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3 Tuesday, November 20, 2012 Vol. 7,Vol. No.8,2,No. Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Hunt on for new LCREDI exec. director Michelle Pinon Editor
National park sign defaced Michelle Pinon Editor Tannis Postma couldn’t believe her eyes as she approached the north entrance to Elk Island National Park (EINP) last Wednesday morning to see the words ‘hells angels’ spray painted on the sign. “I was shocked and just curious, which person in our area thought this was a smart thing to do,” stated Postma in an email sent to the Lamont Leader including a picture of the vandalism. “This park is for everyone to enjoy and seeing this I have to
wonder how immature this person had to be,” added Postma, who is completely outraged by the incident. “The expense the park goes through for us in this area to keep it beautiful, and then some smart ass chooses this. I hope they catch the person and not only fine them, and make them cut grass in the park by hand to learn to appreciate the beauty of the park.” Postma knows it will cost money to repair the sign, and hopes the person who did this will come forward and pay for it. In the meantime, park staff have covered
over the graffiti, and superintendent Stephen Fleming says they will have to try and repaint the sign in the spring when temperatures are suitable. He, too is very “disheartened” about the incident. “It’s pretty disappointing. That sign is iconic and goes back to a time when they were able to be more artistic,” added Fleming. Staff did try to remove the paint with different solvents, but that was not successful. Fleming said they were reluctant to move the large sign and risk damaging it. He estimates the large
wooden sign to be over 20 years in age, and estimates to replace it would cost in the neighbourhood of $5,000. “I guess they were trying to make some sort of stupid statement, but it’s disheartening.” Fleming pointed out the Lamont County sign, just a short distance away from the north entrance was chopped up last spring, and guesses that it would be the work of the same person or persons. If anyone has any information, please contact the RCMP.
Members of the Lamont County Regional Economic Development Initiative (LCREDI) are heading in a different direction. Members recently decided to set a new course and are currently on the hunt for a new executive director. The position, for a part-time contract opportunity, has been posted on the Lamont County website. The job posting goes onto state: “This contract position is part-time in nature and is responsible to help facilitate economic development throughout the Lamont County region. “Our number one priority is to hire an executive director,” stated Mike Saric, chair of the LCREDI board of directors, Nov. 16th. About a month ago, the LCREDI board decided to part ways with Murray Wade. Board members also held a strategic planning session recently to determine their needs and expectations, as well as their goals and objectives. “We wanted to get ourselves focused in on what we want to see come to the region in terms of economic development,” said Saric. It will be the executive director’s job to promote the Lamont County region and to attract business and industry in collaboration with councils and administrators from the six member municipalities. The posting goes on to state: “The executive director will represent the entire Lamont County region, but will work to identify and meet the needs of individual communities.” The overall goal, added Saric, is to work towards creating viable communities in the region. Any profits from new projects and businesses would be shared amongst the members of LCREDI which include: Lamont County, the towns of Bruderheim, Lamont and Mundare; and the villages of Andrew and Chipman. LCREDI, which was formed last year, did receive an additional grant of $200,000 to fund the executive director position, which Saric expects will last between a year and a year and a half. After that period of time, LCREDI will be able to financially sustain itself.