BN12-37: CO-OP MEMBERS CHOOSE
April 6, 2000
DAWSON CREEK -- Some wholesale changes were the result after Dawson Co-op members cast their ballots Wednesday for seats open on the board of directors.
Winning two-year terms were Reg Norman, Red Wagner, and Allen Watson. Winning a one-year term was Fred Lumnitzer.
All ran on a the same slate and are outspoken opponents of the plan to tear down the existing 60,000-square-foot Co-op Mall and replace it with a 28,000-square-foot food floor and cafeteria. The outspoken opponents now have a majority on the seven-member board.
The announcement, made at about 12:30 a.m. by Lawrence Millar, who oversaw the election, was greeted by loud cheers from those who remained behind at the Kids Kin Arena.
In all, 888 ballots were counted by scrutineers from Schilds Foster Kurjata Ltd., of which six were spoiled. No final tallies for each candidate were given.
"The priority is to mend the fences," Watson said. "And obviously doing what we said we were going to do and that’s have another look at our options."
While that’s happening, Watson said he’s committed to putting in abeyance plans to tear down the mall and to stop the evictions of the mall tenants.
And he said there will be a couple of more meetings in a short time.
"(The members) have said loud and clear that they want more input into the decisions and that’s what we promised them."
Lumnitzer said it’s now a matter of getting together and pursue the agendas laid out in the elected candidates’ speeches. "We feel that’s what the membership wants, and that’s what we’re going to try and give to them."
Wagner said that it will take some time to get a look and the minutes and the agreement to assess the situation. "Certainly it won’t be done in the next two days, but certainly I believe that the tenants will be given notice tomorrow that they can stay in the store."
The fate of the family fashions and what to do about the condition of the store and the finances of the Dawson Co-op will have to be discussed, he said, "and will probably need some expertise that we haven’t got."
Norman said that although they gave separate speeches, they’ll probably be approaching the issue along the same lines.
Mall tenant Frank Ripley, who owns Rip’s Shoe Repair said the outcome gives him hope that he will stay in his present location. "I believe I’ll still be here for the short term and the long-term, he said.
Myrna Gardner, who lost her seat on the board because of the vote, limited her comments to simply saying that she’s "going away and taking a rest."
Ross Ravelli, who also lost his seat, had left before the vote was counted and could not be reached for comment.
Current board director Fern Hansen declined to comment.
2000 Dawson Co-op board from April 5, 2000 AGM
Remaining to complete terms
Fern Hansen
Lawrence Millar
Dennis Mracek
Newly elected to Board
Fred Lumnitzer
Reg Norman
Red Wagner
Allen Watson
Lost their seats in the election
Myrna Gardner
Ross Ravelli
Resigned earlier this year
Juste Hendricks
Gordon Parslow
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