Mayoral candidates
Name: Troy Bartlett
Occupation: Apprentice Mechanic
Years of Residence in Coronach: 13 years
Experience in service to the community: I am finishing up my 2nd term as a town councillor. I have served on the Coronach Kinsmen Club, Coronach Minor Hockey, Coronach Minor Ball, What Not Shoppe. I am currently on the Health Advisory Board and Coronach Rec Board.
Things I would change about our town if I had a magic wand: The biggest thing I would change if I had a magic wand would be that of getting a doctor long term as well as have emergency services opened. I would also ensure that we have 24/7 ambulance coverage.
What I hope to add to the town council: If elected as mayor I would like to think I would add strong leadership and new ideas to the incoming and current councillors.
Goals to the term: Being this is a by-election and another election coming within a year, my short-term goal would be that of maintaining our town in regards to town beautification.
If I was to be re-elected again in the upcoming election I would like to set some long term goals. I would like to entertain trying to change how homeowners pay property taxes. I would like to see Coronach as a place that is affordable for everyone. Another longterm goal I would like to see is infrastructure. I currently feel like we are basically putting out fires. We cannot fix everything all at once but we definitely can start with a long-term plan.
Tell us about yourself: I have been married to my wife, Tereena for over 19 years. I have four children, Cody (19), Christopher (18), Keirstin (16) and Carter (6). I have lived in Coronach for 13 years. I am a very outgoing and community orientated person. I have enjoyed coaching hockey and baseball for over 16 years.
_____________
Name: George Peacock
Occupation: Electrical Planner for Sherritt Coal at Poplar River Mine
Years of residence in Coronach: 34 years
Experience in service to the community: I have previously been a Town Alderman and have served on various town committees including the Rec Board, Library Board, Hospital Board, Park Board and School Board. I have also been a Cub/Scout Leader, Manager of the Coronach Senior hockey team and a Kinsmen member.
Reason you would like to gain a seat on town Council: To be able to participate in the decision making process involving the issues that are relevant and important to all of the people living in Coronach and surrounding area and to ensure that each and every resident has a voice on council.
Things you would change about our town if you had a magic wand: If only it was that easy! I would have to say it would be nice to see a couple of doctors working full time at our health centre, a few more businesses on main street would also be a benefit to the community. Finding the funding required to improve our infrastructure needs is very important and would be another wish. Another 50 or so families in town to boost our tax base, populate our school and keep our recreational facilities open would also be magic.
I think if we replaced the magic wand with hard work, optimism and co-operation amongst all the various groups in town, we could go a long way to achieving many of these goals.
What you hope to add to Town Council? Leadership skills and a strong voice at all levels of government. A willingness to listen to new ideas and a promise to work for all the various aspects of a successful community and to avoid the trap of becoming bogged down in personal likes and dislikes.
Goals for your term, if you are successful: My goals are many, with priority being given to improved Health Care. Infrastructure needs, such as improving our water and sewer systems and improving the condition of our streets. Expanding economic development by encouraging more businesses to set up in town and by taking better advantage of the many tourism opportunities that are present in this area. Establishing a good working relationship with all of the groups that make up and influence our community with the intent to present a united front when we move forward on major issues. We need strong boards and committees working hard together if this is to be a reality.
Tell us about yourself, family, hobbies, interests etc.: As to the personal side of my life. I am proud to live and work in Coronach where we have encouraged so many wonderful people over the years. My wife and lifetime partner, Jenny and I have been married fro 45 years, together we had four children whom we raised in this community. To of our children are now residents in this area raising their own families. We have 12 grandchildren of various ages who help to keep us young and busy. My hobbies include Golf and Curling. I also enjoy traveling and camping with family and friends. As a non active hobby, I enjoy watching the grandkids compete in their various sporting and cultural activities.
Anything else you would like to add, feel free: I feel the issues and values that are important to my family are the same issues that are important to all of us. A safe, healthy environment to live in and to raise our families in. A town we can be proud of for all of the right reasons.
Alderman candidates
Name: Dorothy (Dot) Lewis
Occupation: Right now I am a happily retired homemaker which gives me the time and the energy to be a council member. My main career was in accounting and I worked for a few firms in Saskatchewan. Before moving to Coronach I was working 2 part time jobs one was at Parkland Drywall doing their bookwork and the other one was for the Federal Government of Canada.
Years of residence in Coronach:I moved to Coronach on April 10, 1994 and the rest of my family moved down on August 1st, 1994. The reason for the split move was so our children could complete that year of their education in the school they were attending and for us to sell the home in Saskatoon that we had.
Experience in service to the community: When we moved here we opened up the business as some of you will remember as Mother’s Oven. Our days were long there so helping out in the community was very limited. I was on the Chamber of Commerce while we were in business and helped on the days that “Santa came to Town,” I also gave donations for different events such as the Rodeo when we had one. Since we have given up that business I don’t go out and volunteer on things for the simple reason that I do stuff on my own. Examples would be driving elderly people to the cities for doctor’s appointments as well as cooking up a dishes for someone holding an event in Coronach.
