Village of Andrew CAO Retires After 24 Years of Service

Village of Andrew CAO Retires After 24 Years of Service

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

Pat Skoreyko has been at the helm of the Village of Andrew for 24 and a half years, and on Dec. 23 she was surprised with a farewell party. Members of council, dignitaries and a few special guests attended the milestone celebration.

Acting Chief Administrative Officer Sheila Lupul said they’d gotten to know each other pretty well over the years and joked that Pat would miss them after she was gone.

A certificate of congratulations and best wishes was presented by Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk.

“On behalf of previous council I’d like to thank you for working so well with us, for putting up with us,” stated Gary Leppek.

Roy Anaka, Lamont County Councillor who represents Division 4, offered congratulations and thanked Pat for her service in her role in planning to supervision to public works, taxation and everything else and everything else

MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, left, presents certificate to Pat Skoreyko.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Former Mayor of Andrew and Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs Executive Assistant Tina Warawa offered her personal congratulations and certificate on behalf of Stubbs.

Warawa chuckled and said they had been in some unique scenarios over the years. “We might have been down a manhole when they first decided to reline some sewer lines. I do recall a midnight call that came in when you and I ended up checking the pump in the lift station. Stuff that typical mayors and CAO’s don’t do.”

Warawa said they had “some amazing days” and recalled how Pat organized and led events for Ed Stelmach. “Those were crazy days. You were also with me during very difficult times and I appreciate the support you gave me. You were there for me all the time, including being my date at a fire chiefs convention.

I know how hard the job is that you do. Resources are so hard to come by in smaller communities and even harder because you are asked to work with your larger partners at times. So, to come out ahead in and doing well in grants and financing is really amazing.”

Councillor Merwin Haight said he first met Pat five years ago in the village office when he was scouting out property for some investors. “She was very adamant and very proud of what she’s done with the village and how the village is, and as a result, I ended up personally purchasing property here, meeting my future wife and moving here. She was a frontline person I got to meet here in Andrew and she made a very good impression.”

Councillor Tammy Pickett first met Pat when she moved to the area in 2001. While she didn’t live in the community, Pickett said she met Pat while doing volunteer work and through her business as the owner of the Andrew Hotel.

Admittedly, Pickett said they had their ups and downs, but coming on council, has a lot of respect for Pat and the information, knowledge, experience she brought to her position. Pickett said she was looking forward to working with Pat and was disappointed that would not be happening as a result of her retirement.

Councillor Benny Dubitz said he met Pat through work as he was the maintenance manager at the seniors lodge. “I started in the lodge in 2000 and she started two years before me. In fact, part of her course was to do income tax that year.” That was a course he taught. “It’s kind of comical in a way.”

Dubitz said Pat has been a wealth of knowledge since he became a councillor a couple of months ago. “Her advice today, always leave something in the cookie jar.”

Mayor Barry Goertz said he first met Pat when he moved to Andrew 15 years ago. He worked with Pat for 12 years as Fire Chief with the Andrew Fire Department. He applauded her for “putting up with council, putting up with residents, putting up with all the highs and lows, going from being poor and on the verge of dissolving to a healthy bank account. We are inherently debt free.”

Goertz also commended her for creating a good rapport with the councils of the day. So, with her leaves a lot of years of experience. With the new acting CAO and council, Goertz said he is excited for the future and building on the foundation that had been set by Pat and previous councils.

Pat said she applied for the job of village clerk back in 1997 after the tree nursery was privatized. After Pat was hired, she enrolled in Local Government Administrators certification courses right away.

“One day the former administrator was here and next day he was gone after a meeting. So, I kind of gotten thrown into this.”

She went on to say, the village was in a dire financial crisis. “So, with the first council we met four or five times a week, even Good Friday. They prepaid their taxes to meet payroll until we could borrow funds.” She wanted to give a shout out to that council which consisted of: Dave Frunchak, Dennis Ostafichuk, Eldon Feniak, Keith Olsen, and Dave Diduck.

“In those days there really weren’t any grants. $1,600.60 unconditional grant and up to a $10,000 Municipal Sponsorship Grant. I was the only one left, so we had to hire staff. It was a valuable education because that’s how I learned about the infrastructure…In those days we had a gas system, and I learned about the water pressure mains and sewer pumps, and all of the essentials you need to know for your infrastructure operations.

Our sewer pipes were relined. That was an 11-year project when the MSI capital grants came in. We also got the Gas Tax Refund, but what the Village of Andrew did, that’s when I’m grateful councils listened to me because we put all our grants into the sewer pipes so we didn’t build the buildings or buy trucks, because I always told council the pretty things that people see are nice to have, like roads and sidewalks, but your underground is essential.”

As far as highlights in her career, Pat said, “Centennial Park, that project is very near and dear to me. Physically, I did a lot of the labour and the planning, and the grant applications and the memorial rose garden, the gazebo, landscape funding and we utilized the recycle tire grant for the roof and the pathways.”

She said having lunch in Premier Ed Stelmach’s office at the Alberta Legislature was another highlight for her.

I can’t believe it’s been 24 and a half years. It was supposed to be a temporary jumping stone, but it was in crisis, so how can you leave.” As for the reason she stayed on with the village for so many years? She explained, “These are my roots. This is where my family settled. My dad was a foreman and worked for Lamont County for 43 years. My grandfather and my dad helped build some of the roads.

I’ve missed a lot of birthdays and anniversaries because there’s been meetings or conventions and things going on, and now is the time where I put my family first. My granddaughter Chloe is the joy of my life and I’m actually going to be babysitting her.”

She wanted to formally recognize her husband Michael, son Quintin, and daughter Jolene. “They’ve totally supported me and been there through good, bad and ugly.

The village is in really good shape. Debt free. Funding in the bank. Most of the major projects are done. So, now is a good time to retire. I will miss the people and the staff.”