Sherwood Park News Question 2, Elaborated answer

Over the next four years the projects, issues and policies I would like to see changed or improved revolve around four key topics: resident's concerns of affordability, particularly affordable water, safer roads, responsible development and additional trails and sidewalks. 

Affordable water has become an important conversation recently with a discussion surrounding the Sherwood Park commercial water fill station (ref. September 10, 2024 doc. Sherwood Drive Truck Fill renewal options). One option being considered is to phase out the Sherwood Park bulk water fill station and redirect all commercial water traffic to the Ardrossan fill station. This option runs the risk of doubling the cost of delivering an essential service to all residents who depend on it. I will rigorously advocate for a solution to this aging infrastructure which includes either a renewal of the commercial bulk water station at the existing Sherwood Park location or a replacement constructed within ward 6 and completed without placing an undue burden on residents of ward 6. 

The potential cost of this commercial water fill station project, regardless of the option council moves forward with, will greatly impact all residents who rely on water service delivery. This leads to a policy concern regarding funding of our infrastructure projects. The current funding structure seems to rely heavily on tax dollars when infrastructure reaches the end of life. I will advocate for a more robust reserve fund strategy in Strathcona County where we save for infrastructure renewal projects rather than relying solely on tax dollars collected and/or increased fees. Each existing piece of infrastructure in Strathcona County should have funds saved and invested over its lifespan for future replacement thus capturing time and investment growth over that lifetime to negate burdensome costs placed on residents as well, offsetting the effects of inflation.

Two additional important issues residents in ward 6 have expressed concern around is road safety and pedestrian sidewalks or trails, both of which are high priority items in my campaign. Excessive speed on county roads has become an increasing concern in recent years and to reduce the risk of serious collisions it is necessary to explore various speed controls and/or enforcement measures. I will place a priority on exploring options with county transportation and safety departments and other experts in this field to find solutions that work to make our roads safer. 

Hand in hand with initiatives to limit the risks on our roads is reducing pedestrian traffic on those roads. The most effective means for this is adding trails and multi-use sidewalks where feasible. Prior to 2020 I served as community league president in ward 6 (Whitecroft Community League) and during this time submitted a robust plan to the county indicating potential locations for trails and sidewalks to interconnect rural subdivisions. I will continue to advocate for trails and multi-use sidewalk projects in our ward.

Another comment that has been expressed regularly during my porch visits with residents is the gratitude of being blessed to live in Strathcona County, myself included. It is a beautiful place to call home and maintaining that takes intentionality. Together with planning and development I will explore whether some bylaws and development requirements are overly burdensome and negatively effect growth in the county and if additional guidelines are required for residential and commercial developments to address some concerns I heard in regard to maintaining the beauty and enjoyment of our countryside.

Sherwood Park News Question 3, Elaborated answer

My approach to budgeting and fiscal responsibility is simple. The county budget can not push property tax increases over the federal inflation rate and council must think outside the box to keep increases below inflation, particularly during a high inflationary cycle. 

                   One important and immediate strategy is to implement a policy discussed in my previous response concerning funding of our infrastructure projects. The current funding structure seems to rely heavily on tax dollars when infrastructure reaches the end of life. I will advocate for a more robust reserve fund strategy in Strathcona County where we save for infrastructure renewal projects rather than relying solely on tax dollars collected and/or increased fees. Each existing piece of infrastructure in Strathcona County should have funds saved and invested over its lifespan for future replacement thus capturing time and investment growth over that lifetime to negate burdensome costs placed on residents as well, offsetting the effects of inflation.

                   Additionally, non-essential projects which look good, but don’t necessarily benefit all residents will be considered only if priority infrastructure projects are fully funded, the project doesn’t incur debt and it does not drive our property tax adjustments above inflation. 

                   Finally, I receive a lot of feedback regarding over building county projects and have experienced this personally when working with the county. Examples of this are found in many projects from our recreational play structures, green space gazebo structures and county buildings that have architectural designs which greatly increase building costs. Efficiencies could potentially decrease construction costs by twenty five percent or more without negatively effecting the quality or enjoyment. I will implement a review strategy to look for those efficiencies in proposed projects.

                   Finally (apologies if this sounds redundant from my previous response), I would like to express my personal gratitude for all those I have had the opportunity to visit with during my campaign, for the beauty of the changing season, the blessing to live in our incredible county and all we enjoy because of this. Most importantly, I would like to thank God for my family, friends and health and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!