Mayor responds to anonymous information campaign

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer

The Town of Claresholm has made no decisions on the future of the former Claresholm Elementary School building and transforming it into a new town hall and community multi-use building.

Last week, people who parked their vehicles in locations such as the arena, seniors’ drop-in centre and downtown, were greeted with a piece of paper under their windshields.

The paper, which contained no name or any indication who was providing the information, asked two questions regarding the old elementary school.

One was what is happening with the school, the other questions borrowing up to $3.4 million for renovations.

Mayor Doug MacPherson addressed the anonymous information campaign head on.

“There’s no way the town is borrowing $4 million to renovate a building,” he said in an interview on Dec. 8, when the town has other priorities.

“This town couldn’t afford the payments.”

He noted town council is planning to create a committee to look at the future of the former elementary school building and study scenarios on what can be done with it.

MacPherson also said he did not know who was behind the anonymous information campaign.

Later on Dec. 8, the Town of Claresholm issued a statement on the town’s Facebook page, stating:

“The Town of Claresholm would like to address some false information that has been distributed today regarding town council deliberations with respect to the old Claresholm Elementary School. On the council agenda for Dec. 11, 2017 is an action item to discuss the creation of an ad-hoc committee to explore the proposed multi-use community building. It is intended that this committee will be tasked with exploring the development of this facility.”

People were also referred to the council agenda package, which was posted online, and the e-mails of Doug MacPherson, mayor, and Marian Carlson, chief administrative officer for the town, were provided.

At their Dec. 11 meeting, council created the multi-use community building ad-hoc committee and appointed MacPherson and Couns. Brad Schlossberger and Lise Schulze to sit on it.

MacPherson explained the intention is to tour the building, talk to the engineers and have some information when council has an open house public meeting in January.

He also said it would not be feasible to borrow just under $4 million to renovate the facility because that would double the town’s debt.

MacPherson did say something has to be done with the building though.

“We won’t know until we study it,” he said.

Coun. Donna Courage asked if any members of the public would be on the committee.

MacPherson said that’s why a public meeting will be held, to gather input from the public.