A public meeting was held April 2 in the N. Smith Room of the Borden Community Centre to hear the candidates running for mayor and councillor. Valerie Fendlet, RM administrator, was mediator and timekeeper for the meeting. Frank Silcox welcomed everyone then the rules were set out. Each candidate had five minutes to speak then questions that people had written down were read and each candidate was given 90 seconds to reply.
Running for mayor are Tony Beaudry and Tom Redhead, and for one councillor seat Tony Martens, Cody Bradshaw and Ferne Hebig (absent).
Tony Beaudry owns the Model T Bar & Grille. He has lived in Borden eight years. He said he plans to retire here. He has been on council one term and said he would be more available to the public at the village office every day.
Redhead has lived here eight years. He co-owns and manages a Saskatoon business. He has served on the recreation board and council for the past two years. Redhead said he would work well with the present council and the people he would represent.
Bradshaw has lived in Borden since August of 2014 and works as shop manager at a service centre in Langham. He said he likes the way growth has progressed at Borden, and hopes it would keep growing, but not too fast. Bradshaw envisions a 25-year plan for the village and said he would be a fresh set of eyes in planning the future of the village.
Martens has lived here 15 years as pastor of a church, serving 13 years as a high school basketball coach, involved with many aspects of the school and village. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and worked with the Borden people through the drought, flood, loss of two basketball players and said, as a councillor, he would represent the people to the best of his ability.
Fendlet read over a dozen questions, that each candidate could speak. Questions were about transparency, updating information to the people, having annual meetings, the fence built along 2nd Avenue, post meeting reports, agenda ahead of time to inform public what is happening at council meetings, use base tax or minimum tax and where do you see Borden in 10 years?Â
Acting mayor Ian Tracksell and former mayor David Buckingham (2006-2015) both spoke on what has been done and what the future holds. They explained the need for two meetings a month and remuneration.
Larry Trischuk, on behalf of those present, presented a bouquet of flowers to Fendlet in appreciation for a job well done.
The advance poll is April 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and election day is April 15 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., both in the Borden Community Centre.
Congratulations to Jonathon and Jeanette Hauk of Borden on the birth of their first child. Ivy Laura Ann was born March 30. Grandparents at Borden are Earl and Laura Unruh.
The Borden Lakeland library have started a Lego Club for children of any age to meet Tuesdays from 3:20 to 4:45 p.m. and create. There is a theme each week and so far they have built articles on space, city, ocean and farm themes. The finished Lego items remain in the library. The afternoon is supervised by a member of the library board. Avery Fairbrother has loaned his Lego for the project, but donations are always welcome of more Lego or cash to add to the supply. The 17 to 28 kids sit on the floor in the library or seniors’ room on blankets to build their creations. Except for Easter week, they will continue until June when the project will be taken over by the museum for July and August. The winner of the dessert of the month for March was Duncan Sutherland who, shared his decorated cupcakes with his schoolmates.
Radisson Royal Purple ladies will be busy judging posters at their meeting April 8 as there are 76 entries in from Grades 1 to 6 and Grade 10. There is also one DVD entered. The entries are from Borden and Maymont schools. The topic for 2015 is Keeping Your Brain Healthy as the Sask. Royal Purple Society has teamed up with Sask. Brain Injury Association.
