Only rarely do the faint of heart apply for a leadership role. Leading can be a messy undertaking, fraught with unanticipated challenges and sometimes undeserved criticism. Knowing this, I’ve noted the fortitude of Lynn Wells as head of the Hedley Improvement District for many years. She completed her third and final term last week and Hedley will now need to look for new leadership.
In a two hour conversation in our home, Lynn shared some of her experiences, beginning in 2010. “The community needed to upgrade its fire truck or accept a huge increase in property insurance,” she recalled. “I asked if I could serve on the committee set up to research the matter.” There were widely differing opinions as to whether the town should purchase a new truck or find a used one. At times the discussions in the community became pretty heated. It was Lynn’s first foray into local politics.
In 2011 she ran for a position on the Hedley Improvement District (HID). Trustees receive a $100 per year honorarium and are responsible for the water system, street lighting and fire department. She paused for a moment to reflect, then said, “I didn’t know what to expect. It was a steep learning curve. I wanted to understand what I had become involved in so I looked into the history and responsibilities of improvement districts. I learned the HID had been set up in 1952. Funding is an issue because we’re not permitted to apply to the provincial government for funds. Improvement Districts can apply to the Regional District, but every community has a wish list and there is fierce competition for grants.”
Lynn considers the lack of funds for infrastructure upgrades as Hedley’s most pressing issue. “Several years ago I wrote two proposals requesting grants from the RDOS,” she said. “Elef Christensen, our Area Director at that time, was able to obtain only enough money to replace water pipes on one block of Daly Avenue.”
As in many communities in our province, much of our water system is well past the “best before” date. Underlying this issue is a longstanding debate as to whether Hedley should join the RDOS. This could give us access to provincial grants, providing of course the government isn’t bankrupted by the covid crises. In the past there has been a solid wall of opposition to this prospect. Some old timers in town attach great importance to the almost complete lack of building and other regulations.
Lynn pointed out that whatever course of action we take, we must expect there will be an increase in taxes and fees. She is acutely aware this could cause hardship for people on fixed incomes. In spite of the drawbacks, she favours joining the RDOS. Last spring she felt the town could not ignore the issue much longer and wanted to initiate the required consultations with local citizens. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing nixed this idea due to the covid pandemic.
“We have low levels of arsenic in the water,” she said. “If this rises above the permitted level, Interior Health may require us to upgrade our infrastructure. To undertake this ourselves would entail borrowing about 2 million dollars. If we join the RDOS, they may cover up to 75 percent. To this time we’ve been applying bandaid solutions in emergency situations. This siphons off funds saved for capital projects. It’s not sustainable.”
To this time Lynn has stickhandled the community through the various water issues. The trustees have held town meetings to provide information and explain HID decisions. One of these meetings became boisterous, with a few disgruntled citizens throwing unfair barbs at her. Resilient and resolute, Lynn remained unflustered, refuted the allegations graciously and carried on. Someone else might have walked out of the meeting in frustration. The most effective leaders are able to remain focused on important objectives and not be distracted by opposition.
In recent years a number of people have moved out of Hedley for health and other reasons. New people with fresh ideas and greater means are taking their place. Also, some of us who have been here a while are realizing we need to begin seriously grappling with the water issue before the system crumbles. Change is coming. Without Lynn Wells leading, we really should all pay more attention and accept greater responsibility for our community. Thanks, Lynn, for your years at the helm.