Reason you would like to gain a seat on Town Council:
I used to be a member on Saskatchewan Beach council and it was amazing watching the beach that I spent my summers at turn from just a beach to one that became a Regional Park with a Sailing Boat Club there. When our son went to school I became a member of the Home and School Associations as the treasurer for years till we moved down here. The Home and School meetings weren’t for complaining about things at the school but more for helping the school and the children gain more. We didn’t have the children going door to door selling magazines because of the dangers of the bigger cities. We would hold what we called “Fun Night” and raise money that way. We would raise between $4,000.00 to $7,000.00 a year that way after everything was paid for. We would also hold once a month a hot lunch day for the students. I was also involved in the community association at that time. I miss those days an d I feel I have ability to help make Coronach a good place to live and raise a family, or even a great place to live.
Things you would change about our town if you had a magic wand:
If I had a magic wand there are 3 areas I would really like to see change: First I would wave it over the hospital and put in 2 full time doctors, a maternity ward (even if it is only two beds). I know as a parent how it pulls at the heart strings when you have a sick child and no doctor near for help. As an adult I just pray that if one of us is to have a heart attack that we are in Assiniboia when it happens. The ones on staff for the ambulances are great people but there is still that 79 Ks to get to a hospital with a doctor.
Secondly I would very much wave the wand over a piece of land and having a home appear for the elderly. One with lawn for them to enjoy in the summer time sitting out there visiting with their family and friends. A place that doesn’t seem so institutional but more of a home for them.
Third I would wave that wand over the SportsPlex and turn it into a multi purpose plex, expanding it to house the library, a small gym, rooms that people could rent and hold classes in there such as pottery, sewing. The swimming pool would be enclosed so it could be used all year long. A building like that would not only serve the town people but also smaller areas around Coronach which in turn would bring in more revenue to help run it.
If only I had a wand that could do that or win the lottery to help.
What you hope to add to the town council: I hope to bring to the table of the council a lot of integrity, respect and to be a responsibility to the taxpayers of Coronach.
I went to the council meeting in September of 2011 and I was shocked when it was brought to the table that someone has put in a complaint about the condition of the cemetery and the response from one of the councilmen was “if the residents out there aren’t complaining don’t worry about it” The residents are people’s loved ones and to me it wasn’t funny. The town decided years ago to make the cemetery perpetual care and sent out letters charging people for that service. To me that complaint should have never been brought to the council meeting but handled by the office to fix the concern.
Goals for your term, if you are successful: There are several things I would like to try to do during this term:
A.) Water quality is a concern of mine for the simple reason that the ones selling us our drinking water are the same ones that have a water cooler in the town office for their drinking water and coffee. Is our tax dollars going towards buying water for the town office? Do they not trust the water they are selling?
In August of 2010 I watered our garden that night the next morning the garden wasn’t green it was white. We had to pull it out and toss it and since then I have never planted another garden. I went to the town office about this and got told by the foreman that the water is good that all the test results are up at the water tower. Our silicon around our tub is pink again. That has to be from the chemicals in the water. Take the tank off of your toilet bowl and look at all the brown sediment in it. I use the bleach pucks for the toilet and it disgusts me to see this knowing that when we drink the water that is settling in our bodies. When was the last time the fire hydrants been flushed?
B) The lift station on South Avenue East, I refuse to drive down this street on a hot summer day. The smell from it is enough to make one sick. I pity the homeowners around there because they can’t sit out and enjoy a summer evening nor can they open their windows to get a cool summer breeze flowing through their homes. The smell gets into their furniture, their clothing and on everything. I am surprised that no one has phoned Environment Canada on the town polluting the air we breath. This problem has to be fixed now or the money this town is saving by not having a doctor will be going to buy houses that they are destroying with the air and the homeowners can’t sell because of this reason.
C.) Our Emergency Act, remember Jan of 2010 when we lost power for 53.5 hours in a snow storm. I guess the hall was open but how many didn’t know that. I asked this year if the council ever made up an act to what people should do if this ever happened again and I was told yes a very detailed one. Where is it? It sure isn’t on the web site for the town and it never was mailed to anyone. I would make sure that this information is available by first putting it on the website and then sending out the main ideas in a letter to the residents of Coronach. This won’t cost the taxpayer anything since the town sends out water bills it could be included in it. Having the knowledge at one’s finger tips could save a life.
D.) Check with the government why our property taxes are so much higher than Bengough. I know Bengough is a smaller town but they have everything that we have, a hospital, a school, a skating ring and curling rink, a swimming pool and a doctor. Why are we paying roughly $300.00 dollars more for a house the same size?
E.) I would like to see more responsible spending. In Sept/2011 council meeting I sat in and watched them approve $5,000.00 for that day that CTV was here and another $2,500.00 for a lap top computer for administrator’s office. In October of 2011 the council approved $13, 000.00 for new flooring for the town’s office. Totaling $20,500.00. Now in all fairness I don’t know if they used all of the $5,000.00 but the flooring yes as it was a quoted figure. Amount for the playground they destroyed NIL.
