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Vol. 19, No. 18, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 www.LamontLeader.com
Lamont Reeve defends letter to Municipal Affairs Beyond the official response, Diduck BY JOHN MATHER Lamont County Reeve David added, “In my opinion as Reeve I am Diduck defended his actions in having not aware of anything that Lamont his council sanction a letter and paper County council or our administration is doing wrong.” to municipal affairs He felt in the to ward off a potenlast while there had tial municipal been a lot of negainspection of the tivity brought forCounty books ward to the county brought on after a and “we just petition by ratepaythought we had to ers was submitted inform the minister seeking one. of some of things In response to happening in why the County Lamont County.” wrote the letter He said the Diduck said in a letter wasn’t writprepared stateten necessarily to ment: “Lamont dissuade the petiCounty is being tion, “because if the operated profespetition stands on sionally in good - Reeve Diduck its own merits and faith in accordance is valid then that’s with the MGA and fine. But we wantall legal requireed to give the minister some additional ments. “Lamont County council felt it was information on operations of Lamont important to inform the minister of County because when he's going to some of the governance and opera- make a decision, we want him to make an informed decision.” tional matters at Lamont County. Diduck felt it would be the minis“It is Lamont County’s hope that this information will assist the minister to ter’s decision as to whether he felt the determine an inspection is not warrant- letter and additional information was ed and thus avoid the costs of a munic- an attempt to thwart the intent of the ipal inspection to Lamont County resi- petition. “I guess that could be a downside to dents and ratepayers. “Lamont County also felt it was the letter,” stated Diduck. “But that’s important to make this letter available not the intent of the letter.” He said he was worried about the to the public so they are aware of governance and operational matters with- potential cost of an inspection, if Municipal Affairs decided to proceed in Lamont County.”
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“I know another county had a municipal inspection and I believe it cost the county about $250,000.
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the results of what transpired at the with the inspection. “I know another county had a council meeting, so the public is addimunicipal inspection and I believe it tionally informed.” He said on this week’s agenda they cost the county about $250,000. will discuss a coffee “We know as talk session where council and admincouncillors will istration we aren’t meet with ratepayaware of anything ers. that would warrant He added the an inspection and In Focus page in the that is a significant Leader also highamount of money. lighted activities “If we can avoid going on throughthose costs we out the County. would like to.” “I think even He said he with the letter to the wasn’t aware that council, it was anyone in adminisimportant that it tration or council became a public had seen the petidocument and the tion, although they public could see the did present a series position of the of concerns which County on the matthe County felt Lamont County Reeve David Diduck ter. were listed in the “We talk about our taxation comparpetition. Diduck said he was only aware of isons and our administration team so it what was discussed at the December does make the public aware of what organizing meeting of the petitioners we’re doing. “We’re trying to be transparent in group. When asked if he felt the County this regard.” He said if people have a concern could do anything more to present its message to ratepayers, he didn’t think ratepayers should advise or contact their division councillors and then there was a failure to communicate. “Our meetings are public meetings those councillors should advise counand you don’t have to attend in person cil. “The ratepayers make up Lamont to see them. You can attend it online or County,” he said. “As councillors we view it later. “I think we have added a couple of are elected every four years to try and things. We are putting a half page arti- make decisions to meet their needs as cle monthly in The Leader highlighting best we can.”