Mayor's Corner (Maybe referred to as the first campaign speech?)

Mayor's Corner

Summer is gone, rivers have receded to near normal, the leaves are turning yellow, the kids are back to school and some are leaving for college and we are all in the process of adjusting to a new schedule knowing all too well that Halloween and snow are but a few months away. This year there will be a change in our schedule in that it will be an election year. I encourage anyone with an interest in the well being and progress of our community to consider “running”. Particularly I encourage any of our many, many competent and intelligent women to step forward. Speaking of schedules, the time requirement for elected officials has changed. Terms are now four years. In some quarters it has been estimated that the extra year may cause as many as thirty to forty percent of current mayors not to run. It gave me pause for thought so I noted down the “very approximate” time commitments one would need if elected. It is quite a bit of time and doesn’t include issues that come up daily. In no particular order they are, or would be (based on an eleven month year), approximately: 88 Agenda Preparation Meetings (1 hour each) 8 Alberta Urban Municipalities Association & Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties Conferences (Edmonton/Calgary 3 – 4 days each) 88 Governance and Priorities Committee Meetings (2 hours each) 70 Special Group Meetings/Speaking Invitations (1 – 2 hours each) 88 Council Meetings (3 hours each) 12 Parades (2 hours each) 88 Policy Committee Meetings (3 hours each) 12 Parade Related Activities (2 hours each) 8 Special Meetings – (Approximately 2 hours each) 44 Newsletters and Seasonal Greetings 44 Mayors Meetings – Lethbridge 100 Radio Comments – (Approximately) 44 Alberta SouthWest Meetings (various Southern Alberta communities) 1,040 Daily Conversations with the Chief Administrative Officer 4 Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conventions in various Canadian centres (4 to 5 days each) 1,440 Citizens Calls (over 1 per day) After jotting down these approximations, I realized being the Mayor is quite onerous regardless of how gratifying it is. Well I have until the 23rd of September to decide, as do your current councillors. Our community is starting to thrive. Building permits and construction are up and several new businesses have opened. Planning for a new hotel just South of the Crowsnest Consolidated High School is underway by a private developer. Demolition of the old hospital and Learning Centre should begin this month and meetings with potential developers are occurring and being sought after. The development of the new mine has now been confirmed and the Riversdale people will be making some announcements shortly. At least one family from the Company is living in the Pass with other individuals to arrive shortly. I think a new mine is now a reality. Another mining Company is also interested in the area, however your Council has had no communication from them at this time. Our new entrance signs at the East and West end of our community will be going up by the end of October. Your Council has now begun the process of annexing a portion of the MD of Ranchland. Unlike some of the hysterical newspaper headlines the process will be a logical, sequential series of events with perhaps some heated community meetings along the way. However at the end of the process I feel our Crowsnest Pass will experience huge benefits relative to tax issues and tourism potential for many years into future. Our Prevention Task Force is being developed and individuals are being requested to participate. The Provincial Government has treated us very well relative to the compensation for flood damage and are very pleased with our efforts to mitigate future natural occurrences through Task Force recommendations. All told your Council has come through a difficult summer on top of things. I am looking forward to a long, dry, warm autumn that we can all enjoy. “Every generation thinks its problems are unique and potentially fatal. And yet every generation has survived to the next.”                                                                       Carl Sagan