Forum held for R.M. of Oakview candidates
- Details
- Published on Thursday, October 16, 2014
By Sheila Runions
Banner Staff
Held on Thanksgiving Monday, approximately 80 Rapid City and RM of Saskatchewan residents spent part of their holiday at Rapid City Legion Hall to hear speeches and answers to their questions, from RM of Oakview candidates. Oakview will be an amalgamation of Rapid City, Saskatchewan and RM of Blanshard, effective Jan. 1.
Oakview will contain three wards with two representatives from each area. Ward 1 is the current town, Ward 2 the current Saskatchewan and Ward 3 the current Blanshard. The meeting was for Wards 1 and 2 only and six of the seven candidates were present; incumbent Lloyd Evans (Ward 1) was working and unable to attend. Saskatchewan councillor Terry Drebit and Blanshard reeve Brent Fortune are each running for Oakview reeve. They presented their platform first, followed by councillor candidates.
Drebit thinks “The most important question to ask is who’s the boss. It’s not the reeve, council or CAO, it’s you. We can accomplish a lot if we work together. We must look to where we’re going, not where we’ve been; we must embrace the future. We must hit the ground running and run in the same direction. I believe Rapid City, Saskatchewan and Blanshard will be better and stronger together. I will push for laptops for all councillors; we must work harder, smarter and embrace technology. It’s important to talk to people and the Number 1 thing people are talking about here is roads, getting the beach back and the rink. If we focus on these, we’ll do very well.”
Fortune said the “new formation will be a lot of change. It’s new to us, to you, to council and staff. But going forward, we can make is something to be proud of. It needs due process; we need to assess and prioritize. The towns (Cardale, Rapid City, Basswood and Oak River) are mainstays and they are a very important part of the municipality. I know roads are important and part of our infrastructure we need to improve.”
Ward 1 newcomer Ken Hyndman was part of Rapid City town council 20 years ago (1983-92). “I have been and will continue to be a strong supporter of all things Rapid City; I’ve been a resident for 40 years. Amalgamation will be a huge and sometimes difficult job to merge these three municipal bodies, each with over 125 years of its own history and way of doing business. I will be entrusted with not only representing Rapid City and it’s interests, but also the interests of Wards 2 and 3. I will work hard to make sure ALL in Oakview can feel they are full and equal partners. It will be a huge job but I have the time to commit and the desire to work to make good things happen.”
Neil Wilson has lived in Rapid City for “25 years and generations beyond that. I’ve been on council for one-plus terms; I ran in the byelection and then one full term. Rapid City has seen a lot of change and progression in the past few years. It is imperative to see a council, and now LUD, that is familiar with all the changes ahead. I will continue to promote Rapid City as a great place to live, to promote it to young families which will help keep our school and library each open and growing. We need good representation for all the challenges ahead. We may need to agree to disagree but first we have to get strong representation in Rapid City and the other RMs in this amalgamation.”
All four of Ward 2 candidates were present to contest the two available seats; all but Gavin Reynolds are incumbents currently serving RM of Saskatchewan. Henry “Butch” Hales has “lived in this area most of my life and farmed in Riverdale for the last 20 years. I joined RM of Saskatchewan one year ago when Councillor Brown stepped down; it's been an interesting year with all that has been happening, including amalgamation. At the start I don't think too many were too keen on the idea, but here we are and I think the sooner we all start working together the smoother it will go. We need to make intelligent decisions to form Oakview into a place were people want to move to, live in and grow. With my common sense approach and my experience in the last year, I can help make that happen. I have been questioned by another councillor about the amount of calls I receive from ratepayers. I am easy to talk to and I try to address their concerns; I don't want those calls to stop. We live in a beautiful part of the country; go for a drive in the new RM of Oakview and look at all we have to be thankful for. Let’s see if we can make it even better.
Reynolds made the crowd laugh when he said he was “new to running for council as I’ve never done anything in this path. I realize the commitment to this but I don’t plan to start anything I can’t complete. I don’t like campaigning, meetings or politics, and I have no time to campaign but having said all that, I’m still here and willing to work. I have no plans to carve a path with guns blazing, I will need to learn the ropes. I can bring a lot of experience of dealing with government and bureaucracy; I will be an asset of pushing the government to make this a better RM. I can help manage the RM in a conservative and economic manner; I don’t do anything in my business unless I can pay for it and the same should be done in Oakview. I would like a more transparent and approachable council. We need to address the state of our infrastructure and Rapid City beach.”
