LAC LA BICHE - A request to repair an intersection on Beaver Lake Cree Nation was the subject of a contentious half hour debate among Lac La Biche County council on July 22.
According to the information in the agenda package, Beaver Lake Cree Nation approached Lac La Biche County about repairs to the intersection of Township Road 660A and Range Road 134, which has deteriorated and “is now considered hazardous for regular vehicle traffic.”
County crews are already working on the County’s portion of Township Road 660A and “to extend into the Nation would be an additional $36,000 in material costs (approximately one day of work),” according to the agenda.
Ward 1 Coun. Darlene Beniuk spoke for nearly six minutes about roads in need of repairs in her area, including the Eleanor Lake Road and Christy Creek bridge.
“Beaver Lake Cree Nation does not pay taxes [to Lac La Biche County],” said Beniuk.
While speaking, she referred to numerous e-mails exchanged between council prior to the meeting regarding an alleged conversation at a golf course between the County’s’ CAO Manny Deol and others involved, stating she did not feel the process was followed.
“I don't care if you’ve got extra money in your budget. I'll spend that right now, right where I live. When I complain for eight years about getting something done and it's not done, and then we're giving away labor, material, equipment. Think about it. I am not going to ever approve this for anyone unless they go through the process,” said Beniuk.
Mayor Paul Reutov tried to shut down Beniuk’s comments, noting she had exceeded her allotted three minutes. Beniuk continued speaking for another three minutes.
According to Reutov, no offer or agreement was made between Lac La Biche County and Beaver Lake Cree Nation.
“I just want to make that point clear, that request came in. That request was passed on to council. Here we are discussing whether we should, or we shouldn’t do it,” said Reutov.
Ward 2 Coun. Kevin Paré spoke highly of the relationship between Beaver Lake Cree Nation and Lac La Biche County.
“Our Indigenous communities around us pump millions of dollars into this community,” said Paré.
Paré said he was “quite surprised” at how some councillors had reacted to the request.
“It’s not a lot of money to be a good neighbour . . . Beaver Lake Fire Department was there saving Boyle . . . They put a lot into this community,” said Paré.
Ward 7 Coun. John Mondal also commented on the mutual aid agreements between Beaver Lake Cree Nation and Lac La Biche County.
“They get their fire trucks fixed here. They come and shop local. They don't go out. They come and they spend their money in our county,” said Mondal.
“That intersection is in really bad, bad, bad shape. You couldn’t even drive - there was big potholes there. If EMS has to go, it has to take time. When somebody is in need every second counts,” said Mondal.
Ward 3 Coun. Colette Borgun was concerned about precedent and policy.
“I had a lot of calls on this also, and I’m very concerned that it came to us last minute. It did come to us last minute . . . after conversations were had and then it was brought to us. I just find the conversations with council were a bit tardy,” said Borgun.
“The whole reason this is coming forward and blowing back is because decisions were made and discussions were had at a golf course,” said Ward 5 Coun. Charlyn Moore.
Deol said he did not have any conversations at the golf course.
“And if I did have any conversation, I said I will send a memo to council and if council is in agreement we will do it,” said Deol.
“The motion is on the floor. We’re not having any further debate or discussion, because the discussions are not about this. It’s about just venting,” said Reutov. “Based on how this vote goes, I’ll have a subsequent motion.”
Paré made the motion “that Council approve the cold mix surface repairs at the intersection of Township Road 660A and Range Road 134, located within the Beaver Lake Cree Nation boundary.” The motion was defeated 2-4, with Moore, Reutov, Borgun, and Beniuk voting against.
Reutov then made the motion “to direct administration to engage with Beaver Lake Cree Nation on cost recovery option, and if they support, to proceed with a cost recovery agreement to complete the cold mix work for Township Road 660A and Range Road 134.”
Reutov’s motion for a cost recovery option for the road work carried 5-1, with Beniuk voting against.
After the vote, Reutov recessed the meeting for five minutes for councillors to “cool off a bit here. We’ll grab a glass of water or a coffee.”
Lac La Biche County ratepayer Lavon Flemming also spoke to the matter during the public input session. Fleming sent the initial e-mail to council about the alleged golf course conversation, which she claimed she overheard.
“I took issue with that because it is outside of our jurisdiction. I take issue with it because we are extended in our spending, and I take issue when discussions like that are occurring at the wrong place, at the wrong time,” said Fleming.
