A group of Westlock County ratepayers, led by Pauline Bitz, brought their concerns regarding the county’s continued involvement with the Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill to council at its Oct. 9 meeting.
Bitz told council it was important to hear both sides of a issue and she wanted to bring to light the voice of those who voted against the county’s financing of the ski hill in the October, 2017 plebiscite.
“We request that council abide and honour the 54 per cent vote by plebiscite to totally rid itself of the burden of the Tawatinaw Ski Hill. That doesn’t mean we don’t agree with the ski hill or want it demolished, we just want no more tax dollars going there. We’re tired of it.
“You appear to have no respect for the majority of your constituents. Why have we lost our democracy in this country? I thought we were a democratic society.”
Bitz went on to point out the ski hill has been “a financial drain” to the taxpayers for years and that equipment and maintenance to the facility is a “constant bleed” on resources.
She pointed out that road and bridge maintenance were suffering and have not had the attention required to keep taxpayers properly mobile.
She went one to note the facility’s short window of yearly operation as well as the fact the county is still on the hook for a debenture used to update the chalet several years ago.
Bitz also offered several solutions which included the Tawatinaw group taking over completely without anymore tax money going towards its continued operation.
“The Friends of Tawatinaw and any taxpayers, as well as any councillors, who are in support of the facility can put their money where their mouth is,” she said. “Invest your own money in this if you feel it’s such a great venture.”
To that end she also mentioned charging those in favour of the ski hill agreement on their tax bill and exempting those who do not.
“As a taxpayer I am not willing to have any more of my tax dollars spent on this.”
Another recommendation from the delegation was to sell the facility via a renowned auction company so the county can get the most dollars for the facility as possible and completely wash its hands of the any further financial responsibility.
“No matter how much money you pump into this, there is no such thing as reviving a dead horse,” said Bitz.
The county could also hold another plebiscite, but this time make it binding, she said.
“Where has the integrity and accountability of our councillors gone?” asked Bitz. “Do you not realize that you are in charge of our tax dollars and this must be spent on the absolute necessary infrastructure of our roads, bridges and ditches?”
Coun. Dennis Primeau added that as the number one priority on council’s strategic plan, solving the problems with the ski hill, was taken care of until council decided to reverse its decision at its Aug. 14 meeting.
“Something along the way has gone awry,” he said.
Deputy reeve Brian Coleman explained how council got to this point and some of the factors he considered when voting to enter into the operating agreement with the ski hill group.
“Remember, the county has $3 million invested in that chalet, so when nobody came back to buy it and there was two offers to operate it that we rejected because of the future liability for capital that would come back to the county, the Friends of Tawatinaw came back with a second offer that took away the capital risk from the county and the insurable risk from the county,” said Coleman.
“Instead of shuttering a $3 million building that would be vandalized in six months, five of us agreed to give them an opportunity.”
Reeve Lou Hall said she was glad to hear the other side of the story from the ratepayers.
“We listen to both sides of every story and make decisions based on that. They were showing the other side of the Tawatinaw story,” said Hall after the meeting.