Ted Rudneski has been on council for “34 years and there’s been one heck of a change. The government downloads lots to municipalities we’ve not had before. Work at that time as councillors [meant] we put in culverts and dug out beavers, but now that’ll all be changed. We’ll have a foreman to do the work, or order someone to do it. With amalgamation, yes, we’re going to have to work together and use our community sense and do things right and not argue. Over the years, through my taxpayers, I’ve felt I’ve always been honest and if they want something done, I’ve got it fixed. I’ve never walked away and I’ll still be the same.”
Kaye Wolstenholme admitted “somehow the new council must blend three different councils into one working entity. The new council will have a daunting task ahead with different tax rates and employee relations, to mention a couple that must be addressed. I am just finishing my second term as councillor, with part of that time as deputy reeve. The amalgamation process will be challenging and I think my experience with the RM and other organizations would be an asset in merging the three in the smoothest, least disruptive way. I will strive to represent the citizens of Oakview in a open, fair way.”
With speeches over, it was time for questions and a lot there were. One wondered whether Rapid City residents contact their LUD representative, the reeve or any councillor (contact anyone). Fortune spoke of the working relationship with Blanshard and LUD of Oak River. (LUD of Rapid City is a new entity so locals are unsure of its working.) He said, “LUDs take care of little concerns and they have their own little budget for things they see fit, if there’s some potholes to be looked at for example. As a council, sometimes we pass things back to them to fix if rural people are not in town, we get feedback from those [LUD members] who are in town. Having an LUD brings more people into the process of municipal politics. LUDs are very worthwhile and I’m glad Rapid City people filled these seats or the LUD would be lost.”
Drebit took issue with Fortune’s financial comment and said, “LUDs must lobby to council; they have a big role to play and not a little budget; we can’t cut back just because of amalgamation.”
Another question was “what percentage would be an appropriate wage increase for all employees?” Reynolds responded there would be “no free ride. Everything should be based on performance and if we expect the best from our people, we need to pay the best.” Fortune implied a minimal cost of living increase should be used “because it’s hard to keep employees when the next RM down the road gives that increase and we don’t.”
Reeves and Ward 1 were asked what their prime interests in Rapid City were. Drebit reiterated his opening speech of roads, beach and rink in that order. Fortune said, “Our streets need attention but we have to find money to do it. The beach has to be done; when the local government looked after it it was good but once the government stepped in, it has gone the other way. Recreation is important for the RM and a rink is important for any community as it brings in new people for tournament and then maybe they stop for groceries.” Wilson again reiterated part of his speech when he mentioned the need to “grow the school, protect the library,” taking care of the beach and promoting the water pipeline to bring in more homes/assessment dollars. He also mentioned the museum board and keeping control of it “because with amalgamation that control may not be in the future.” Although Hyndman lives in town he said he was “not up on topics that are local. I’m happy with the effort council put forward here with water. Maybe we need more town-owned property with options to subdivide and then there’ll be assessment for all of Oakview, not just Rapid City. I’ll always look for new assessment to increase the tax base rather than increasing taxes. Personally, I agree with natural gas in Rapid City. TransCanada is the largest ratepayer in Oakview and it would almost be a disservice to not use their product. I think it would be a good gesture to review that study of a natural gas pipeline which we worked on more than 10 years ago.”
Drebit was then asked by an Oak River resident who was at the meeting what his priorities were for that town. He admitted he did not “have all the answers; I’m not familiar enough because I don’t live there. I know you have a good meat market, a pub and a rink; I think the rink will have to be the higher priority.”
Ward 2 candidates were asked to show their hands if they were in favour of cutting road allowances from fence line to fence line. While all agreed it was a great suggestion, most said it was “impossible” and “impractical” because of wet areas or shrubs that have now grown into trees because the spray program has been curtailed by the provincial regulations.
Senior election official Diane Kuculym answered the question regarding ownership and voting rules. She explained that if you live in Oakview you must vote in the ward where you reside. “If you live in Rivers and have land in Wards 1 and 2, you have to call us and tell us which ward you want to vote in.”
Reynolds was asked to explain how he planned to improve council transparency. “It should be an open concept. I’ve been here for 20 years but I’m still no wiser as to how our money is distributed. It should be well-explained and they should fully report what they’re doing. They should engage the public more as it’s our money they get to spend on things.” A current Blanshard councillor interjected and said, “The responsibility has to be both ways. Come to our public meetings, we always have them on big issues. Or call the office and talk to our CAOs or your councillor.” Drebit suggested meetings should be on the Internet.
