Beyond disappointment!!

Gimli mayor and council have again postponed the decision on barricading the snake den to protect it from off-road vehicles.

According to the RM’s public outreach staff, at their July 8 meeting, council decided they would visit the actual den site and then consult stakeholders, legal advisors, public safety officers etc. before approving any plan for protecting the den.

Where have I heard all that before? 

Oh, yeah. Way back in November when I spoke directly to council offering to install protective barricades at my own expense.

What have they been doing since then? Are eight long months not enough time to gather the information they need to take action?

In the meantime, the snakes remain vulnerable and untold numbers continue to die.

It looks increasingly unlikely any decision will be made in time for barricades to be installed before August/September when the snakes return to the den to overwinter.

Will this mayor and council just keep punting snake protection down the road until October 28, 2026 when Gimli’s next municipal election takes place?

Even if this mayor and council do agree to barricades before then, will the newly elected mayor and council follow through in ensuring they actually get installed? Or does this entire 4-year long effort to gain protection for the snakes have to start all over again from square one?

Please, everyone—especially those of you eligible to vote in the Gimli election—contact the mayor and council again to express your alarm, dismay and frustration with their indecision.

Let them know how their lack of action to protect the snakes will influence you when you cast your ballot.

Contact info for mayor and council is here: https://www.gimli.ca/p/municipal-council