Tofield By-Election Forum – three candidates hear questions prior to Sept. 2 by-election date
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By Patricia Harcourt
Editor
The Tofield By-Election Forum on Monday, Aug. 25 was an opportunity for three candidates vying for town council to air their viewpoints and answer questions from the audience at the Tofield Golden Club.
Candidates Bernie Perrot, Leslie Gillrie Solomon and Larry Tiedemann gave opening addresses for five minutes each, in alphabetical order.
Perrot explained that she has lived in Tofield for 14 years, with family in town, and a grandchild in the local school. Her job-related has been as a teacher, Canada Post employee, realtor and currently as a library assistant, with a “willingness to learn and work hard” for constituents. She has courses in supervision, management, problem solving, public relations and real estate.
“I’m also a team player,” she said. “I work very well as a member of a team,” as well as being creative in solving problems and finding efficient answers. “I’m hoping to bring some of my creative problem solving skills to town council and I will work very hard for you.”
Lesli Gillrie Solomon came to Tofield at the age of 13 where she attended Tofield School. Moving to Edmonton to complete her education and start a family, she has since returned to raise that family with husband, Craig. “I love that I have neighbours I can chat with over the fence,” she said. Solomon said she also loves working with children, formerly as a pre-school teacher and currently as a Girl Guide leader.
Solomon is a member of the Alberta School Council Association (ASCA), sitting on a committee creating new connections between parents and politicians, and on the policy committee.
“We have generations of families who built this town and others newer to the community,” she said, encouraging all the generations to “bring it back home.
“I believe in working together, in being involved,” she said. Plus, “council needs to find ways to respond” to people’s concerns.
Larry Tiedemann also grew up in the Tofield area and graduated at the local high school. “I have lots of family and friends here,” he said. After attending university in Edmonton, he returned to Tofield to raise his family.
Tiedemann is the only candidate with direct political experience, having served on Tofield Town Council for 11 and a half years. He spoke of his eight years as chair of the Northern Lights Library System (NLLS) where he was “an active and successful advocate for libraries,” and oversaw a $2 million NLLS expansion. He was also chair of the Beaver Foundation for four years when the $7 million Sunshine Villa was built in Tofield.
Tiedemann said more services are needed, acknowledging that people would like a new community hall, library and seniors centre. But these facilities need to be done “within our means,” he said. “We need to know how we are going to pay for it before we proceed.” However, he emphasized that cooperation was the way to make it happen. Although the county and urban municipalities have a good recreation agreement in place, Tiedemann said a capital sharing agreement was also necessary to build mutually used facilities.
“My goal is always to be true to my principles,” he said, promising to be a good listener and an effective mediator.
The majority of the meeting was taken up with questions and answers, with all candidates participating in each question.
When asked what the town needs for amenities, Perrot responded: “The town does need some things.” Working at the town library, she noted that more space was needed for programming and to increase the library’s collection. And the community centre needed to be replaced or upgraded. The noted the town has already upgraded the arena, curling rink and walking paths, but added that more recreation for the public and youth is always desired.
Tiedemann said: “I think we need a new community hall and expanded library and seniors centre,” which can be put into one complex. “But I’m not in favour of a large tax increase,” he said. “Beaver County can contribute as people use these amenities…We need a capital agreement.” He added that, in the long-term, Tofield will require replacement of sewage lines and increased policing services.
Solomon emphasized the need for “a little more public consultation on what the people want,” with a need to get people involved in the process. “If the amenities are there, it attracts people and increases economic development,” she said. “I see it as a benefit and not just a cost.”
Candidates were told that the streets were difficult to navigate for people using walkers, canes, scooters and strollers. A woman asked the candidates to walk around the streets as she does, “and see what they have to put up with.”
Solomon encouraged people with such issues to contact the town office, calling it a service to the community. “If something needs to be done, we are the town, we are the people. Yes, we should all walk around and look.”
Perrot noted that, “every time we have rain, the water runs down the street.” She called walking around the streets “an eye opener,” but the answers will require “a lot of thinking and research.”
Tiedemann said he walks to the local parks with his grandkids. He said potholes and snow removal issues were “a moving target,” with the question being how much money “do you throw at it.” He also noted that this all requires “a lot of planning” as repairing water and sewer lines involves digging up the streets, which is necessary to do before repairing the surface of streets.
Candidates were also asked about the moving of Highway 834, which now runs past C.W. Sears Elementary School in the town’s west end. The province has proposed moving it further west outside town limits to make it a ring road but no action has been taken on that portion of the route.
Perrot said she “knows there are a lot of issues I will have to work very hard to learn,” and this was one of them.
Tiedemann called it “a good idea to move 834 away from the school,” but said it was Alberta Transportation’s issue. But he also felt that Highway 14 needed to be converted into four lanes, which “might be more of a priority” for him as he felt the amount of traffic warranted it.
Solomon said that the school and parents have worked with Alberta Transportation to keep that area of the highway going past the school safe. “If that (re-routing) is something the people are asking for then that is something the council should listen to,” she said.
When asked how to increase business in Tofield, Perrot stressed improvements to the town as a way of encouraging people to start businesses. “When driving into Tofield, if they see a prospering community, it helps in deciding,” she said. “Also, we’re growing new subdivisions.”
