IGNACE — Six of the 10 people looking to fill a pair of council vacancies got a chance to make their case Thursday night.
During a council meeting, Ignace council went through part of the process to appointment replacements following the resignations of former mayor Bill Gascon and former councillor Al Zimmer earlier this year.
That process had the remaining three councillors evaluate written responses submitted by applicants, and then heard from those who showed up to the meeting.
The candidates include former mayor Penny Lucas, along with former Ignace staffer Jeff Lederer. Others present were Cindy Stark, Wayne Minnear, Janet Lett, and Wayne Creed. Three others put their names forward but weren't present Brad McGrath, Chantal Burch and Julianna Sinclair.
A consultant, E4M representative Peggy Young Loveless, read out a series of 16 questions and council graded each of the candidates' written submissions on a scorecard.
The sitting council member has had little input in the process of finding new candidates, with a consultant retained by the municipality issuing the calls for applications, created the question for candidates, and submitted the application to the township. Each application was then given a number instead of having the candidate’s name attached.
“We gave the direction in what we wanted, but we haven’t been involved in that process. I don’t even know who applied actually, which is fair,” said interim mayor Kim Baigrie in an interview before the council meeting.
Although the process is somewhat unorthodox to evaluate applications in a council meeting open to the public, Baigrie said the process is meant to create a level of transparency in their quest to fill two vacant positions.
“We just choose that this was the best way to do it,” said Baigrie.
When asked if she was looking for particular qualifications or educational background, Baigrie said, “not really, just to be friendly.”
Baigrie said she would like to have councillors that want to get involved with the community and do their best.
The questions asked of applicants ranged from the typical canvassing questions candidates would hear from the public, to more hypothetical questions which included topics like amalgamation.
At the tail end of the evaluation, each candidate was able to speak to the council and the public.
Lederer refers to the town as a “boom-and-bust” community but also spoke about its reliance.
“I really want to see support for small businesses and entrepreneurship that is supported by government through programs, as well as, residents that make our business unique to the area,” he said.
Lucas wants to see the partnerships and hard work of the last four years continue.
“My advice to council is to look at the community improvement plan. Good money was spent to consult the people, to gather the evidence, and to produce the document. What is the point of spending hard-earned tax dollars and hiring consultants if you are not going to follow up on their expert advice,” said Lucas.
Stark advocated for the seniors housing project which was axed by the current council earlier this year.
“If there is a chance that we can get funding and support to get this project across the finish line, we have to give it a try. Our seniors deserve a choice,” said Stark.
Minnear summed up the municipal council by three distinct themes — teamwork, cooperation, and feedback.
“The Council is in a predicate here with appointed people. They require teamwork. They require cooperation not only from the council themselves but from the municipal employees, from the municipality themselves. Teamwork, cooperation, and positive feedback from the employee and from the town itself.,” said Minnear.
Lett would like to see council invest in the town’s current infrastructure.
“My vision for Ignace includes a township that maintains high standards that are mindful of aesthetics of infrastructures, repairs, improvements, and advancements. A community that supports existing businesses and services,” said Lett.
Creed would like to see the town boom again.
“What happened to Ignace over the last few years after the mine closed, it happened to everybody. Not just here. It happened in Dryden. It happened in Manitouwadge or Hearst. The whole northwest is done terribly and the government hasn’t done anything for us. I just like to see it get back to that and that would be slow building towards it,” said Creed.
Council will make their final decision on which of the 10 candidates will fill the vacant positions on July 3 and then they will be sworn in on July 4.
