SANDRA M STANWAY
Brooks Bulletin
A request to have a county councillor attend the Silver Sage Ag Society’s annual general meeting and to be a member of the board turned into a heated discussion about elected officials being paid to attend their community ag society board meetings and the uniqueness of Silver Sage.
Councillor Lynette Kopp noted that there are many ag Societies in the county and wondered if the county would send a member to every one.
“I don’t know. They know that they are welcome to come and bring ideas or if they’re looking for help to come and speak to us (council) at any time. I don’t know that you need a rep there every meeting,” she said.
But councillor Neil Johnson believes that Silver Sage Ag Society has been lobbying and they have big plans and they will be doing some significant fundraising over the next few years including for the construction of a community hall.
“I feel that the Silver Sage is a little bit different than the other Ag societies because they really do encompass the whole county,” he said.
Councillor Kelly Christman took offense to the comments stating that all Ag Societies in the county are active and councillors are involved without being paid.
“I just I don’t see it as being any different than any other Ag. Society in the County of Newell. We pay our membership at our Ag. societies. We go there. We participate. We fundraise. We work (for) the greater good of the community as volunteers so I question the reason for a member of council to be sent there as a paid delegate,” she said.
“I didn’t mean to offend anyone with anything I said. Actually, I did,” said Johnson.
Reeve Arno Doerksen said the uniqueness of Silver Sage is that the board is made up of members from throughout the region.
“Many of the other Ag Societies kind of act like community associations for certain activities.”
Council decided not to send a member to the AGM.