Solomon said Tofield must be valued for itself and not just seen as a “bedroom community” of the nearby cities. “We need to take advantage of the great work our Chamber (of Commerce) is doing,” she said, in greeting newcomers and encouraging economic development. Stating she might be “going out on a limb,” Solomon suggested hiring someone to do the economic development for the town.
“We need to make it a priority and we need it now,” she said.
Tiedemann said he “had no magic answers,” although people could shop locally to help the economy and encourage businesses to come in. “But businesses have to be more competitive as well,” he said. The town could also participate in trade shows to promote Tofield as a regional centre, working with the local Chamber.
How to get people to move to Tofield and become involved in the community was another concern expressed by a resident, who said many newcomers appear to be using the local media sites but not mixing in person.
“Those are exactly the people I want to make a priority,” said Solomon, to foster community engagement and be “off the computers.” She cited the upcoming town community barbecue as ways of helping people meet others and find the services they need. “We need to reach out and greet others,” she said, and encouraged others to ask themselves: “What can I do?”
Tiedemann said he has also been on the local social media site. “We need to encourage people to attend events,” he said. Candidates cited last year’s first annual Winterfest, the July 1st celebrations and Tofield Lions Club’s Car Show ‘n’ Shine, and the upcoming “Don’t Hibernate Fair,” as the kind of events that bring people together.
Perrot said she is aware of this issue, too, as she meets a lot of new people at the library: “I definitely would like to look into doing more there,” she said, in terms of event planning to get people mixing in person.
In terms of what will require attention in the future, Perrot said the local Post Office was too small with too few boxes to handle all the residents’ needs.
Solomon said there is an “apathy and disconnection from local government,” and people need to make their voice heard. The town is “more of a service provider than an actual government,” she said. “It’s not a hierarchy, we belong together.
“We need to look at our services” she said, to see what will need upgrades. The town’s sewage lagoon, for instance, will be reaching capacity sometime in the future. People need to ask, “What do you want,” she said. “I’s your town.”
Tiedemann acknowledged the lagoon will require fixing at some point. The town’s drainage systems are also an issue. The new subdivisions will require newer and better drainage systems, meaning these subdivisions can’t be developed without the needed funds to do that, he said. “We will eventually have to do the entire town, which will be costly.”
He also cited the twinning of Highway 14 as a high load corridor, and the issue of doctor recruitment as ongoing. “We need to keep fighting for the need to ensure all the doctors are cooperating with each other,” he said.
Candidates answered a question on “how long is too long” when it comes to serving on town council.
“It’s the contribution that you’re making and making an impact on the good of the town,” said Tiedemann. “If you listen to your constituents then you should be able to stay on. It’s time to go if you’re not listening.”
Solomon said that, with so many new people in Tofield, she is “willing to go out and get those voices heard,” adding that: “Hearing with different ears can generate growth and renewal.”
Perrot called the question “a difficult one,” as in the past there were few people running for local office, and poor voter turnout.
“We need to promote having qualified people come to run,” she said, adding that “turnover (on council) would then be a good thing.”
On getting unsightly properties cleaned up, Perrot agreed this was a question “that needs to be talked about.” She has noticed some residents “have plenty of stuff in their back yards,” and the town has laws that are not being strictly enforced.
Tiedemann said there is a bylaw in place to enforce unsightly cleanups, but said it was better to give everybody a sense of pride in owning a piece of Tofield. “If you’re proud as a resident you will want to keep it up.”
Solomon agreed with that approach, adding the issue needed to be dealt with sensitively. Then, if there is no action taken by the resident, the town should do the job and bill the taxpayer.
Another resident said the town’s walking trails haven’t been expanded in seven years, but Tiedemann disagreed. “The town is adding to the walking trails every year or two,” he said. “The answer is yes, there is a program.” He said, however, that there are still places in town where there are no sidewalks, although this didn’t preclude adding to walking trails.
Solomon said she heard the passion in the man’s question, and invited the public to attend the council meetings. “You need to have that avenue to come to council and be heard,” she said.
Perrot agreed that “walking trails are important.” If elected, she wanted to learn as much as she could, be accessible and talk to council. “Larry says there is a program, but I can’t say if it’s an adequate one,” she said.
Other questions concerned the fact that shrubs are blocking intersections making them dangerous, as well as poorer lighting in the older parts of town. Animal noise was also discussed. People were again encouraged to tell the town administration and public works department.
“I’m excited with all the interest in the election,” said Perrot. “I want to see it keep on happening,” with people talking to town councillors and attending council meetings. “If you sit at home, nothing is going to happen.”
“If we don’t tell Cindy about it, she can’t enforce it,” said Tiedemann, referring to town CAO Cindy Neufeld.
Tiedemann closed by calling for more regional cooperation. “You can do more when you are able to work together,” he said.
Solomon said: “I’m hearing tonight a passion for you to get things done. I’m doing this because I believe our town has a future.”
Perrot thanked everyone “for your good questions…I intend if elected to be accessible, take your ideas, use my problem solving skills and find better, more efficient ways to do things. I think you’ve got three good choices.”
All three candidates encouraged everyone, no matter who they were voting for, to get out and vote on Tuesday, Sept. 2 at the Tofield Community Hall.
