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Vol. 18, No. 14, Wednesday, March 1, 2023 www.LamontLeader.com
Town bullies harass Andrew CAO and vandalize his property New Andrew CAO uncertain if he will stay BY JANA SEMENIUK Andrew Chief Administrative Officer Tim Melnyk has been on the job for eight weeks and said during a recent interview that he is uncertain if he will stick around after experiencing a string of targeted vandalism in addition to public bullying by residents. “How much do these people want me here?,” he asked. “It's something in how and why they think that way. I don't grasp it. It doesn't bother me but once you start getting stuff that starts happening, (in) your personal life, then it's time to make a decision that maybe it's time to move on.” Melnyk’s trouble began within the first two weeks he came to town when he discovered someone had drilled screws into two of his truck tires. He speculated someone had used a cordless power drill in the vandalism. “(They were) right in the middle of the sidewalls. I ended up putting air into it and putting some silicone around it and drove to Canadian Tire and they fixed it for me,” he said. In addition to the vandalism on his truck tires, Melnyk said that prior to a council meeting soon after he was hired, he took down no less than 20 signs posted all over town with the following statements; “Village of Andrew residents – Attend council meetings and see what your council and CAO are doing to our village! We need to get rid of them!” The signs have showed up on public bulletin boards and taped to other surfaces around the village intermittently since last year when previous CAO Sheila Lupul was terminated in May. Meanwhile, Melnyk endured a fur-
ther attack after his wiperblades were found crumpled on his windshield in addition to an incident after the Feb. 8 council meeting when he went to the parking lot to start his truck. Melnyk allowed the truck to run while standing and having a chat with Andrew Mayor Merwin Haight. “We were standing there talking and I went ‘oh my God, that motor sounds terrible’, so I shut my motor off right away, lifted up the hood and there's oil
all over the place inside,” he said. Melnyk explained that someone undid the oil lock on his engine sending oil flying through the opening when he started it up. “I was down three liters of oil just from idle time. Luckily, I wasn't on the highway because it would have blown my motor,” he said. Melnyk said the attacks continued the day he brought his wife to town from the province of Sask. for a visit.
An anonymous sign, photo taken last year, that has popped up around the village of Andrew intermittently since the termination of previous CAO Sheila Lupul last May. Most recently, more than 20 of them were posted in various spots around the village in Jan. after CAO Tim Melnyk was hired Jan. 3. Photo: Jana Semeniuk
As the couple were seated in a local pub on Feb. 17, Melnyk said a resident approached and berated him in front of his wife. “One person came up to us and said “There’s the CAO who doesn’t know anything”,” said Melnyk, adding the beratement continued by a different resident as the couple walked outside. “A blue truck pulled up and rolled down their window and shouted “How does a CAO like yourself not been s—t canned yet?”,” he said. Melnyk said his family has so far remained in Sask. while his four children, ages 12 – 16, finish the school year. He said their home recently sold but his wife isn’t sold on living in Andrew. “She said the town is full of bullies,” Melnyk said, adding he has filed police reports on the vandalism to his truck. Meanwhile, Melnyk speculated on why he believes his presence in town may be causing resentment. “Some folks are not used to change,” he said. “There’s been a lot of change since I started (Jan. 3). (There may be) a little retaliation.” Councillor Barry Goertz would not comment on the matter. “Sorry no comment. All comments should come from our appointed spokesperson – Mayor,” he said by text. Deputy Mayor Tammy Pickett as well as councillors Benny Dubitz and Evan Genung did not respond to a request for comment by press time. Mayor Merwin Haight said the matter is under investigation. “No comment at this time as the complaints are being dealt with by the RCMP,” he said.