WESTLOCK – At four Westlock County open houses held in mid-June, residents asked questions ranging from why their landfill permits aren’t covered by the taxes they pay, to concerns with vehicles speeding through hamlets and the roadside spraying program and even thanked councillors for lowering the mill rate.
Those are just a few of the highlights contained in an eight-page report presented by CAO Tony Kulbisky at the June 27 regular meeting on the open houses held at the Busby Community Hall, June 12, Tawatinaw Ski Hall Chalet, June 14, Vimy Community Hall, June 15, and the Jarvie Community Hall, June 20. All the two-hour events opened with short remarks from Kulbisky and reeve Christine Wiese, while reps from the county’s departments, along with Westlock and District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), the Westlock Library and Citizens on Patrol, were in attendance to field questions.
“I thought overall they were very-well received and positive. It was great to meet and see the different citizens from across the county,” said Kulbisky, who’s nearing his one-year anniversary heading the municipality. “What I heard from communities and citizens is that this was great, and we should do more of these because it’s a way of engaging and connecting.”
Kulbisky said he tasked the administrative leads who had participated to “take notes and record the general feeling” of the discussion to make sure the “conversations weren’t lost.” He added that residents really liked “being able to see the face behind the phone” and meet staffers and have “conversations one-on-one.” Administration had pitched the idea of the open houses — the first for the municipality in years — back at the end of March to “hear any concerns or ideas” ratepayers have.
“It is an opportunity for us when we finalize our corporate business plan that we can present what we heard from the citizens and … if there are actionable items, we can bring them forward to council,” said Kulbisky. “If there are things that are short-term, then we can get on them right away and if they’re more longer-term for future budget discussions, at least council can have those discussions later in the fall.”
Deputy reeve Ray Marquette said he had received kudos from multiple residents on the events, but that they would have liked “a little more time to get around and talk to everyone.” Councillors also lauded administration for their work organizing the events, with Coun. Isaac Skuban saying the turnout, which ranged from 30 to 50 residents per open house, was “massive.”
“They said it was a great idea that we did it. They didn’t think it needed to be done every year, but thoroughly enjoyed it. So, hats off to you guys (administration),” said Marquette.
“It was amazing, I was pretty proud of our administration for doing it. What I heard from residents is that they learned a bit more about what council’s role is and got to see all the departments … although they can talk to their councillors, (administration) is the source of how they’ll solve their problems,” added Skuban.
Coun. Sherri Provencal attended all of the open houses and said residents see that this current council, elected in the fall of 2021, “are making changes.”
“I think that they’re feeling heard for the first time in a long time … that’s what I heard from a lot of residents. They got to see that we’re just people trying to do a job and hopefully that we’re doing it good,” said Provencal.
“Just a huge thanks to staff. Everything was really well done,” added Coun. Jared Stitsen.
Reeve Christine Wiese too expressed her enthusiasm “and even got a few phone calls at home” thanking her but wanted to make sure the comments made by residents “doesn’t get lost.” She said she wouldn’t mind seeing the events hosted annually and “maybe link it to our budget discussions” as “it’s their money, so we need to make sure we’re doing a good job.”
“A few people brought up the waste permit fees, so that might need to come back to council to take a look at. The whole point of this was to listen to the residents, not just have them walk around to the booths and give opinions and then have that lost,” said Wiese. “Residents being able to talk to us one-on-one was really appreciated, as well as being able to meet the staff and understand that there’s a person behind those roles.”
