A member of the public walked out of Wednesday's Cypress County council meeting following discussion on the Irvine Community Resource Centre.--SOUTHERN ALBERTA NEWSPAPERS ANNA SMITH
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Tensions were high at Cypress County council’s Wednesday meeting as members once again voted in favour of Irvine Community Resource Centre’s construction on the current site of the Woodward Memorial Park.
Council first voted in favour of the centre (8-0, with one absent) in November 2022. But following backlash from county residents, the council announced it would accept additional community feedback at its Feb. 7 meeting, then hold a second vote at the next scheduled meeting, which took place Wednesday.
During Wednesday’s meeting, council addressed the matter for roughly 45 minutes, with councillors recognizing the feedback they received collectively in the Feb. 7 session, as well as individually.
Present for the discussion were about 30 members of the public, several expressing vocal opposition to statements they deemed in favour of the existing plan for construction on the park site.
Council relayed to those in attendance that public feedback was no longer being accepted, as anyone who wished to provide it had been instructed to do so ahead of the Feb. 7 meeting, and asked the public observe the ongoing meeting without interjection.
However, when Ward 1, Hilda/Schuler Coun. Michelle McKenzie alleged organizers of a petition opposing the existing plan pressured Irvine residents into signing, a heated exchange took place between several members of the public and council, which ended with the public being removed from session.
After a short break council returned to discussion, which lasted roughly 20 minutes, but ended with a 6-3 vote in favour, with Couns. Blaine Brost (Ward 2, Irvine/Walsh), Dustin Vossler (Ward 6, Black and White/Seven Persons) and Robin Kurpjuweit (Ward 4, Longfellow) voting against.
The decision was upsetting for those opposed, including Irvine resident Marina Cole, who has been petitioning the centre since early 2022.
“I’m so disappointed,” said Cole. “It feels like we’re losing our voices … It’s a sad situation when a community loses their voices to the people who are supposed to be there for us.”
In post-session remarks, Hamilton, speaking on behalf of council, acknowledged not all would agree with the decision. However, he asserted a decision had to be made and reiterated that the majority of council members felt potential benefits to the community of Irvine outweighed drawbacks, such as a reduction in greenspace. (Construction plans include a small park space and outdoor playground).
Prior to the afternoon vote, Ward 7, Seven Persons North/Desert Blume Coun. and vice chair of the Cypress County Library Board, Richard Oster, acknowledged the complexity of the issue.
“One of our goals as councillors is to make Cypress County a great place to live,” said Oster. “One part of these goals is to listen to our ratepayers. But if all we do is listen, then being a councillor is pretty easy. But this is not a do-nothing council. And that means it brings changes, and changes don’t always come easy to people.
“Council is not trying to introduce something new to Irvine, they’re trying to make something better. That something was a new building to promote main street Irvine.”
Construction of the centre is expected to be complete by the end of 2023, however those who remain opposed say they will continue speaking out in the hopes an alternative location can be found.
