RCMP to host open houses in Lamont County Police meeting with citizens before finalizing its priority list

BY JOHN MATHER

The Fort Saskatchewan RCMP will be hosting a series of public open houses throughout Lamont County in the next month, which will be used to help shape the detachment’s priorities during the next year.

Staff Sergeant Terry Hyggen told Lamont Council Feb. 14, there will be an open house at the Lamont Rec. Centre meeting room March 2, at 7 p.m.

There will be a second open house in Chipman at the town hall on March 7 at 7 p.m.; and the third will be held on March 20 at the Bruderheim Community Hall at 7 p.m.

“Each detachment starts planning its priorities and before finalizing that, we like to meet with our residents and find out what their concerns are and what we should focus on in the coming year,” said Hyggen.

“We want to have a town hall meeting here in Lamont that is open to the public. I’ll come out and speak to the public and we’ll try to identify certain priorities people have here in Lamont.”

He said the police recognized communities had unique challenges and the RCMP wanted to hear what they are.

“While we want to try and tackle those challenges, we realize we can’t make everything a priority for our detachment.

He said last year they had five priorities but that number could be reduced.

“We certainly want to hear from the people so we can try to focus our resources,” Hyggen said.

Councillor Al Harvey said it was a good thing the police came out to meet with people but was the Lamont meeting going to be restricted only to Lamont residents?

Hyggen replied anyone could attend the meetings.

“I hope we have residents of the County come to the meeting.We want to provide ample opportunity for people from the area to come out and meet with us.”

Council passed a motion to waive the rental fee for the hall and added they would advertise the meeting.

Hyggen added there would also be a town hall meeting in Fort Saskatchewan on March 8.

“It is just to discuss with people about policing in the area.”