After 22 years on council, Okotoks’ mayor isn’t ready to call it a day.
Mayor Bill Robertson announced last week his intention to seek a third term in the position. If elected, it would be his eighth term on town council, extending what has been a 22-year run.
Robertson said there is more he wants to accomplish.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to serve the Town of Okotoks and I feel that I have the people skills to manage that and to contribute to the well-being of the Town,” he said.
Robertson was first elected to council in 1995 and went on to serve five terms as a councillor.
He was elected mayor in 2010 and was re-elected in 2013.
Robertson said he wants to continue to lead the Town as it plans for future development of recently annexed land.
Securing a long-term water supply is job one.
“The top priority is the water pipeline, it’s absolute, but it’s just one piece of the overall puzzle of making sure we have a viable community going forward,” said Robertson.
He said it’s important to protect the values and services residents value as the community grows.
“When we’re talking about the future growth of the community, we’re talking about the future of a lifestyle for people that have planted their roots and expect a certain standard of living, so to speak,” said Robertson. “We need to deliver on those services that are most efficient, effective and most important cost-effective.”
Recreation is an important part of this vision.
Robertson said the Town will need to plan for new recreational facilities as it grows.
“With the growth we will need another arena or two, we’ll need a new swimming pool eventually,” he said.
Robertson said the Town will also need to continue working on plans for a performing arts centre.
He also wants to enhance the Town’s outdoor parks, including new Champion Park, which is set to open to the public next year, and Okotoks’ network of pathways.
“We need to keep that going,” said Robertson. “We have over 70km of pathways and we need to make sure that that’s enhanced and improved upon.”
In the meantime, he said he wants to help the Town as it is incorporated into a new growth management board for the Calgary region.
All the while, Robertson said the Town also needs to ensure its tax and utility rates are reasonable competitive with other communities.
“To continue on with a reasonable rate of taxation is important, and a reasonable rate in out utilities,” he said.
