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Vol. 17, No. 6, Wednesday, January 5, 2022 www.LamontLeader.com
New mayor promoting Andrew’s hidden gems BY JANA SEMENIUK The Village of Andrew’s new Mayor Barry Goertz said the future looks bright for the little community despite significant changes over the last half of the year. Not only was an almost entirely new council elected in Oct., but Goertz also said goodbye to Andrew’s long time Chief Administrative Officer Pat Skoreyko last month when she retired after more than 24 years. Former coun-
Andrew Village Office has a bowling alley.
extinguishers, kitchen cillor Sheila Lupal has suppression systems stepped into the posiand alarms. Together tion. we created a division Although the role of within it to supply mayor is new for turnout gear, hoses, Goertz, it was not the nozzles, everything but first leadership role he a fire truck.” has taken on in the vilGoertz has been with lage of Andrew. In 2004 LFS for the past eight Goertz became Andrew Mayor years. Andrew’s fire chief for Barry Goertz Today, Goertz is jugthe next 12 years which spawned an idea that developed into gling his time between growing his another new career; supplying small business and growing the village with town fire departments with much his fellow council members. He said his energy level is thankfully high and needed equipment. “It was a challenge to meet the needs he is optimistic for the future. “I’m up every day around five or six of small-town departments and I wanted to find a way to fix that,” he said. “A and work until eight or nine for LFS. I friend of mine owns Lakeland Fire and have five people that report to me, and Safety (LFS) and they do mostly fire we take care of Alberta, Saskatchewan,
and half of B.C.,” he said smiling. “This little village is also an amazing place and it’s why I ran for council. It’s that little hidden gem.” Parts of Andrew that Goertz would like people to know about include a bowling alley and fully stocked weight room inside the village office building. “It was new when the building was built in 1992,” he said. “I don’t think anyone knows it’s here.”
Andrew Village Office has a fully stocked weight room.
Andrew CAO, who once saved the village from financial ruin, retires BY JANA SEMENIUK When Pat Skoreyko applied for a clerk job at the Village of Andrew’s town office in 1997, she had no idea she would be retiring nearly a quarter of a century later as the Village’s Chief Administrative Officer. “It’s been an awesome ride,” Skoreyko said smiling. Friends, co-workers, and well-wishers gathered at the village office on Dec. 23 to help Skoreyko celebrate her retirement after 24 years. Guests included Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, Tina Warawa (executive assistant for MP Shannon Stubbs), former Andrew mayor Gary Leppek, as well as members of the newly elected Andrew council and local residents. Andrew’s new CAO, and former council member Sheila Lupal, had high praise for Skoreyko’s work in the village, highlighting Skoreyko’s ability to bring Andrew back from the brink of bankruptcy when she took over as CAO. “If Pat, were not the CAO of the village, back in the day, we would not have remained the village. We were in
dire straits and if it was not for Pat, we of the few villages out there that are would have been a hamlet years ago,” debt free,” he said. Skoreyko said she felt satisfied with she said. “She is the one that convinced council that this (financial situation) is how far Andrew has come in the past a priority, that we have to get this two decades. She described the diffiunder control, and this is how we're cult years, and the positive strides going to do it. If it wasn't for her, it Andrew has made. “The village was in pretty dire finanwouldn’t have happened.” cial straits in Newly elect1997. The first ed mayor, council that I Barry Goertz, worked with, was equally prepaid their grateful for taxes so we Skoreyko’s could meet commitment payroll until and leadership we could borin helping row money. reconstruct We were meetAndrew’s ing four and foundation five times a over the years. week even on “She stuck Good Friday, by this village because we through all the were totally in tough times when there Tina Warawa, the executive assistant to MP crisis mode. was absolutely Shannon Stubbs, presents Pat Skoreyko with a We had to let a no money to certificate commemorating her 24 years as lot of the staff the point now CAO of Andrew during her retirement celebra- go and I was the only one that we are one tion, Dec. 23. Photo: Jana Semeniuk
left standing by the time everything was done,” she said. “It was tough. And now, 24 years later, I feel good about leaving because we have reserves in the bank. We're debt free. Our infrastructure is looking good, we're all up to date on the technology and our sewers are realigned. When you leave on that high note, you're passing the torch and I feel good about that.” Executive Assistant to MP Shannon Stubbs, Tina Warawa, gave an emotional speech reflecting on her time as Andrew’s first female mayor working with Skoreyko (Stubbs was unavailable to attend the event). “Pat you’ve been with me in some unique scenarios. From a midnight call where you and I ended up checking out a pump in the lift station, to seeing a premier get elected from our area, and you’ve also been with me during some difficult times,” she said. “I wanted to say congratulations on your retirement, but I don't think you know how to retire so just congratulations on wherever your next steps are and thank you for the years.” Continued on Page 6