Three Turner Valley councillors are off on the campaign trail looking for another term.
Councillors Barry Crane, Gerald Pfeil and John Waring each hope to be re-elected to another term on council with a focus ranging from improving recreation to moving forward with amalgamation. The municipal election takes place Oct. 16.
Barry Crane
Crane said he offers a young family perspective to council. As the youngest member of council, he said he contributed to establishing the spray park, improving pedestrian safety with additional crosswalks and pathways and increasing the parks and pathways budget to $100,000.
“When we look at successful communities you can look at Canmore, Cochrane and Okotoks as perfect example of good use of green space,” he said. “We have to look at our green spaces as a thriving community centre and a place for the community to meet, grow and create the sense of community that we all moved out there for.”
If elected, Crane plans to put his energy into establishing more partnership programs with neighbouring communities to save costs and increase economic development.
Crane said he supports amalgamating Black Diamond and Turner Valley. A feasibility study was released earlier this summer exploring the options of amalgamation, sharing more services and remaining status quo.
“Amalgamation is inevitable,” he said. “We have to plan now for when that happens. We have to design our growth accordingly if we are the next destination.”
Crane said he will continue to work towards reducing expenses and being a voice for the public, if elected.
“By being a part of the future council I can bring all the thoughts from the grassroots of the town forward and make sure their voices are heard as I’ve done in the past through being open to anyone on the street, phone calls and being involved with all of the non-profit organizations in Turner Valley and Black Diamond,” he said.
Gerald Pfeil
Pfeil goes into next month’s municipal election with seven years experience on council.
He is proud of the visible improvements to Turner Valley during that time and council’s commitment to upgrading its infrastructure.
“Now that we’ve got that in hand, the Town is looking good,” he said.
If elected, Pfeil said he would like to examine existing and new capital projects in depth and highlight the operational cost fall out of each to minimize and, potentially, reduce the financial burden on residents.
While on the Westwinds Communities and Foothills Regional Emergency Services Commission boards, Pfeil said he went out of his way to ensure there weren’t increases to the Town’s financial contribution to those services.
“In my committees and council I have always held our residents’ interests first and foremost, particularly where we may incur costs or possible increases,” he said. “I’m a resident of the town, not just a councillor, and that’s the approach I take. Anything that effects the residents I pay attention to and do my best to see that it’s positive.”
Pfeil said he is proud of the strides the Town made in improving recreation, but there is more to do.
“I am going to explore and support every initiative to upgrade and create recreational needs for our adults and youth,” he said. “In identifying our needs and concerns I want to encourage continuing expanding resident involvement in all aspects of Turner Valley’s future success.”
John Waring
Waring has served on council since the 2014 byelection, and hopes for another four years to continue existing projects and tackle new initiatives.
Among his priorities is high-speed Internet and amalgamation.
“The advantage to amalgamation is that you’re going to be one tax base and you’re not in competition with each other,” he said. “If a person or business moves to either town we are all going to gain. When you look at the layout of the land and the location of the two towns Black Diamond is much more location friendly for expanding for businesses in light development on the east side towards Okotoks whereas we’ve got a lot of land available for housing development.”
Waring would like to see council spend more time on transparency and fiscal responsibility over the next term.
“It’s difficult to explain to people why things cost what they cost,” he said. “It would be nice to try to educate the public to understand why things are that way they are and that we’re not idiots.”
Waring has contributed to implementing a speed limit reduction and pedestrian projects like pathways and crosswalks, and would like to see more done for recreational opportunities.
Waring has a varied background he takes to the council table.
“Most of my life I’ve been involved in project management,” he said. “I’ve got a background in financial control, engineering, budgeting, business development.”
Those looking to run for mayor and council in Turner Valley have between 10 a.m. and noon on Sept. 18 to submit their nomination forms at the municipal office.
