Klondike Sun ~ January 13, 2010
Dowdell and Digby Honoured as Farmers of the Year
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Klondike MLA Steve Nordick presents the Farmer of the Year plaque to Grant Dowdell and Karen Digby
Story & Photo
by Dan Davidson
Grant Dowdell and Karen Digby were honoured as 2009’s Farmers of the Year at the North of 60° Agriculture Banquet in November. At the time Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Archie Lang spoke highly of their efforts.
“Grant and Karen’s hard work has enriched their local community and demonstrates how local agriculture in Yukon can really make a difference.”
Speaking in the Legislature on November 9, Lang expanded on his comments.
“They are recognized and much admired for their contribution to Yukon’s agricultural sector and through that contribution to everyday life for those in their local community of Dawson City.
“Grant and Karen’s three-acre farm is located about eight miles upstream from Dawson on a small island and produces a variety of vegetables, herbs and bedding plants.
“The much sought-after products of Grant and Karen’s hard work can be found at Dawson’s Saturday markets on the waterfront and in the local grocery stores and restaurants that proudly advertise the farm’s produce. During the summer, bouquets of their farm’s flowers grace many of the historic buildings, hotels and homes in Dawson City.”
Scott Widmeyer discusses issues with councillor Stephen Johnson.
Dawson Hires Acting CAO
Story & Photo
by Dan Davidson
As of January 8, Dawson City is shy a full complement of senior administrative staff by two key positions. So council has hired Scott Widmeyer to serve as Acting Chief Administrative Officer while it seeks to fill these positions.
Former CAO Eldo Enns stepped down just days after the October municipal elections.
Since that time those duties have been shared between Senior Financial Officer Jackie Olson and Fire Chief Jim Regimbal. Olson, however, was lured away to a post with the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in’s Heritage Dept., and gave notice in December.
In the time since the election, council has posted the CAO job. There were fourteen applicants. Two were short-listed and one actually took an unsuccessful telephone interview. It was decided to post the position again.
The new council, with just two members held over from the last administration, has been having some difficulty holding effective meetings since October. There have been nearly as many overtime sessions as there were in the previous three years and several special meetings which have had to be called to resolve contentious issues, one of which was the matter of hiring a new CAO. Given all that, it was felt that a temporary CAO might be able to assist them in getting tuned up as well as help with the hiring situation.
Councillors Ashley Doiron and Wayne Potoroka have been at some pains to indicate that the decision to hire a temporary CAO at a cost of $800 a day does not mean that council lacks confidence in its existing staff.
“The interim CAO isn’t being brought in to make sweeping changes or ‘fix’ anything,” Potoroka said. “He’s here to provide temporary cover and, more than anything, assist in the search for a new CAO. He’ll also be able to provide roles and procedures training for Council, which would have happened in the fall if a CAO had been in place.
“Jim and Jackie have done a great job as our Acting CAOs, but our management team is down to half capacity come the end of the week. Getting some short-term help seems prudent and, frankly, important.”
The ten point terms of reference for the Acting CAO include leading the search for a new CAO and training both Mayor and Council in procedures, roles and responsibilities. Point 7 specifically states that “No systems in place that are used by the City of Dawson are to be altered or replaced without the express consent of the Town Council or the City of Dawson.”
Widmeyer is a former resident of Dawson (1978-1985) who currently lives at Lake Laberge. He has worked in various Yukon communities and was one of two individuals recommended to the town for this contract by the Dept. of Community Services.
Widmeyer arrived in Dawson on Friday, just in time to attend a farewell luncheon for Jackie Olson.
“I’ve been to just about every municipality in the territory,” Widmeyer said. “I think Dawson was the only one I skipped, because I lived here. From here we went to Haines Junction, Watson Lake, Carmacks and Teslin. But we’ve always had a residence at Lake Laberge.”
Widmeyer has indicated to council that he is available to assist until the middle of February.
Download full online edition: (pdf – 12.58 MB)
IN THIS ISSUE (24 pages!):
1 – Farmers of the Year / Acting Ch. Admin. Officer at Town
2 – Staff Holiday holidays/New Rec Centre for Dawson?
3 – Truck in Ice stays there
4 – Uffish: Trends in Political Debate/Nemo’s Notions
5 – Letter from our Readers/Town Calendar of Events
6 – Farmers/L. Goyette falls in Love with Dawson
7 – Northern Light, Northern Darkness by L. Goyette/MLA Letter to Mayor re: Arena
8 – Student Art at Odd Gallery
9 – KIAC-SOVA Open Studio
10 – Scrooge at R. Service School
11 – Christmas Eve at St. Paul’s
12-16 – TV Guide pages deleted
17 – Northern Light by Goyette
18 – W. Ogilvie #1/Beaded Moccasins at Dänojà Zho
19 – Beyond the Ice Cube Social Equity Films/Landfill Cups for 25¢ extra/Black-billed Magpie
20 – Housetraining your Puppy/A Very Special Pitmas to You
21 – Bookends: Anatomy of a Dating Scam/Comics Page
22 – CKS Plugs in for Paper Pick-Up/Evan Rensch joins the Sun/Christmas Eve Mirage/Enterprising Kids bake Pennies 4 Patients
23 – Classifieds, Jobs, Business Directory & Quickies
24 – City of Dawson News & YESAB Open House on Dome Rd. (Mining & Subdivisions?)
