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2022 a busy year for Athabasca County council

Three CAOs and long-term planning topped the learning curve
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Athabasca County reeve Brian Hall reflected on the events of 2022 and is looking forward to 2023 and beyond.

ATHABASCA — Reeve Brian Hall has a philosophy he hopes will guide Athabasca County council in making the right decisions for residents. 

In a Dec. 28 interview, Hall said a community transcends time in many ways and it is important to recognize that things done today shape the future just as things done in the past shape today. 

“That's the approach I take to the table and, I think, generally describes how this council comes to the table because making real change, to my mind, is a slow process,” he said. “It's quiet, incremental improvement and I think that's been a been a part of what's been happening in the last year.” 

He noted the council members are active in the community along with their duties as councillors to govern the municipality. 

“We've done some strategic planning sessions and even just some more goal setting where they're shorter term, targeted things,” said Hall. “We've been updating bylaws, including the emergency management stuff, emergency planning bylaws, obviously water rates, snow plowing, code of conduct, and procedure bylaws.” 

Something he said he's learned is that municipalities only collect about 8 per cent of the tax revenue people pay, while the federal government gets about 42 per cent and the province almost 50 per cent. 

“But as it relates to core infrastructure, we maintain 60 per cent of the core infrastructure,” said Hall. “There's obviously stuff we don't do at all — health, education, armed forces, all that business — but in the past year, I think as a council we've come to understand the deep infrastructure deficit.” 

Council has recognized they need to develop a plan, a one- to 10-year plan, to provide the county with a stable financial situation and address the significant road and bridge infrastructure that needs to be repaired and renewed, all while not being allowed to collect certain taxes and an increase in policing costs from the province. 

“In a year where we see a considerable amount of oilfield activity – I see it when I'm driving around the region and when I'm in town – the oilfield traffic has increased considerably over even three years ago” he said. “But the provincial government has made a policy decision to eliminate a source of revenue for the municipality specifically in the Well Drilling Equipment Tax Regulation, and that's cost the county hundreds of thousands of dollars.” 

Hall has been bending the ear of Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development Brian Jean, Minister of Municipal Affairs Rebecca Schulz as often as he can to have the tax reinstated to at least give municipalities back what they lost. 

“Given the government has a multi-billion-dollar surplus, please don't fund your programs on the municipal wallet and so that gives them the flexibility to say to industry, we still think we want you to have the benefit of this promise, but they all bear the brunt of the cost of it rather than the municipality,” said Hall. 

He added all three municipalities — Athabasca County, Town of Athabasca, and Village of Boyle — should be proud of what they have accomplished by working together. 

“I heard a speech recently by the former mayor of Calgary (Naheed Nenshi) and what he said applies, I think, in our situation and that was, ‘My neighbour's strength is my strength, my neighbour’s success is my success’ and to me that's the approach that our neighbours in the village and in the town take … we will win or lose together, and I appreciate that we have strong partners next door.” 

It was also the year council hired three CAOs, two permanent and one interim with Rod Risling leaving after just six weeks to take the same job in Osoyoos, where he had planned to eventually retire. He was followed by interim CAO Frank Coutney, who filled in until Chris Parker was hired. 

“I guess there's been some adventure this year,” said Hall. “Hiring a CAO isn't a small undertaking as you know, and I think for council, or a completely new group, it's a big process and a lot of work and I think council did well.” 

He said all three men have gave council the benefit of their wisdom and he appreciates the opportunities they had with Risling and Coutney. 

And regarding joining the lobbying efforts with the Town of Athabasca and Village of Boyle surrounding Athabasca University and Boyle Healthcare Centre, Hall is certain it was the right call. 

“I can't tell you where that's going to end up but it's important that we never look back and say I wish I tried a little harder or I wish I stood up and advocated more forcefully or spoke more loudly in favour of protecting those jobs that are there,” he said. “Ya, it's been an interesting year on that front and there's been some real successes for the region there. I think time will tell where we end up.” 

He also has noticed the term is flying by. 

“It's been a big year with a lot of learning, and it also makes me realize how short and how quickly the four years are going to go.” 

[email protected] 

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