Dear Editor:
Over the past few months there has been a lot of controversy regarding the proposal to sell the municipal building to the library for $1 and moving staff and office to the government building at a cost of approximately $3,000 per month.
Due to this, a petition was circulated around town asking for a referendum to be held or to delay the sale until the next municipal election to allow the voters to decide the issue.
In a short period of time a petition with 437 names were presented to council but due to minor technicalities council decided the petition invalid.
Now after five months of haggling they have made the decision to go ahead with the referendum on June 3 even though earlier they had classified it invalid due to wording of the questions.
Now they have bypassed the original question completely and have come up with a two-tiered question along with a preamble that does not fully explain the full cost of the move they hope to make. This confusing question has appeared in the Review in the past three weeks.
Was it done this way purposely?
A quote from the preamble in the Town of Rimbey ad in the Rimbey Review states, “apart from one time capital cost to improve the provincial building, this solution will not result in increased operating expenses to the town.”
The cost of moving has not been mentioned nor has the monthly rent. Are these not increased costs to the town?
I suggest that on June 3, as a taxpayer you take a very close look at the question before you perform your democratic duty and if you don’t want to see your town office moved or see your taxes escalate you have but one choice and that is to vote No.
Reuben Giebelhaus