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Vol. 13, No. 50, Wednesday October 10, 2018
Bruderheim council debates value of AIHA to community John Mather Staff Reporter
Bruderheim’s decision to sponsor the Alberta Industrial Heartland 2019 Annual Stakeholder event for non-profit sponsorships to the tune of $3,000 prompted a lot of discussion over the value the AIHA provides to the community. Councillor Len Falardeau was the motion’s harshest critic. “The Heartland has never done us any favours in 20 years,” he fumed. “It’s cost us millions of dollars in lost revenue to our community and at the same time they just snickered at us when it was suggested they should trying helping us a bit. “If there’s any one councilor who can tell me something they’ve brought to Bruderheim in the past 20 years, I’ll be darned surprised.” Falardeau further to say the Heartland Association wasn’t located in the Bruderheim region and he felt there were more important things to consider such as seniors transportation, the youth centre, the recreation centre where local dollars would be better spent. “They have no ties to our community. I can’t support this.” The $3,000 event, to be held in Edmonton in
January 2019, would see Bruderheim receive some prominent community advertising at the event, along with recognition on the AIHA website. A pair of tickets to the event would be included and the town would get a mention in the AIHA newsletter which has a wide industry circulation. Chief Administrative Officer Patty Podoborozny added in previous years, the town had purchased additional tickets to the event so some members of council along with some administration staff including economic development officer Doug Sullivan could attend. Deputy mayor Pat Lee, who made the supporting motion for the expenditure, argued that being a member of the AIHA, “does carry some weight.” “We are an associate member of the association and I think this sort of sponsorship improves our communications with the organization. It’s a way we get our name out to the industries that make up the organization.” “I look at this as a good dinner and handshake,” said Councillor George Campbell. “I feel we can do better by putting $3,000 in programs that are used to advertise our community and get more information out to the
More snow plagues region
Bruderheim Public Works staff spent part of Thanksgiving Monday clearing snow from the town streets. The Oct. 8 snowfall dumped several centimetres of snow on the area clogging town streets and adding to the woes of area farmers who are desperately trying to get their crops harvested. business world about our efforts to develop our community.” He added when the town had to go looking for money for local improvements it might be better if the $3,000 was available in the bank. “In this day and age we have to go out and meet those people,” said Councillor Judy Schueler. “You never know who you meet at these events sitting at your table.” She went to mention she had attended an event recently and met a councilor from a small Texan town. She mentioned where Bruderheim was and he immediately knew the location because of plants and industry nearby. “It’s about becoming and getting known to
other communities and businesses that might have projects going on which could be in our area.” “It may not seem likes there’s any value to it, but the industrial heartland is all around us,” she stated. “The decision to be a part of it was made years ago and we have to live with it. We have to move on and make the best of it.” She said she felt sponsorship was part of telling the delegates at the dinner what Bruderheim was. “If we let them know who we are, they will remember us somewhere along the line.” Councillor Wayne Olechow agreed stating, “ we keep putting small sums of money in there and one day it will pay off.”
He argued the town was constantly seeking sponsorships for local events and at the arena. “These are the company’s that can provide that sponsorship and we need to meet with them.” Campbell said he felt maybe it was time for council to change direction. We’ve been at this for a long time and I can’t honestly seen any benefit from it as far as development in our community. They simply come by and shake your hand.” “There’s nothing really positive coming out of this and positive growth means doing something in our own community,” he stated. Councillor Patrick Crawford wondered why the town had to provide sponsorship every year.
“People do know where Bruderheim is,” he said. “So if this is a leaner year budget-wise, why not just save the money and return again when there are more funds. I think sometimes we have to step back and not do something just because everyone else is doing it.” Mayor Karl Hauch stated the council had recently attended a meeting where they supported being part of the AIHA and now they were arguing against it. “One of the key things was we saw the benefit of advertising with them because of the coverage we received,” he said. In a narrow four to three vote, the motion for support carried, with Falardeau, Campbell, and Crawford voting no.