Residents of the Village of Elnora are growing increasingly frustrated with what they perceive as a lack of transparency from the local council.
The issue was brought to the forefront during the council meeting on July 11 when Leah Nelson addressed council on behalf of herself and a group of concerned residents.
Nelson expressed the concerns and grievances of the residents, emphasizing the need for open and transparent communication to better understand the council’s decisions and the allocation of funds over the past year.
“There are many concerns and questions that your residents have, and we are asking for open and transparent conversation so that we all understand the last year’s decisions and money split expenses,” Nelson said.
Seeking a resolution to the ongoing issue, Nelson requested that the council include their group on the agenda for future meetings.
“We, at this time, request that you agree to have our group put onto your agenda for the following meetings going forward,” Nelson said, highlighting the group’s desire for continuous engagement.
Nelson also clarified that the concerned residents had no ill intentions and hoped their actions and questions would not result in adverse repercussions.
Nelson asked council about resolution 2021-092, which was passed in a council meeting on May 11, 2021, regarding utilizing the services of Civic Solutions and the succession plan for Chief Administrative Officer Sharon Wesgate.
In response to the residents’ first question, Mayor Jul Bissell attempted to address the situation by explaining the village’s use of Civic Solutions services.
“Actually, we use Civic Solutions as needed in the contract. We’re not required to use 100 per cent of the content,” Bissell stated, referring to the village’s contractual obligations.
In regards to the succession plan, council is working on it. They want Tina Williamson Ward to finish all of her courses before they continue to the next step of the plan.
The major catalyst for the residents’ frustration and subsequent organization was handling the purchase of the Jewels building by the village council.
Nelson pointed out that this incident significantly motivated the residents to come together and demand transparency from the council.
Nelson asked council where the motion was to purchase Jewels Family Foods could be found. Due to the question not being on the talking points, council did not provide an answer.
After being told that Jewels would not be a conversation for the July 11 meeting, Nelson asked if council would be open to doing a town hall about the purchase of Jewels Family Foods.
“A town hall, no,” said Coun. Lisa Ferguson. “But if you wish to make a future delegation request to ask that question specifically you can just email in with that question.”
Nelson responded that their group would like to be on the agenda for every meeting going forward.
Bissell explained the town halls they have done in the past have not worked out.
Adding to the concerns raised, Kathleen Primrose highlighted the lack of response to emails sent to the council, stating, “You never get an answer if you send an email.”
Another resident, Lee Staats, stated that he had sent an email and that it was not addressed until he sent a follow-up email asking for a response.
Bissell responded, saying that they would have to find the letters or the residents could resend them so that council could read them.
This sentiment further underscored the residents’ frustration and perception of the council’s lack of transparency and accountability.
Council noted that all meeting minutes would be uploaded to the Village of Elnora website, and there would also be paper copies at the Village Office.
They emphasized that if a resident needed help accessing them, the library would be able to provide assistance.
Jessica Campbell
ECA Review
