The County of Stettler has trimmed a few organizations from its council attendance list in an effort to save money. The topic was discussed at the Nov. 12 regular meeting of council.
During the “council’s request for information” part of the agenda Reeve Larry Clarke asked that the subject of physician recruitment be discussed.
As councillors mulled over community efforts to recruit doctors, Reeve Clarke stated that he had received a few calls from the public regarding the County of Stettler stepping away from attending board meetings of the Stettler & District Health Foundation, among others; Clarke stated these callers were concerned about county councillors no longer attending their board meetings and pointed out charitable donations to buy medical equipment in Stettler could be seen as assisting doctor recruitment.
In a phone call to the ECA Review Nov. 15 Reeve Clarke stated many organizations request that a councillor sit on their board or attend their meetings, but noted councillors are paid for attending any and all meetings. The reeve added that the council has been trying to trim back some of their board and committee work to thereby trim costs to the taxpayer.
The reeve stated that the County of Stettler respects the health foundation for doing great work and will continue to support the organization’s fundraising efforts, agreeing that health foundation work does actually help with physician recruitment.
Clarke added that the health foundation is always welcome to contact the County of Stettler anytime the organization wishes to discuss something.
Clark stated that the health foundation wasn’t the only local board meeting county councillors backed away from after their recent organizational meeting.
He said councillors will also no longer attend board meetings for the Battle River Research Group and the seed cleaning plant.
The reeve added that costs to the taxpayer are increasing every year and councillors are trying to find areas where they can save money.
As councillors discussed the issue at the Nov. 12 meeting it was noted that councillors didn’t feel one of their number must attend every one of the meetings mentioned; it was suggested County of Stettler committee reports be sent to the health foundation and a resolution to that effect was passed.
As councillors discussed the topic of physician recruitment at their Nov. 12 meeting they discussed some provincial funding that may be available for such municipal efforts.
Coun. Justin Stevens stated he saw information about a provincial grant that may be available for medical clinics whose building is actually owned by a municipality. He wasn’t sure if this would apply in Stettler.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Yvette Cassidy stated it didn’t look like that grant would apply to Stettler.
Stevens described another grant that helps out clinics that take a PCN, or Primary Care Network, approach to service delivery. The PCN approach involves several services being delivered under one roof, essentially.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
