Coun. Sheldon Germain has filed a breach of governance complaint over the Conklin Multiplex project after a presentation provided was missing key elements which were supposed to be included. The councillor expressed concern that the latest version of the project does not include RCMP and bylaw detachment office space or a nurse station, both of which were expected. The breach of motion was filed after an October 22 presentation from the Regional Recreation Corporation. During the presentation an updated operational projection was provided that was missing the key elements. According to Coun. Germain “It was in a RMWB press release that there was going to be police and an Alberta Health nursing station there and it wasn’t on the plan, so it alarmed m. I was concerned that there was a pretty big change in the project’s objectives and deliveries.”

What happens now? Since Coun. Sheldon Germain filed a breach of governance complaint the legal counsel for the municipality will have to review the issue and determine whether a breach has actually occurred. A briefing was scheduled but was then canceled for a pre dinner discussion by the agenda committee. According to Mayor Blake who holds a spot on the agenda committee “ It does not belong on the before-dinner discussion. I wouldn’t put it on the council meeting until the oversight committee has had the chance to review it and recommend it to council. What I approved in budget 2015 was inclusive of space that could be used for those purposes. I didn’t have a guarantee that they would be, but the ‘could be’ is just as relevant.” Germain explained his actions and said “Now people can say ‘it’s not governance, it’s details.’ Well I’ll tell you what – a police station and a nursing station for a small community aren’t details, those are important factors that the citizens want. I’m doing all I can to ensure that the residents of Conklin and taxpayers of the region get the services that they need for their communities.”