The Athabasca District Chamber of Commerce hosted an all candidates ' forum for the Town of Athabasca byelection at the Nancy Appleby Theatre Thursday evening.
Barbara Bell, Angela Betts, Colleen Powell and Joanne Peckham are all competing for one position on Athabasca town council after councillor Christine Nelson moved away from the community, leaving her position available.
Close to 70 people were in attendance, and all four candidates were given the chance to voice their opinions to those who attended.
Seven years ago the subject of amalgamation between the Town of Athabasca and the Athabasca County was discussed at length, and was finally taken off the table when the county voted against it.
Powell was on council at the time of the discussions.
"We made one major mistake back then, " she said. "We didn 't involve the public in the discussion. "
Powell said she believes amalgamation between the town and county will happen in the future, but does not feel that now is the appropriate time for it.
"You don 't get married by breaking up your property first, " she said, referring to the town and county parting ways on tourism and the airport. "It has to be a level playing field because we have too much to lose. "
Bell described amalgamation as "light years away. " To amalgamate, both parties have to work towards a consistent goal. "Just because you or I think it is a good idea, does not mean it is, " she said.
Peckham explained that when it failed seven years ago, it was because of a lack of knowledge in the town. "We need a bigger sandbox, " she said. "It can be done. "
Betts thinks that collaborating and repairing the "burned bridges " with the county will benefit everyone.
"We know as a community, if you look at your taxes, we are the 35 per cent, and we are expected to carry the load of the surrounding areas who use town facilities, " she explained. "It only seems right that there would be participation from the county. "
Communication is a problem that all levels and forms of government struggle with.
Referring to Athabasca town council and how they can improve communication within the community, Bell thinks that it all starts with a problem.
"The people have to come to the councillor with a problem, " she said. "They have to bring it forward, and it would be my job to bring it to council. "
Betts wants to make sure council is getting all the information they need.
"(Administration) should be held responsible that council is getting all the information, " Betts said. "I believe in open government. "
Powell wants to bring back the Mayor 's Soap Box, which was a radio program, but this time she thinks a Council Soap Box would be more appropriate to let the community know what the town is doing.
"There needs to be better communication, and that is not easy to do, " Powell said. "Maybe if communities formed subgroups and then brought issues to council, it would improve communication. "
Bell would like to see more people attend council meetings, and bring their issues forward
"We have seven council members, and too many issues, " Bell said. "I do not believe that the issues are being brought to town council. If you don 't know about it, you can 't do anything about it. "
Peckham wants to see the councillors shopping locally, and out and about in the community.
"They need to create more of a connection with the people who voted them in, " she said.
Betts said, "The community needs to come to council, not just council coming to the community. "
When a council meeting goes in-camera, it should mean that councillors have to discuss a legal, personnel or land acquisition issue.
"The tri-council meetings are behind closed doors, " Powell said. "I think we just need to keep trying to have them open to the public. "
Powell said she doesn 't want anything discussed that isn 't on the agenda, because she wants to be open with voters.
Bell wants so see everything discussed in open council meetings.
"I 'd like to see all the discussions, and that they be open for the delegation to be heard, " she said. "The whole thing should be open … for us to hear the reasons for and against an issue. "
Peckham said she would like to see more public forums, and she understands that some things have to be discussed behind closed doors.
"There are a lot of issues because of the (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy) Act that have to be done in-camera, " she explained. "There should be a lot more public involvement when there are meetings. "
Betts would like to see more people in the council chambers during regular meetings.
"Council strives to make the right decisions for the community, " Betts said.
When it comes to expanding Athabasca, and encouraging a thriving community, businesses are a must.
Bell would like to see Athabasca become more than a "pee stop " and create a place for surrounding communities to shop in Athabasca.
"I would like to see people remain in our community, " Bell said. "It would be nice if people had everything they wanted and didn 't have to go to Edmonton. "
Powell would like to see the downtown core become a vibrant place that attracts more people.
Peckham wants to see an identified development officer.
"There should be a (council) rep with the Chamber of Commerce, or at one that at least attends their meetings, " Peckham said. "They should be doing a formal study to see what businesses our community needs, and then decide how to go about getting them. "
Betts wants to see that town council has all the information before making decisions.
On the topic of Wal-Mart, each candidate had a different opinion.
"Wal-Mart is the last thing that we need to be afraid of, " Betts said.
Powell pointed out that small business owners do not want a Wal-Mart, and would like advance notice that one is coming.
"I would rather have it in town, if one does come, because we need the taxes, " Powell said.
Peckham just asked if it was realistic to think a Wal-Mart would come to Athabasca.
If a budget doesn 't balance, would you vote for it?
"I 'm not going to make a promise to make a promise, " Betts said. "I think that it would be difficult to imagine putting together the multiplex if we weren 't willing to take the risk to do it. "
Powell said that the town cannot afford to do everything they want. "We have to live within our means. "
Bell said it is like running a home. "You have to budget. "
Peckham said, "The only promise that I am going to make is that I am going to be a voice. The citizens will be the drive behind the decisions. "
The talk of moving the library to the Multiplex, or tearing it down and building a new one in the same location, are among the opinions of residents and users of the library.
"The library building is owned by the Multiplex, " Powell noted, " (but) I would like to see it stay where it is. "
Bell wants to see the library stay in a central location as well, where it is accessible to seniors and youth who do not have vehicle, or cannot drive to the Multiplex.
"Many seniors have expressed concern about not driving and cannot get to the Multiplex, " she said. "If we move it to the Multiplex, they feel that they are being punished. "
Betts would like to see the councils consider what the users want. "It is important that the users of the library are heard, " she said.
Peckham said she would like to see the library at the Multiplex.
In 10 years, each candidate has a different view of what Athabasca should look like.
Powell said that 10 years is a long way off, and that with long-term planning goals can be brought to life.
Peckham expects to have grandkids by then, and is hoping that recreation will be a priority.
Betts wants to see affordable residential housing, as not everyone can afford to live in Athabasca.
Bell said she envisioned Athabasca looking like Slave Lake, with a variety of businesses to both attract outlying residents and reduce the need to travel to Edmonton for certain goods and services.
The old lot where the curling and ice rink used to stand is now vacant. Peckham would like to see the space kept green, and open for Pleasant Valley Lodge.
Bell agrees with her, as she sees all the kids in the neighboring communities use it in the summer for sports.
Powell wants to talk to that community and find out what they want.
Betts would like to see more housing in that space.
"That space does nothing to move our town forward, " Betts said. "There need to be more houses available. "
Someone asked the question Bell said she was waiting for: Is her running for council a conflict of interest, considering she is currently suing the municipality?
She says no. "The case is before the courts, and they are not dealing with it in council. "
Betts stated that she believed Bell was a conflict of interest.
"If there is a $100-million court decision, where will that put the town? " Betts asked. "It would be difficult for me to sit on a council waiting for that decision. "
Bell rebutted with the fact that she brings the knowledge to council, so that this will not happen to someone else, and that no one should back down from this kind of suit.
"Unfortunately, this is the only avenue, " she explained.
