Richard Froese
South Peace News
Big Lakes County has named members to the inter-municipal weed and pest appeal board for 2025.
At its regular meeting Feb. 12, council appointed Brianne Brault, George Blackhurst, Duane Nichols and Doug Meneice to represent Big Lakes. They are the same members as 2024.
Council also approved M.D. of Greenview members Lisa Dorscheid, Douglas Vandermark, Jeff Laughlin, John Vinette and Dave Gibbard and County of Northern Lights members Gary These, Kayln Schug, Brenda Yasinski, Brent Reese, Gloria Dechant, Terry Ungarian and Linda Halabisky.
“Big Lakes County is a member of the inter-municipal Weed and Pest Control Appeal Board whose primary function is to allow for prompt impartial appeal hearings to producers wishing to appeal a weed or pest notice or a debt recovery notice (if a pest notice has been enforced),” said Ben Letemplier, director of public works.
The board is comprised of members appointed from municipal partners that also includes Northern Sunrise County, which has yet not appointed its members, he added.
“An appeal board must be independent of council of the municipality in which the appeal is occurring,” Letemplier told council.
“This is achieved by members of the inter-municipal appointees being selected from the neighbouring municipalities to where the appeal is occurring.”
All members of the board are appointed annually by each council under provincial legislation.
Administration is very supportive of the appeal board as it is a valuable and impartial asset in addressing weed or pest appeal notices, he said.
“The suggested appointees are primarily members-at-large for their respective Agricultural Service Boards except for the County of Northern Lights that has appointed its council members, “Letemplier noted.
“While members at- large have a close-working relationship with council, they can perform their role and give advice independent from their own council and free of any council-to-council dynamics,” Letemplier said.
“This allows them to serve as impartial board members between the partner municipalities.
“As ASB members, they are already familiar with weed and pest issues pertinent to ASB work, they have experience performing board functions and have existing commitments to be available for county-related tasks relevant to their role on the ASB.”