For almost two months Westwood Court owner Don Petersen, a citizen of Red Deer, may have felt at times he was battling alone against Innisfail council about its plan to put a dump beside his park. Last Sunday (July 15) he categorically discovered in a big, loud and emotional way he is not alone.
About 40 Westwood residents showed up at the trailer court park for a rally and Petersen's passion against the town plan was clearly welcomed during a 15-minute speech.
“We don't need to put dumps in peoples' backyards. And you may notice they didn't propose it for their backyards. We should ask some of them where they live and whether they would like that,” said Petersen to loud enthusiastic applause. “Would they propose this for Dodd's Lake or all the fancy neighbourhoods? No. They proposed it for over here.”
Petersen, who has owned the park for about 20 years, told his audience the town's decision not to consult himself or residents about its plan was “weird.
“Obviously it was a contentious issue and they weren't about to publicize it because they knew the reaction they would get,” said Petersen, who wrote his own letter of protest to council in May and made a personal presentation to council last month. “I told them (council) it is not good for Innisfail. It besmirches our community. Let's put it to be bed and pretend it never happened. And then I said, ‘That is how serious we are about it and if you force us we will get it out in the public domain.”
He implored trailer court citizens to come to town council's regular meeting on July 14 with as many of their fellow citizens as possible. He said solidarity was crucial.
“We really do need a ton of people out on Monday night. Wouldn't it be neat if the line up went right out into the parking lot?,” said Petersen. “It would be a wonderful thing if you folks spoke up and said, ‘We are not second-class citizens and you are not getting away with that.”
Petersen said he agreed with the growing consensus of trailer park residents that council should cancel its waste transfer site relocation plan immediately and not wait for a September open house to decide the issue.
“They should just select an alternate site. There are lots available,” said Petersen.
