The Town of Athabasca will soon have a ratepayers’ association.
Ernest Aleixandre, Brenda Belokrinicev and Axel Winter have started the process of applying for accreditation, and the first meeting will take place at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex next Tuesday, June 26 at 7 p.m.
A ratepayers’ association is comprised of area residents who want to expand their knowledge of the running of their community and keep informed on issues of importance.
Such associations often act as a self-appointed watchdog of council decisions.
Aleixandre is looking for all the members the association can get.
“We need members to make this work. The best thing we can suggest is to get as many people out as possible and to get involved,” he said.
“If we end up with a membership of several hundred, that would be wonderful.”
He said that as a unified group, their voices would be heard.
“When you have that many members, suddenly your voice has a lot more meaning,” he said.
“I’m hoping the ratepayers’ association can become a central point for communication for ratepayers, as a dissemination point for information, so hopefully we can establish rapport with the town and receive regular information just like the media or anyone else would expect.”
Aleixandre notes that there is strength in numbers.
“Instead of communicating to the town and council as fractured smaller groups, this will give us a unified voice,” he said. “If you have a membership of hundreds of people, those are all voting people as well.”
He went on to note that while some community residents have made their voices heard in online forums like Facebook, it is more effective to come together as a group.
“Athabasca’s a pretty powerful community,” Winter said. “It’s very unique in Alberta and it’s a beautiful spot, however there has been some, for lack of a better word, bizarre decisions and comments from town council over the last two or three years.”
Aleixandre said the town is starting to improve their communication skills, with the town newsletter being distributed in the water bills.
“I know that the town has taken some steps and whatnot, but in the past there has been some communication problems,” he said. “I guess that would go back to the statement that we view communication as a definite issue.”
Aleixandre said some reasons for the creation of the ratepayers’ association was Barb Bell’s struggles with the town in regards to her Hees Estates property, and the rezoning of the Cornwall subdivision.
“The zoning is a prime example,” Winter said.
“At least three councillors approached me afterwards and said they weren’t quite sure what they were voting for, they were just told it was good. Then the proverbial crap hit the fan when the duplex was going up. We had more than 40 people in opposition that had concerns, and they were just brushed aside.”
Belokrinicev also feels that residents aren’t heeded as much as they should be.
“There was an overwhelming amount of people that were unhappy that this rezoning had happened, and unhappy that it wasn’t communicated to them, and wanted it repealed,” she said. “I’ve found that even when there is some kind of communication, my impression is that council doesn’t care.”
Regarding the Municipal Corporate Review that council has asked for, Winter calls it a step in the right direction. He added that even if council ignores the new association, they are not going away.
“At election time I would like to see a report card on every councillor,” he said.
Winter would like to see all councillors voting with the best interest of the town in mind.
“I think there are people on there that are making decisions for their benefit, and not for the benefit of the town,” he said.
“There are other people there that are trying very hard to make the best decisions for the town, and they seem to be one vote.”
