Public Hearing to discuss $120,000 request
The RM of Argyle held a public hearing on November 13th, at the Baldur Memorial Hall, inviting community members to come out and ask questions, offer their comments, and hear what their neighbours are thinking regarding the request from the Spirit Sands Medical Clinic Committee (Clinic Committee) for $120,000 in support of the new Spirit Sands Medical Clinic.
In attendance at the meeting were RM of Argyle CAO Ayeh Arta, Reeve Mike Everett, Deputy Reeve Alan Skardal, and Councillors Lana Grenier, Jesse Janz, Ross Ballantine, Joedy Desrochers, and Kory VanDamme.
Also in attendance was Brenda Tosh, Clinic Committee Secretary and representative from Glenboro Health Auxiliary, and Terry Dubyts from the Glenboro Health Action Committee.
A large group of Argyle residents attended the meeting, with several individuals respectfully asking valid questions and sharing pointed comments.
The questions and comments from the audience were each addressed, with additional explanation given as needed.
The Reeve has explained that a decision regarding this request will not be made until spring 2025, when the Argyle municipal budget is brought down.
Note: If you have questions or comments regarding the request from the Clinic Committee, please forward them to the RM of Argyle office.
The Clinic Committee has reached out to all of the municipalities supporting the Spirit Sands Medical Clinic project for financial support. Included is not only the Municipality of Argyle, but also the Municipalities of Oakland Wawanesa, Prairie Lakes, and Victoria.
The calculation used to derive the monetary amount requested from each Municipality is based on the percentage number of current Glenboro Clinic patients living in each of the separate municipalities.
The Clinic Committee continues to fundraise and move this project forward to ultimately ensure that the Spirit Sands Medical Clinic will not only break ground in the spring of 2025, but will continue to provide medical services to Glenboro and the surrounding areas for many years to come.
Alexis Einarson, vice chair of the Clinic Committee who was not able to attend the November 13th Public Hearing later explained that when they initially started looking at how to ease the overcrowding of the existing clinic space while updating the area, they quickly realized their options were severely limited.
Unable to effectively reconfigure the current space and unable to add on to the existing structure, there were no other options available using the current facilities. Discussions with Prairie Mountain Health indicated that they would consider possibly building a clinic, but it wouldn’t be for at least ten years.
This meant that if interested parties in Glenboro wanted to move forward, potentially building a new clinic that would be more likely to attract and retain new doctors as well as retaining the existing Healthcare Professionals, they would have to reorganize and create a plan.
Discussions with past doctors who have left the facility, and existing medical professionals working in the building regarding what was potentially needed in a Clinic to make it more conducive to a healthier and happier work environment were not surprising. Their collective wish lists included: larger and extra exam rooms to allow for an easy rotation of patients; windows for natural light; staff room; office space.
The plans for the new clinic include these requests plus extra additions that had been discussed. The plans for the new clinic also allow for the ability to expand the structure when needed.
Currently the Clinic Committee is waiting to receive the final plans complete with the engineers stamp.
Once those plans are in their possession, they will be able to submit tender requests and start applying for a wide variety of grants.
The next fundraiser for the Spirit Sands Medical Clinic is the Christmas Gala being held November 23 at the Glenboro Community Hall.
There is currently an online 50/50 as well as paper 50/50 tickets available at several Glenboro businesses.
According to Alexis there are many silent and rainbow auction prizes already donated, several worth over $500! “The outpouring of generosity from individuals and businesses from not only Glenboro but also the surrounding areas is overwhelming and the Clinic Committee is so very grateful for the support. We are proud to have so many people supporting this project.”
Although tickets have sold out for the Christmas Gala, there is a waiting list being kept at the Municipal office. Please add your name to the list and when tickets become available they will be offered to those on the waiting list in the order they were added. If you have purchased tickets and can no longer attend, please contact the Municipal office and they can arrange for someone on the waiting list to purchase them.
Photo caption: Terry Dubyts shows some of the councilllors plans for the new Spirit Sands Medical Clinic. PHOTO BY SUZANNE PADDOCK
