Working on Town Council for 2 years, I have been a catalyst
for constructive change to improve the direction of the community. I supported restructuring
the administration and the promotion of Jon Wilsgard to CAO. I encouraged a
3-year commitment of EOF funds in support of Kicking Horse Culture, suggested
EOF funds be used to cover swimming pool
expenses and supported EOF funding for Invest
Kootenays. I have also found sources of revenue and savings that have
reduced the deficit.
Each of these initiatives will continue to pay dividends
for the future:
- Restructured Town Hall administration has improved morale and resulted in significant savings;
- The balance sheet is stronger with lower long-term debt and property taxes are holding steady;
- Additional shared services are being negotiated between the Town and Area A;
- Invest Kootenays investment will support new entrepreneurs, business and investors interested in exploring economic opportunities in the region.
While these initiatives are creating a positive atmosphere
in the community, this is only the beginning. As your Mayor, I will continue to
work with other members of Council, Area A, and the Administration in order to
build a foundation for today that supports the demands of tomorrow.
Over the next four years, my top priorities will be to
negotiate a Shared Services Agreement with Area A, initiate the Official
Community Plan review, develop Invest
Kootenays for Golden, and achieve financial sustainability for Golden:
- As Mayor, it will be my priority to build upon the progress made in 2014 and complete a comprehensive review of all the shared facilities and services;
- We need to ensure the OCP and Zoning Bylaws are reviewed regularly and updated to support residential and commercial needs and ongoing changes and challenges. This is the foundation to our continued growth and the Golden lifestyle;
- Under the umbrella of Invest Kootenays, a steering committee of volunteers would bring together government, businesses, the Chamber, and individuals to guide our Economic Development
- We need to build our financial reserve funds based on long-term strategies and sound asset management principles. We need to grow our revenue by increasing the tax base, not the tax rates.
Through these measures, the Town of Golden will become more
engaged with the community, more transparent, and more responsive to the
community’s needs. This is the cornerstone of my approach to the role of Mayor .
The opinions expressed in this blog are my personal opinions and may not be the opinions of other Councillors nor the opinion of council.
