Town of Athabasca councillors started a round of applause at their July 17 meeting after reading a letter from Alberta Municipal Affairs stating the inspection file into the municipality was officially closed.
The message came in reply to a June 25 letter from Mayor Colleen Powell updating the ministry on the progress the town had made fulfilling 29 recommendations from a municipal inspection report released Aug. 28, 2017.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs Deputy Minister Brad Pickering said in the July 10 letter council had responded to the municipal inspection in a satisfactory manner and the inspection file is now closed.
“The work of council in moving forward and addressing the issues identified by the inspector is commendable,” Pickering said in the letter. “I trust council and your chief administrative officer will remain committed to the actions identified in your recommendation summary and continue to ensure strong governance and leadership is maintained in your community.”
Powell’s June 25 letter had said the town had completed 25 of 29 recommendations of the initial report and was making progress on the remaining ones.
History
The province conducted a municipal inspection on the town after a petition from town residents requested one. Name calling, the CAO hiring process and questions as to whether members of council met residency requirements were some of the issues presented in the report.
“Unfortunately, council dysfunction consumed a large amount of time, energy and public resources during the 2013-2017 council term,” the report stated.
Municipal Affairs handed down 29 recommendations the town was to complete, including a fire service review and an intermunicipal development plan (IDP) with Athabasca County. In the June 25 letter, Powell said it would be negotiating with fire services and was awaiting the county to finish other agreements before starting IDP negotiations.
“We’re free and clear,” Powell said during the July 17 meeting. “A lot of work was done on that.”
Chief administrative officer Robert Jorgensen thanked council for its efforts.
“Without your (guidance), this not would have happened,” he said during the meeting.
Council unanimously passed a motion to accept Pickering’s letter and other correspondence for information.
