December 9th, 2021
The vote breakdown the RM gave us showed clear divisions. Results from the Raymore YES 177-10 and Semans/Nokomis voting NO 155-38.
The referendum was the second time a new shop was put to a vote by ratepayers. The first time a referendum stopped the building of the shop. This time the vote has gone the other way.
It’s not the result that Wayne Hicks and the group against the RM building the shop were hoping for - “I’m not real happy about it. But we said that it went to the constituents, and they voted yes to build a new shop I guess that’s what would happen.”
For Hicks, this is the end of the road for him opposing the new shop. But it may not be for others on the West side of the municipality as some ratepayers in the West continue to be unhappy with the RM’s direction.
But for Hicks, he said he is done. “I said I would do this, and I’ve done my part and I think I’m finished. I pretty much said that in the council chambers that if the ratepayers voted yes to build a new shop that I’d shut my mouth.”
The ratepayers didn’t vote on one contentious issue- the building’s location. Some people want the shop to stay in its current location in Semans and those, including the Council, want it built in Raymore. Hicks believes the RM will build it in Raymore. “We don’t have much choice. They’ve made up their mind that it’s going to Raymore and I’m not going to fight that either.”
Evan Doidge is a ratepayer who is supportive of the new shop. “I’m all for it. At some point times have to change and we’ve got to move forward.”
Doidge said he used to work for the RM and that while it doesn’t matter to him where the RM builds the shop - he thinks that Raymore is the better choice. “I know how many trips are made to Raymore for items that Semans can’t offer.” On the day we went by, employees were taking a break in a sea-can beside the shop. Doidge thinks that the employees will do a better job when happy and comfortable.
Ian Saul, who was also in the no camp, said, “We are kind of disheartened we don’t know where to go. It’s back to the Semans Raymore thing, it’s basically what it is all the time anyways. Everybody down there wants one thing and everybody over here wants another.”
“I think we are just going to lick our wounds for awhile and talk things over and see what the next move is - if there is a next move. I know the guys at Nokomis would love to separate and I’m of the same mind, but I don’t know how we’d accomplish that.”
The Chief Administrative Officer at the RM, Ashley Greenshields, said that Council has not discussed the plan going forward.
The breakdown of the vote:
• Semans, including mail-in ballots (4 mail-in ballots were spoiled due to not receiving them back)
- Yes – 33
- No – 112
• Raymore
- Yes – 177
- No – 10
• Nokomis
- Yes – 5
- No – 43
• Thomas’
- Yes – 23
- No – 5
Reeve Bob Digney said, "I would like to thank everyone who worked at the polling stations, it all went smoothly. I would also like to thank the ratepayers who took time out of their busy schedules to cast their votes, a great turnout. On behalf of myself and council have a merry Christmas and a safe holiday."
Jennifer Argue, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Note: These reports are abridged for content