While all eight candidates were asked for their view on Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District, only two replied. Fortune believes it is “very important for the area. They started the ALUS program which brought in over $400,000 in three years, but the program was not renewed. They have good programs and government funding can come through the district to you that you won’t be able to get on your own. I just hope the government keeps up their end of funding.” Hales thought the district has done “tremendous stuff in the RM, like well capping. I very much like the conservation district; there’s funding they can access for grants for local landowners.”
When reeves were asked how many RM offices would be run, Drebit said ratepayers needed to “respect the work the transition team has done so far. The initial plan is an office in Oak River and Rapid City but the new council will have to look at that after the election. I don’t anticipate any changes in the first year.” Fortune “supports two offices. We need access to people, and to maintain those offices rather than centralize them. It will make a division and pull jobs out of our local towns.”
Ward 1 candidates and acclaimed LUD member Jay Woloski were asked for their thoughts on hiring a bylaw officer. Hyndman said, “In 1983 you were the dog catcher and I know it’s been a contentious issue which rears its head and it’s simply that dog owners don’t respect their neighbours. I’m eager to see what happens here and I know RMs are not exempt to animal issues. Cleanliness of yards is another problem; no council has ever found a real good way of solving it if people don’t want to comply.” Woloski currently sits on Town of Rapid City council and admitted to “several problems with dogs (and cats) and derelict vehicles where a bylaw officer would be very helpful. We looked into two different situations, Minnedosa and Brandon, for a dog catcher. They set $200 per month, problem or not; we wondered if we could justify that expense. We know there are problems but in our dealings with amalgamation we talked a lot about a bylaw officer, pest control, etc. and a bylaw officer for all of Oakview, then the $24,000 can be justified more.” Fortune admitted “Dogs are a problem in Oak River and we have a local man there but we have a development officer from outside the community who makes a report. To have a local person enforce the cleanliness causes a lot of grief; it works very well to have an outside man for cleanliness. It’s a long process and a delicate situation that must be done but you don’t want a local man to be the heavy-handed guy.”
Priorities for local youth were questioned; Drebit thinks the beach is “Number 1. Not a lot of things have an equal income level so I would say the playground and beach are my priority.” Fortune agreed “recreation is an important thing in small communities. The new council will maybe need to come up with money for the rink boards. In Blanshard we give $5,000 a year to our rink and ball and we pay part of their insurance. Volunteers can work all winter and build a fund and then have it all gone with hydro and insurance so we need to fund them.” As chairman of Rapid City Rink, Reynolds puffed his feathers and promoted his cause when he said his goal is “to see young families move here and make it worthwhile for them to move here. We have 50 kids playing hockey, that’s a phenomenal number for a small town. I’d like to see the rink used in summer time. It’s an uphill plan and a tough run to get people involved but I will support anything for your people so I’m also keen on the beach and school.”
The reeves were asked what their top priorities were for Oakview. Drebit said, “To take the three RMs into one, we need to learn all over again how to get along. We need to listen to our ratepayers and the sooner we decide we’re one, the better it will be.” “That’s right,” Fortune agreed. “We have to look forward and assess what we have and maintain our services. We don’t want to disrupt what you have and deserve; we must maintain what you expect of us.”
They were also asked how they plan to deal with tax discrepancies and mill rate increases or decreases. In short, Fortune did not know. “Until the government changes its assessment, it will be a work in progress. Land is $1,200 from Hwy. 10 to Moline but as soon as you cross that line to Blanshard, it’s now worth $900. The provincial government needs to unify land values first and that’s the $20 question we as a new council have to work with; maybe we’ll need special levies until they fix it.” Drebit again referenced the “transition team” that must “solve it between Oct. 23 and Jan. 1 when we start the budget. As of right now, I don’t think we have a plan but we will have one.”
They provided their stance on Rapid City’s library remaining independent. Drebit replied, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I don’t think we should change.” Fortune said the only reason Blanshard belongs to Parkland Regional Library is because Oak River does not have that service “so that’s how we get access. It’s a decision the new council will have to make but Rapid City should stay. I know it’s a very important part of the community.”
Their final question (and that of the 90-minute evening) was financial support for large projects outside of Oakview. Fortune reminded the crowd “a portion of this RM” utilizes services at Minnedosa and Rivers (rinks, hospitals and more) “so they deserve some money.” Drebit agreed the ratepayers “must recognize not everything makes money, but if we are to be a successful community, we have to help fund them [outside projects] but we need to support locally more.”
