the lines of communication open between town and county councils, the Rimoka board, Bethany Group and the residents. “I think, for the most part, this is really a message for continual improvement,” said McLauchlin. The Rimoka board didn’t meet over the summer and wasn’t able to address some of the previous issues brought up by council and McLauchlin believes the delay may have, in part, triggered their decision. “I think maybe they were frustrated.” Continued on page 15
403.783.4494 www.adamsgm.com
Bright moment: Dust and sunlight helped light this scene at the Provincial Building Sept. 19. A worker was cutting bricks to improve the steps to the entrance. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
n i a r r e T C M G 1 201 WdD sSlLtT aAw (#13339A)
Heated Leather Seating, Power Sunroof, Remote Starter, 59,100 kms
$24,800* *plus fees & taxes
STEVE WOLBECK JOHN COURSER Sales Mgr. Sales
SUSAN BELL Finance Mgr.