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A lesson from Thorhild

Last week, three Thorhild County councillors were fired by the province. Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee says they refused to follow provincially mandated directives.

Last week, three Thorhild County councillors were fired by the province. Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee says they refused to follow provincially mandated directives.

The ministry had stepped into the picture in early 2015 following a petition from county residents. It culminated in the release of an inspection report in September 2015.

That 62-page report detailed divisions between the five councillors, interference in the day-to-day running of the municipality and accusations of bias, bullying, threats of violence, improper conduct and general dysfunction.

It is a story that has caught on with several different provincial media outlets, whose works now sit tantalizingly close to the top of the page when you Google the small county.

This kind of press does not look good for Thorhild. But more than bad publicity, the lack of consistent direction from the council can leave a municipalityís administration floundering at best, chasing after bad policies at worst.

The county is now being run by two councillors and an ìofficial administrator to fulfill the responsibilities of council until a byelection can be held,î according to a press release from the minister.

Thorhild isnít the only small municipality getting a closer look from abroad.

Macleanís singled out the Town of Gibbons at the beginning of article this month, noting that its Mayor Doug Horner was stripped of his powers in 2014, although he retains the title. It then also listed Fort Mcleod and Manning as communities that had faced their own council troubles.

The Athabasca Advocate also ran pieces in the Mar. 1 edition that looked at other messy council situations in the Town of Lac La Biche in 2005-06 and Wainwright in 2000.

No, the situation in the Town of Athabascaís chambers is nothing new to Alberta.

But rather than follow their lead, the town could take a lesson from its neighbours and turn to a different path before it wastes any more time and resources.

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