Tim Palen
Question
What are, in your opinion, the biggest challenges that Lafleche had faced in last few years? And what are the challenges that it will face in the coming years? What would you do to overcome them?
Answer
The biggest challenge is the turnover rate of town Administrators, town employees, office & maintenance personnel. (Including a Water treatment person) There have been too many boil water advisories in the last 4 years.
The problem will be to restore the reputation of Lafleche to be a good work environment to get workers for the long term who the town can rely on to keep the town going.
To overcome the first step, would be to get a good town Administrator who will stick around and understand what the town needs to succeed.
Question
If you had an unlimited budget, what are three things that you would do to imrpove the lives of the residents of Lafleche? If, more realistically, your budget was limited, what's the one thing that you'd do?
Answer
If I had an unlimited Budget, the first thing would be to update our Water Treatment Plant to make sure we all had clean and reliable drinking water.
The second would be to update/replace our town equipment so the workers could do their jobs more efficiently without spending half their day fixing equipment before even getting started.
The third would be to clean up the town, (Fix the roads, sidewalks, alleys, new permanent garbage bins for every household, to help prevent garbage everywhere. Stuff like that.
For having a limited budget and having to pick one thing. Water Treatment plant as everyone in town relies on clean drinking water.
Question
By looking at the candidates, it's easy to see that we will have for sure a new Mayor and a brand new Council (apart from a couple of members that might be re-elected). Are you worried about the idea of getting into a new role like this and possibly not having the support of people with current experience and knowledge of what has been done in the last few years? Is there anything that you hope will be different, when the new Mayor and Council are elected?
Answer
I'm not worried about getting into a new role I've never done. It's a learning curve like anything new you try to do. And I'm not worried if I'm elected or not, as long as we get new blood in our Town office that will work to fix the problems we have had the last 4 years. I'm sure if we need direction to get started, At least one of the old town council members will step up to help direct us to get started.
Question
What's your idea about transparency when it comes to institutions? Do you think the current administration is doing a good job at communicating with the people? Is there anything you would change in how the Mayor, Council, and Town Office communicate with people?
Answer
I'm agréable to transparency and think that ANY complaint letters or suggestions for town residents should be looked at & responded to, even if it's just a "Thank you for your suggestion". If reasonable and possible, the Administrator can bring it to council.
For Complaints on the other hand. They should all be brought to council for review and responded to. Which is not happening right now. Complaint letters are not getting to the town council. Questions posed, or voted on changes are not getting back to residents.
I also think we need a Tax Audit for the town and Land taxes posed for the last 4 years as we have had too many Administrators to not question town finances.
Question
How do you think that your knowledge, skills, and work experience would benefit the Town, if you are elected?
Answer
My knowledge is in Mechanics, construction & heavy equipment operator, as being a subcontractor and running my own crew as well as being a foreman for Dominion/Domco construction. It will help when the town forman informs the council about equipment problems or town projects.
Question
Do you think the Town should look at ways to improve the economy? If so, what are your ideas?
Answer
We have empty offices beside the Pharmacy, so it wouldn't hurt to ask the town residents for ideas on businesses they would like to see and frequent to keep it thriving, which also helps the residents.
Question
What do you think could be done to improve retention of the Town's employees?
Answer
My understanding is the town council gives direction to the Administrator, who then is the one that gives direction to the town forman, who in turn directs the rest of the town employees. But that has not been the case from what I can tell in the last few years. It's like in construction/the military/or any business, you have an order to follow to keep things running properly, and keep people from being confused of who to follow.
Question
How are you currently involved & supporting our community? Are you involved in any of our local organizations?
Answer
No I am not presently involved or supporting our community or part of any of our local organizations. I've been trying to get a wheelchair access sidewalk in front of the post office where the handicap sign is for the last 4 years. Even if I get an administrator to agree to look into it or do it. Before anything gets done. they're gone, and on to the next Administrator.
Question
In case you are not elected, what are you planning to do (if anything) to still be part of the political life of our community?
Answer
Even if I'm not elected, I will continue to do what I do. Try and point out things that need to be done, and hope that the new council will do their best at looking & listening to the residents' concerns.
Question
What do you think the Town as a whole (not referring exclusively to the administration, but also residents) could do to attract new residents? What is something you would do as soon as possible, if given the chance?
Answer
The best way to attract residents is not just one thing. Craigs idea of an Arrow revitalizes town image, staff that stick around & are appreciated, new businesses for the community. If the residents are content & happy, then people would be more inclined to move to a stable happy community. Unlike now, where people are complaining about staff turnover rates, boil water advisories and so on.
Question
SaskTel has announced that Lafleche will be included in their fiber network for high speed Internet by the end of 2027. Are you aware of any potential challenges coming from that and if so, what can be done or should be considered? How do you think we could, or should, take advantage of that?
Answer
I didn't know about Sasktel's fiber network, for the internet by 2027. So I'm not aware of any challenges, but it seems like it would be a good thing for businesses, people who work from home, ect. Never had it, don't know the cost or anything about it, except your internet connection can transfer more data faster and can handle more then what we have now.
Question
Do you think we should strengthen our relationships with nearby towns?
Answer
Yes I do think we could & should strengthen our relationships with other communities. Good example. If Lafleche got a Mr. Sub, Gravelbourge has a Subway. You'll have residents happy in both communities to have a little more choice. Work with other communities where we compliment each other to help each other, to keep both communities thriving.
Question
What can be done to attract new businesses to Lafleche?
Answer
What can be done to attract new businesses has kinda been covered in all my other answers. Sorry, but hard to do, till we fix some of the town issues.
This is my political statement/response, to questions posed, which is protected & not for use in any lawsuit. Tim Palen for council member of Lafleche, SK.