Wednesday, June 26, 2024 Vol. 47, No. 26
Your LOCAL Paper
Viking Council reverses decision not to post meetings online
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BRBL action in Viking
Patricia Harcourt Editor
Viking Council has reversed last month’s decision not to post meetings on its website. The topic was revisited following second thoughts on the part of Deputy Mayor Cindy Lefsrud, who brought it back for further consideration at the June 17 meeting. The decision at the May council to stop posting meetings was a 3-2 vote with Lefsrud’s vote at that time in favour of stopping the practice. This time her swing vote went the other way to continue posting the meetings, but only for a month until the next meeting takes place. Lefsrud explained that she brought it forward after rethinking the earlier decision, while also citing transparency issues. “I think I made a mistake on my vote,” she said, referring to her vote to stop posting last month. “I’ll take the trade if I never have to hear the word transparency again,” said Mayor James Buttner, who felt people should come to council chambers or listen to the live broadcast. “How much more transparent can we be?” he asked. Councillor Dana Ewashko agreed with Buttner, stating: “They have a chance to come and sit here,” during meetings. Both eventually voted against the motion to start posting the meetings again. Lefsrud and Councillor Judy Acres explained that people are not always able to attend meetings at the time they are held, and some have physical impediments to climbing the stairs to the council chambers on the second floor. The lift in place adjacent to the stairs has trapped people inside as witnessed in a complaint to council by the library, also on the second floor. “Why would we not be transparent and put it up for a month,” said Acres, referring to their meetings. Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Doug Lefsrud explained that taking a meeting down after a month and replacing it with the next meeting would help with volume and storage issues on the website.
It was a hot Sunday afternoon at the Viking ball grounds when the Viking Shamrocks (in white uniforms) and Killam Braves (in green) played a Battle River Men’s Baseball League game. This week will be the last held for regular season play in the BRBL. See story and more photos on Page 7.