Tuesday 12 July 2011
Monday 11 July 2011
Joint Municipalities Meeting - June 27, 2011
Two weeks ago, I attended a joint municipalities meeting where representatives from Waskatenau, Warspite, Smoky Lake, Bellis, Vilna and Spedden meet to discuss matters affecting their communities. These representatives included mayors, councilors, the reeve of Smoky Lake County, Ray Danyluk - MLA for Lac La Biche-St. Paul, the sergeant in charge of Smoky Lake RCMP, and a small handful of spokespersons from NGOs such as the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance, promoting awareness of how the North Sask. River south of Smoky Lake county is affected by withdrawals and upstream usage.
In addition to these people of interest, there were also representatives from the local School Board present, who spoke about the potential closure of multiple schools in the county due to decreased student numbers and increased overhead costs in offering rural education. Indeed a pressing issue that has manifest itself in this county.
It was very interesting to see that no members of the general public were present, and even more interesting to observe how county and town officials interacted with each other. In this meeting, I observed some clash of opinions over the matter of a seniors dwelling. The Town of Smoky Lake had one proposal on the table, while the County of Smoky Lake had another. Haughty remarks were exchanged between the county reeve and town manager regarding who's plan was better, more efficient, etc. These exchanges ran on for a period of one hour, about a building plan for 2014.
Politics can be tiring I suppose.
After everyone at the meeting had an opportunity to bring some information to the table, including crime reports, fire preparedness, and the ongoing status of grant applications, the meeting was finally adjourned at 10:45 PM after starting at 6:00 PM.
I did learn a great deal, though. Despite the period where two conflicting officials would not yield on their ideas for the region, the collection of important public figures to share knowledge on crime, resources, policy, education and healthcare, are beneficial. By bringing together these individuals, each one is allowed to share knowledge on their subject and add it to the pool of knowledge accumulated by the end of the meeting. After which, participants of the meeting were allowed to ask plenty of questions to each other. Of course, this meeting was for informational purposes only; however, the intent is to clarify issues facing the county and the population centers within it, thereby allowing officials to take the appropriate actions and notify the public.
In addition to these people of interest, there were also representatives from the local School Board present, who spoke about the potential closure of multiple schools in the county due to decreased student numbers and increased overhead costs in offering rural education. Indeed a pressing issue that has manifest itself in this county.
It was very interesting to see that no members of the general public were present, and even more interesting to observe how county and town officials interacted with each other. In this meeting, I observed some clash of opinions over the matter of a seniors dwelling. The Town of Smoky Lake had one proposal on the table, while the County of Smoky Lake had another. Haughty remarks were exchanged between the county reeve and town manager regarding who's plan was better, more efficient, etc. These exchanges ran on for a period of one hour, about a building plan for 2014.
Politics can be tiring I suppose.
After everyone at the meeting had an opportunity to bring some information to the table, including crime reports, fire preparedness, and the ongoing status of grant applications, the meeting was finally adjourned at 10:45 PM after starting at 6:00 PM.
I did learn a great deal, though. Despite the period where two conflicting officials would not yield on their ideas for the region, the collection of important public figures to share knowledge on crime, resources, policy, education and healthcare, are beneficial. By bringing together these individuals, each one is allowed to share knowledge on their subject and add it to the pool of knowledge accumulated by the end of the meeting. After which, participants of the meeting were allowed to ask plenty of questions to each other. Of course, this meeting was for informational purposes only; however, the intent is to clarify issues facing the county and the population centers within it, thereby allowing officials to take the appropriate actions and notify the public.
Wednesday 6 July 2011
Smoky Lake Revisited
A very interesting part about my position working in Smoky Lake is that I've actually lived here many years ago.
I lived here in Smoky Lake between 1990 and 2001. Ten years later, here I am again; but I'm no longer just a little elementary school kid. I've returned now to work with the County of Smoky Lake, and in a very interesting position mind you. Being able to read historical county documents and bylaws has pretty much allowed me to catch up on the goings-on of Smoky Lake in my absense.
But there's more to just my job that makes this place an interesting place to live. I've returned to Smoky Lake and have already bumped into my friends from elementary school, some whom have begun working for the county as well, others have begun farming in the area, and many more have left this small community to work in larger population centers such as Edmonton.
Lots of the people I've met so far working for the county have known my father in the past, making networking a bit easier working here as "Steve's kid." So, so far I've been doing well re-meeting people and making new friends. The hardest part is finding people my age, as the 2007 graduating class of Smoky Lake only had about 20 people, and most of them have since left.
All that aside, re-integration is going well. It definitely helps that I can just ask my parents, who just recently moved back here, about different people and who to see in what circumstances.
So, in a nutshell, and as far as networking goes, community re-integration for the win!
I lived here in Smoky Lake between 1990 and 2001. Ten years later, here I am again; but I'm no longer just a little elementary school kid. I've returned now to work with the County of Smoky Lake, and in a very interesting position mind you. Being able to read historical county documents and bylaws has pretty much allowed me to catch up on the goings-on of Smoky Lake in my absense.
But there's more to just my job that makes this place an interesting place to live. I've returned to Smoky Lake and have already bumped into my friends from elementary school, some whom have begun working for the county as well, others have begun farming in the area, and many more have left this small community to work in larger population centers such as Edmonton.
Lots of the people I've met so far working for the county have known my father in the past, making networking a bit easier working here as "Steve's kid." So, so far I've been doing well re-meeting people and making new friends. The hardest part is finding people my age, as the 2007 graduating class of Smoky Lake only had about 20 people, and most of them have since left.
All that aside, re-integration is going well. It definitely helps that I can just ask my parents, who just recently moved back here, about different people and who to see in what circumstances.
So, in a nutshell, and as far as networking goes, community re-integration for the win!
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