We’ve had some combative local councils over the years, but nothing remotely close to what we’ve seen from a couple of neighbouring municipalities.
Across the county line in Thorhild County, the reeve and two councillors were turfed last week after they refused to follow provincially-mandated directives regarding their conduct and decision-making.
It’s just the latest development in Thorhild County, which has been plagued by issues since the last municipal election. A public petition resulted in a municipal review, revealing even more issues at the council table.
Up north in Athabasca the town is taking it’s mayor and a councillor to court over questions regarding their residency and owing of money to the municipality. This is all amidst accusations that the town’s CAO is intimidating staff members.
These are separate incidences, but they speak to a greater challenge that municipalities face: to find quality representatives.
While municipal politics can sometimes take a back seat, it’s the work done at the local council tables that have the greatest impact on our day-to-day lives.
Mayors, reeves and councillors are keepers of the public purse and the importance of their work is reflected in the multi-million dollar budgets they craft yearly.
So it’s not too much to ask that their behaviour reflect the amount of responsibility they’re entrusted with. Some of the actions we’ve seen in Thorhild and over in Athabasca would be enough to get anyone fired from their job.
Just because it’s small-town politics doesn’t mean that these positions should be approached with a small mind. We should be able to demand the same quality of representation as any other city or town in Alberta.
Could it be that these people are running for office for the wrong reasons? Do they just think that nobody is watching, or is it a reflection of little interest in running for office?
In these times when municipal budgets are shrinking, these positions demand greater creativity and commitment than what we’ve seen in the past.
Local politicians should be in the game to represent the people and do the best for their communities.
That is not too much to demand.