F.) Getting that playground started up again on 4th Avenue. Our house backs onto that park and it was a joy to hear the children of Coronach out there laughing and having fun. I know I took a petition around in the spring of 2009 and when I went to the council meeting in May of that year I got told that it has got to go and do I have the money to replace it because they don’t. It was in October of that year just before the election that they voted to rip it out. Another lady of this community went door to door with another petition to save that playground last October and when she took it to the council meeting she pretty much got the brush off also. I also think that the town should be asking the residents who back on to that park what they would like. An outdoor skating rinks is expense to keep up and I for one don’t want my yard to be flooded out nor become the owner of a indoor swimming pool every spring.
G.) Turning the SportsPlex into a year long building. The skating rink could be used for roller blades area, the curling rink turned into a skate board area the front entrance could be used for a “Fun Day” for the younger children. This area could be open from 2 to 5 and hire a teenager to do crafts and stuff with these kids. Come fall the skating rink and curling rinks return to their original form. This way before a child can go rolling skating or skate boarding they will have to have their own proper safety equipment. Also I would try to get those fees for swimming down to around where the surrounding towns are. Example last year I paid out $140.00 for a family (unlimited size) swim pass to the town of Bengough as a gift to our grandchildren living there. I know Willow Bunch is a lot cheaper than here also.
H.) Hire a youth to tend to the graveyard. It only needs roughly 9 hours a week to keep up with the weeds, mowing the laws and watering out there.
I.) Have the water meters read once a year in June. We are entitled to 9,000 liter every 3 months and if we use it good but if not we still have to pay for it like we did. This way we aren’t getting the large bills in Sept for watering our lawns and gardens. We would still pay for the water every 3 months but over the year hopefully it would even out. This would also free up some time for the town’s men to do other things like mowing the areas that need mowing or in Dec and Mar for cleaning the snow away.
J.) Lastly I would every much like to eliminate the small business license or lower the business license amounts down. We should be encouraging businesses not nickel and dime them to death.
I won’t lie to you taxpayers and say I will get you a doctor. But I will work hard to find one even if it is using my family members who are in the medical field to spread the word that we need a doctor. Like all of you I don’t like taking that 79 Ks one way drive to see a doctor when I am not feeling well.
Tell us about yourself, family, hobbies, interests, etc:
A little bit about me, well I was born and raised in Regina, Sask and married my husband Keith in June of 1975. We have two beautiful and smart children Jeff and Kim. Jeff married Trina (Brenner) in August of 2003 and they have 2 children (our pride and joy) Nicholas and Jasmine. Jeff and Trina are now making their home in Bengough, Sask. Our daughter Kim has received her degree from the U of S and is living in Saskatoon. Both our children have done well for themselves and we are very proud of them. My hobbies includes sewing, doing puzzles, upholstery. reading and cooking for company. My interests are watching football and trying to attend all activities that our grandkids are in. When we take holidays we tend to go camping rather than go to a hotel for we enjoy nature.
Anything else you would like to add...feel free:
I just want to thank you for taking the time to read this and encourage all to go out and vote on Feb 29. If elected I will always answer any concerns you may have. My phone number is 267-5777. Thank you.
_____________
Name: Dean Moser
Occupation: Boiler Operator for SaskPower for over eight years
Reason you would like to gain a seat on Town Council: I think it would be interesting to see the in’s and out’s of how a town runs and to be apart of the decision making and working with the rest of the councilors.
What you hope to add to the town council?
I am willing to learn how things are run and offer ideas to help make decisions. Town Council all sounds interesting to me since I have never been on council before.
Goals for your term, if you are successful:
If I got on council, some of my priorities would be streets, some of them are pretty rough in town. Of course, I would continue trying to get a doctor to town.
Tell us about yourself, family, hobbies, interests, etc.:
I am married to my wife Rena and we have two kids, Kylie who is two and Parker who is four months old. In the summer, we like going to the pool and out to the dam for some fishing. I also like to golf occasionally. Rena grew up here and we ties tot he community. It’s a nice quiet ton to live in and a great place to raise a family.
Anything else you would like to add... feel free:
Come out and vote on Feb. 29th.
_____________
Name: Cory Schnell
Occupation: Fuel Handler at Sask Power
Years of residence in Coronach: 9 years
Experience in service to the community: Have been a volunteer fire fighter for 5 years.
Reason you would like to gain a seat on Town Council: I would like to try to make some differences in this community.
Things you would change about our town if you had a magic wand: I would really like to change all the waterlines instead of repairing watermain breaks over and over again.
What you hope to add to the town council? Hope to add some younger insight.
Goals for your term, if you are successful: My goal is to try and help where help is needed.
Tell us about yourself, family, hobbies, interests, etc: My wife Carrie is the EMS coordinator for the local ambulance service, I have daughter Ariana and a son Jonah, we enjoy camping, golfing and of course hockey in the winter
