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EMT questions town’s purchasing policy

I wish to question how the town spends my tax dollars.

Dear Editor:

I wish to question how the town spends my tax dollars.

The new ambulance station needed furnishings so EMS staff was asked to get prices from the Rimbey Gift Shop/Sears and Barr’s Home Furniture. After staff had done this, town management told them they could not purchase from the Rimbey Gift Shop even though Sears’ prices were significantly lower.

Everything was ordered from Home Furniture to outfit a full kitchen (fridge, stove, and microwave), living room (two recliners, sofa, and two end tables), and three bedrooms (three single beds and headboards, three night tables and coat hook sets for each room).

Why were we forced to buy from Home Furniture when Sears was a fraction of the price? Management’s explanation was that Sears is an outlet, not a local store. How is Home Furniture different from Sears? Both have warehouses elsewhere and both profit local business owners.

The only difference is that buying from Home Furniture seemed to provide proprietor Dale Barr with an opportunity to benefit from his elected position as mayor of Rimbey.

Brent Camplin, EMT