The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Snow Lakers will go to the polls on March 25 in a municipal election precipitated by the resignation of Coun. Rod Korchinski one year into his four-year term. The choice will be between two former councillors, both of whom sat on council during the term previous to this last election. They are Brenda Forsyth-Flamand and Dave Mayer. Both are civic-minded individuals who have served the citizens of Snow Lake well not only over past years, but also past decades. In order to explain their platforms and gage what they saw as important issues coming into the election, I asked each of them a series of questions, which they were happy to answer. The first question was how old each was and how long they had lived in Snow Lake. Forsyth-Flamand is 40 years old and has lived in Snow Lake all her life, while Mayer is 61 and has been here for 41 years. The question that followed was on their civic records. Forsyth-Flamand spent 16 years on the school board, in addition to a four-year term on council. Mayer, on the other hand, spent a term on the school board in the late Ô70s and over 25 years on council, spanning a number of decades. The reason each was running differed; Forsyth-Flamand noted that she really missed her time on council. She added that it was hard for her not to run in the last election, but she was busy planning her wedding, and she had a granddaughter on the way. ÒAnd there were a lot of people running, so I just thought that I would take some time off,Ó she said. ÒBut then this opportunity came up, and I kind of got real excited. IÕve had lots of people encourage me, so I thought, what the heck, IÕll give it another whirl.Ó Mayer said his motivation was that it seemed to him that there wasnÕt an awful lot happening in the community and that he didnÕt see much work being done toward some of the opportunities he felt the town should be preparing for. ÒI believe that I can work with the others to help move that process along,Ó he said. As to what each felt they could bring to the table as a councillor, Forsyth-Flamand said that she felt she would bring experience as well as knowledge from living in the town. ÒBeing here day in and day out, you kind of know whatÕs going on, and people always have the opportunity to talk to me,Ó she said. Mayer said he felt he had an opinion to offer and a willingness to express it. ÒI also think that I have the ability to urge others to express theirs,Ó said Mayer. ÒIÕve never had a problem adding to or encouraging others to participate in our democratic process.Ó The next questions had to do with what each thought were the major issues facing the community in the coming term and what they saw as solutions. Forsyth-Flamand felt that housing would be the major issue followed by the need for a sewage treatment plant. ÒIf even half of this mining talk is true, where are we going to put everybody?Ó she asked rhetorically. She felt part of the solution for housing could be the new cabin lots that were being worked on in the previous term. ÒIf that had have gone through, there would have been 40 or so lots right there that would be available for development,Ó she said. ÒAlso, I would hope that HBM&S would have a role in developing some lots somewhere.Ó Mayer felt a lack of preparation for the possible influx of people in the ensuing years is the major issue. ÒFrom past experience, I know that this process must begin well in advance of any development taking place,Ó he said. Mayer felt the solution was more discussions, both quantity-wise and in-depth, with the province and the townÕs corporate partners toward coming up with solutions that work for everyone. ÒI would like to see the town working towards bringing corporate partners into this process as soon as possible,Ó he said. The final query was in relation to some of the things that were accomplished while the candidates held past public office. Forsyth-Flamand felt that the new Water Treatment Plant would be one. She added that during her term, she sat in on several sets of contract negotiations and the inception of the Policy committee. ÒAs well, there were several complex personnel situations that were part of that term,Ó she concluded. Mayer said there had been a new school commissioned while he was on the school board and during his time on council, the town planned for and built two water treatment plants, a sewage treatment plant, installed new sewer and water lines and pavement throughout the community, and incorporated a number of pieces of new equipment into their operation. ÒI held the position of chair on the lead committees for all of these projects,Ó he noted. ÒActually, I was chair of the Finance and Public Works committees throughout all of my terms on council.Ó My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
