Stettler P&H Preservation Society AGM Suspended For One Month

Meeting suspended for one month after proposal to remove grain elevator from preservation society 

There was a contentious atmosphere at the Stettler Agri-plex on Tuesday, April 8 as members of the Stettler P&H Preservation Society gathered for their 20th annual general meeting. 

The society’s board has been at odds with the owner Stan Eichhorn, over the filings of CRA charitable receipts, grants for a local history book and decisions on what should be restored at the grain elevator. 

Repair Work Needed

Eichhorn said the annex building roof needs repair & paint work to restore the damage from the 2019 hailstorm. He also stated no work has been done on the elevator in the past two and a half years.

Eichhorn mentioned there is $27,000 set aside in a GIC to be used for repairs, but believes the cost would be upwards of $80,000 to complete the restoration work on the annex building. 

He also mentioned that new memberships to the elevator have nearly dried up and that they are looking to restart fundraising efforts such as the fall supper & pancake breakfast. 

Financial Reporting Issues Raised

Issues have been brewing for some time as the 2024 AGM was cut short before board elections & financial statements could be filed.

Audited financial statements were also unavailable for this meeting over discrepancies involving grants for the P&H Elevator history book. 

Board member Alf Erichsen made a statement on behalf of the board, saying they were unaware of two grants for the history book until they were deposited into their account and that they do not qualify for restoration grants until the others are used.

Preservation Society Review Committee

In June 2024, a review committee was struck to look over the bylaws of the preservation society. The members of the review committee raised conflicts between ownership and the society, as well as use of grants, fundraising dollars and record keeping.

Members of the review committee also felt the board was invalid, as last year’s AGM was cut short before board elections could be held. 

2025 Preservation Society Board Elections

Coming into this year’s elections, members of the review committee formed a slate to be voted in as a new board for the preservation society.

Members of the preservation society as a whole instead chose by a show of hands to individually nominate members to the board.

An election process followed, resulting in ten board directors made up of members nominated from the floor, as well as past board members and a few from the review committee. 

Office Records & Equipment

Chair Stan Eichhorn then moved to the issue of office records & computer equipment, which he states have not been in the yellow building listed as the registered office of the elevator for the past two and a half years. 

He stated they had until Saturday, April 12 to return them or legal action would be taken. In response, Treasurer-Secretary Tracy Robinson asked if CRA charitable receipts would be in a locked cabinet in the office as well by this date, in which Eichhorn agreed. 

Removal of Elevator From Preservation Society/Meeting Suspension

He then moved to remove the elevator from the preservation society, thus dissolving the preservation society under section 19 of the provincial Societies Act. 

Mayor Sean Nolls who was there to oversee the election process as a neutral party,  asked Mr. Eichhorn to allow the new board to meet.

Preservation society members in attendance voted in approval of a one month suspension of the meeting. 

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