Two years down, one to go.
In October 2013 Drumheller residents will be going to the polls in a municipal election. While it is a year away, The Drumheller Mail surveyed the current council on their plans.
One sitting councillor has decided not to let voters predict his fate. Andrew Berdahl has decided that following his second term, he will not seek office again.
“There is a healthy lifespan for a councillor. The ideal is somewhere between two or three terms. I am still a young man, I still have things to do, who knows what will happen in the future," he said.
He adds that the change to the term to four years made an impact on his decision. On September 27, Minister of Municipal Affairs Doug Griffiths announced that municipal councillors will now sit for four year terms instead of three.
Many councillors say they have not decided if they will let their name stand.
Councillor Garbutt says there are a number of factors to consider including the four-year term and the impact on his personal and professional lives.
“I also have to consider the trust that was put in me by those who voted for me to be the voice they need at the council table, to be the one asking the hard questions that they want answers to. I value that trust and have enjoyed the challenge that comes with swimming against the stream,” he said.
Councillor Doug Stanford is also working on his decision. A four-year term is one factor he is looking at.
“I will have to talk to my family to see what they think about the sacrifices that are made,” he said.
Councillor Tom Zariski is also weighing his decision against the province’s decision to extend terms to four years.
“Four years is a long time to commit to an office. I have to make sure I will be able to fulfill all of my municipal responsibilities for that length of term,” he said.
Lisa Hansen-Zacharuk however has decided that political life is for her, at least for the next term if voters are in agreement.
“I love the fact I can help shape the future of Drumheller, represent those who put me in this position, and make a difference. Those are a few reasons, but mostly because I love this community,” she said.
Councillor Sharel Shoff also indicates she is interested in running again.
“I enjoy the challenge of being an elected official, and I believe I can give back to my community and the residents to make Drumheller an even better place to live,” she said.
Mayor Terry Yemen has also decided to seek reelection. He lists a number of accomplishments for this council including the completion of the Badlands Community Facility (BCF), the rededication of the Cenotaph, and the Miner's Memorial. One of the biggest accomplishments during his time as mayor has been renegotiating the water and wastewater agreement with the Drumheller Institution.
Hansen-Zacharuk also sees the new contract with the Institution as beneficial as well as the completion of the east water line.
The BCF was almost unanimoulsy identified as a key accomplishment for council and a priority moving forward as well.
“The bill for the Community Facility has yet to be paid in full, we have no choice but to succeed in reaching the fundraising target,” said Garbutt.
A number of councillors listed communications as an accomplishment for the council, as they have been getting out in the community frequently. Berdahl states that one accomplishment he sees as being important is not just communication, but the forum in which communication exists.
“Politically, to have conversations about how we finance the things we choose… what we choose to do, and how we choose to do it, are important conversations. Part of my goal at the beginning was to make conversations more challenging, more public and I thought we did a good job of this in the first term, and I would like to see more of it at the end of this term.”
The Mail asked each councillor if they had $1 million in extra funding what would they commit it to. Councillors Garbutt, Hansen-Zacharuk, Berdahl and Mayor Yemen all listed paying down the BCF as a priority.
Stanford identifies the BCF as a priority moving forward, but said he would use the $1 million to beautify the Town of Drumheller in areas they are not able to use Municipal Sustainability Initiative funds. Zariski identified the Sunshine Lodge as an area of priority.
Shoff would direct extra funds to a number of priorities including completing some of the sidewalk program, improving signage in the town by replacing outdated signs, beautifying the entrances to Drumheller, hiring an arborist to study and look after the trees program, building a new waterslide for the pool, improving the seniors lodge, looking after the brownfields so other businesses can locate on the land, and completing the heritage program to improve buildings in the town.
Moving ahead, councillors are in agreement that work needs to continue. Priorities for Hansen-Zacharuk include beautification of the town, in particular the entrances, continuing to push for regional water agreements, Aquaplex upgrades, and trying to keep the mill rate as low as possible.
For Zariski, he says a priority is to continue to push for funds for infrastructure.
“There is a huge infrastructure deficit that all communities in Alberta are trying to address. Our roads, bridges, water lines, sidewalks, equipment, etc. are all getting older and are in need of replacement,” said Zariski.
Stanford lists selling more water to Kneehill County to drive down water rates, more affordable housing, cleaning and remediation of Michichi Creek, working towards funding for a new RCMP officer for the penitentiary, Town Hall relocation, working on the 2013 Centennial Celebration, Badlands Facility Funding, and the CN Rail line as priorities.
Shoff would like to see future infrastructure upgrades and trying to complete the Town municipal sustainability plan by implementing a cost effective transportation system.
Mayor Yemen is looking forward to seeing work on the second phase of the Badlands Community Facility begin.