By Adam Ophus

Work described as “poorly done”

Rocky mayor irked by county council’s comments over budget figures

Jan 19, 2021 | 7:37 PM

Comments made last month by members of Clearwater County council over how the Town of Rocky Mountain House does its finances did not sit with the town’s mayor.

On Dec. 16, 2020, Town of Rocky Mountain House administration presented the Recreation budget during a Clearwater County strategic planning session.

Part way through the presentation it became apparent that the information being shared in the presentation did not match what was sent to council ahead of time.

Near the end of the following day’s meeting (Dec. 17) County Councillor Tim Hoven remarked how “very disappointed” he was in the Town’s presentation.

“It was very poorly done…I was more confused after the presentation then before it,” he said.

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Hoven went on to request that it be done over and said he could not spend the county’s money on inaccurate reports.

“As an ex-teacher, label the report correctly before you hand it in.”

County Reeve Cammie Laird said if she were to receive that kind of work from students, “I would throw it in the garbage and tell them to start again.”

The County has said they have identified a need to have further clarification on these outstanding items in the coming months.

Councillors then voiced concern over various capital projects, such as the Spray Park, that showed the county paying annual fees, which they claim they had not agreed to.

It was Councillor Jim Duncan that said the county had gone along with the project for years, commenting, “The assumption must have been made that we would fund this half of the Spray Park.”

Laura Button, Communication Coordinator for the Town of Rocky Mountain House, says the confusion over the discrepancy was due to county councillors not receiving updated information sent a week prior to the Dec. 16 presentation.

“The county has been a funding partner of the Spray Park for years, and their funding commitment, along with the Town’s matching contribution, helped the volunteer spray park group secure the CFEP grant,” Button explained.

In a letter dated Dec. 21, Rocky Mountain House Mayor Tammy Burke told Laird how disappointed she was over the comments made about town staff during the December budget meeting.

“How saddened and disappointed I was to see you both allowing, and contributing to, the complete lack of respect for our town staff,” she wrote.

“These types of comments are unacceptable and unprofessional to say the least,” Burke added.

Burke shared concern over the future of the Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework between the town and county that will be coming up in March.

Reeve Laird reassured that she believed the ICF can be signed prior to the April 2021 deadline with the completion of the solid waste agreements.

Burke chose not to comment further on the matter until speaking with the county.