Jumbo fireworks at City Council

Kimberley Mayor Jim Ogilvie

A fiery Mayor Jim Ogilvie defended what he called “an attack on my integrity and reputation” at Council on Monday evening, as he was challenged on the process leading up to his vote at the Regional District of East Kootenay decision on Jumbo land use.

In August the RDEK voted eight to seven to designate the Jumbo Glacier a Resort Municipality, passing decision making power on the controversial resort to the hands of the provincial government. Ogilvie was one of those voting yes, and rightly or wrongly, has been perceived by some as being the swing vote in the decision.

The matter was brought to Council in the form of a letter from Kimberley resident Steve Tersmette.

Mr. Tersmette, in his letter, asked that “Council openly debate the decision that sent a local land use issue to the Provincial government. Kimberley’s vote in favour of the Jumbo Glacier Resort project was not debated by Council prior to the RDEK vote, nor does it reflect the wishes of many Kimberley residents.

“In a decision of this magnitude, we as voters expect the democratic process to be followed — that includes openness and free debate.

“The decision to bypass City Council was by its very nature undemocratic and a disservice to the residents of Kimberley.”

First term Councillor Brent Bush made a motion to debate the process leading up to the vote, which was seconded by Coun. Paddy Weston.

Ogilvie immediately removed himself as Chair, handing over the gavel to Deputy Mayor Albert Hoglund.

“There’s a matter on the floor I’d like to deal with,” he said. “I’d like to hear a discussion then I’d like to reply.”

“I’ve given this a great deal of thought as to the process and I have a great deal of concern,” Bush said. “I know the Mayor has been mayor for a long time and I have a great deal of respect for that.

“I’m new to Council but something struck me about this supposed democratic process. There should be open and free debate of all points of view and a willingness to listen to points of view at the Council level. Council has some degree of responsibility in forming opinions expressed on behalf of the city.

“It was said the Mayor as City representative would make those decisions, that it’s past precedent that the Mayor goes to the RDEK meeting and votes as he sees fit.

“I would suggest on a decision as big as Jumbo some degree of consultation with Council should take place.

“I would like to see Council have some degree of input and discussion on a major decision like Jumbo. I just wanted to make that point.”

“I don’t agree with the statement that the democratic process was not followed,” Hoglund said. “It’s upon all of Council to find out what’s going on at RDEK. I spoke to the Mayor and told him my view was to keep Jumbo local. Everyone who sits around the table is accountable to make their opinion known.”

Hoglund also had another concern. “Why is Kimberley the only community being attacked here. To my knowledge, no other community is being questioned. I don’t agree the Mayor was the swing vote.”

“I spoke to people outside of Council on this,” Ogilvie said. “My office is always open. I spoke to John Bergenske from Wildsight and Norm Macdonald. I have always operated on the assumption that the Regional District is a separate body. When one person goes he is supposed to take the available information and vote accordingly. We are not the only Council who operates this way.

“I asked the Mayor of Cranbrook, did he discuss it with his Council prior to his vote and he said ‘no’.”

Ogilvie says he asked the mayors of Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford, Radium, Canal Flats and Invermere and none of them discussed it with Council either.

“I got a legal opinion that says it’s not proper to tell the representative how to vote. I may be at fault for not contacting you but if you feel strongly why didn’t you contact me? This is the first time this has happened to me. I have to vote on what’s best for the RDEK and I believe also what was best for the City of Kimberley. I had my reasons for voting as I did and so did seven other voters at the table.”

Coun. Bob McWhinnie said that while he had no problem discussing the process, but not on the basis of a letter that suggests the mayor was making an end run on democracy.

“At no time have I felt left out of the process,” he said. “I always get a warm reception when I go see the Mayor. Going to see him is one way to speak up and in some ways you can make a lot more progress that way. I have heard his views on Jumbo going back to the CORE process. I am amazed at his ability to remember meetings, who said what. We as a Council were democratically elected and we unanimously chose Jim Ogilvie as our representative to the RDEK.

“I am not opposed to a change in our policy in the future, but I don’t like doing it when someone is saying we are doing an end run on the democratic process.”

Coun. Bob West-Sells pointed out that councillors are often sent to conferences such as the UBCM with the ability to vote as they like.

“A lot of us have gone to UBCM and I’ve never had anyone ask me that we vote a certain way on an issue.”

See tomorrow’s Bulletin for more on Council’s Jumbo discussion.

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