Two-hundred-seven residents signed a petition to protest and try to block Acme Village Council's rezoning of a park on Prospect Avenue.
The February public hearing by the Village of Acme into the contentious issue of rezoning what locals call “the tire park” on the west end of town is just one of Council’s activities that have caused concern for taxpayers, some Acme residents say.
Acme resident Leona DeKoter told The Mail a petition to Municipal Affairs was circulated last fall, requesting an inquiry; “Because there were matters of pecuniary interest with members of Council, a lot of improper things were being done, their refusal to listen to residents - there were a number of issues brought forward on this petition.” DeKoter said the big issue that prompted the petition was a tax recovery sale of a property on Main Street, which was purchased by the Deputy Mayor, an action in conflict under the Municipal Government Act. “I think that was kind of the final straw for some people.”
A spokesman for Alberta’s Municipal Affairs confirms the province has been involved.
“Department staff conducted a preliminary review to identify the concerns and issues that led to a petition for an inquiry into the affairs of Council and Administration of the village.” Municipal Affairs said their work included a review and analysis of information the village is required to submit to them on a yearly basis, as well as interviews with members of Acme Council and administration, and the petition representative.
Municipal Affairs said Minister Diana McQueen will be briefed in the near future on the results of her department’s review in Acme, and based on the results of the review, it will be determined if any further action is required.
Acme Mayor Bruce McLeod said the visit from Municipal Affairs wasn’t an official investigation, but a review.
“They gave us some suggestions on things that weren’t done quite correctly, and Council looked at this and said listen, if we didn’t do things right, or things that may or may not be challenged in a court of law, we’ll redo everything’. Make it clean, transparent - we’ll redo the motions, we’ll redo everything, that way it’s transparent, and everybody knows it’s transparent. We want to be aboveboard on this, and if we messed up,we’re more than willing to correct this.”
McLeod said residents opposed to rezoning the tire park are missing the point, that the Town doesn’t have the money to further develop the park or add playground equipment. He said the sale of the land, divided into four parcels, would bring in $40,000 per parcel, which will pay for servicing the lots, plus bring annual tax revenue to the village.
DeKoter and neighbour Doreen Ternowetsky, who both live on Prospect Avenue right near the park that Council wishes to rezone, note that at the Council meeting following the Municipal Affairs visit, the tax sale to the Deputy Mayor and the two parcels of land rezoned by Council, including the tire park, were reversed.
The two residents say they frequently see kids playing at the tire park, despite the removal of playground equipment, and say they and other residents are willing to fundraise to return playground equipment to the park. The two neighbours say many residents are opposed to the removal of the park.
“They’ve been trying to sell this park for five years now,” Ternowetsky said. “And every time they’ve tried, we’ve (residents) tried to stop them.”
“We’re spending all this taxpayer money on something that nobody wants,” DeKoter said. Some of the taxpayers' money is being spent on the removal of a 1933 utility right of way on the property. The women say some residents are afraid to speak up on the potential tire park sale, and other village issues, because of fear of retribution.
“I think it’s dividing the community,” Ternowetsky said.
The issue returns to Acme Village Council April 27 when administration presents its cost analysis report, and Council considers possible second and third reading of the rezoning bylaw.
