WESTLOCK - Westlock County interim CAO Pat Vincent says council “can take a bow” for being “focused and action orientated” while highlighting 21 “successes” that have been achieved by municipality over the past five months that coincide with his tenure.
Included as part of the July 12 regular council meeting, the “Council's Road to Success” report was prepared by Vincent who said it’s “been a real pleasure putting together a summary of council's numerous achievements to share with the public and recounting where council came from and where they are going.” The report, which Vincent admitted was from his perspective and “probably missed some things” was accepted unanimously, 6-0, by councillors as information.
A quote included in the package summed it up for Vincent, whose tenure with the municipality will come to an end in early August: “Where you are coming from doesn't matter but where you are going does. Hence look forward and not backwards. Your eyes are placed in front of you for a reason. Your eyes only look backwards for special references. Keep your eyes on the road.”
“Council has traveled on the road to success since Feb. 10 as a result of keeping their eyes on the road and has achieved significant results. Those successes will be even greater when council completes its strategic plan and the road ahead is clearly identified and defined,” reads a portion of the report’s preamble
Reeve Christine Wiese added that while councillors are proud of the achievements, without Vincent and all of the county’s staff it wouldn’t have been possible.
“A lot of hard work for administration so it’s a success for them as well. There’s a lot that got done in five months,” said Wiese.
The list of successes, which Vincent said council should “take a bow deservedly and undoubtedly should be very proud of” starts with the hiring of Vincent “to help stabilize the organization” and ends with the Regional Emergency Services Plan project, whose kick-off meeting is July 27. Sandwiched in between are topics ranging from administration answering all of council's questions on the Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill, to the passing of the hill’s 2022-2023 capital plan and funding for a structural engineering report at the chalet, to adoption of a cryptocurrency mining bylaw and a new CAO bylaw, plus the hiring of a new “experienced CAO.”
“There’s a two-inch package (on Tawatinaw) there for posterity, or the next council or anyone who wants to dig into it. I think that was a success for council and administration,” said Vincent on the Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill report.
The zero per cent tax increase, as part of the 2022 budget; approval of 2021 audited financial statements; Rottier’s Beach; the Summer Village of Larkspur Intermunicipal Development Plan public hearing; an updated fees, rates and charges bylaw; along with the approval of a number of revised and updated policies are also highlighted (see the corresponding list below for all 21).
“The road to success is often a bumpy one filled with obstacles and detours. What matters is having a picture in your mind of the outcome and staying focused on achieving the end result,” said Vincent. “Just imagine what the next three-and-half years hold in store for Westlock County.”
Vincent ended his presentation giving kudos to local media for coverage of the municipality throughout his tenure.
“We may not always agree with what’s written in the newspaper, but from my experience when I was here six years ago and this time as well, we are getting balanced reporting and great local media coverage,” said Vincent.
The success list
1. Searched and found an experienced Interim CAO to help stabilize the organization
2. Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill – had all of Council’s questions answered fully
3. Dealt with the crypto currency mining issue – passed a Bylaw quickly
4. Adopted a new CAO Bylaw
5. Dealt with Rottier Beach issue
6. Held the Summer Village of Larkspur Intermunicipal Development Plan public hearing – ready to pass third reading on Aug. 9
7. Updated the fees, rates and charges bylaw
8. Recruited an experienced CAO to lead the organization
9. Approved a number of revised and updated policies
10. Approved the 2021 audit and financial statements
11. Approved the Tawatinaw Valley ski hill 2022-2023 capital plan
12. Re-purchase an airport lot
13. Passed a revised and updated Council Procedural Bylaw
14. Passed a new assessment bylaw to deal with seasonal campground tax issues
15. Approved a new collective bargaining agreement with CUPE Local 3007
16. Approved the 2022 operating budget
17. Approved 2022 tax rate bylaw with 0 per cent tax increase
18. Sold a lot at the airport
19. Approved the Modified Landfill Remediation Agreement
20. Approved funding for the Tawatinaw Valley Ski hill structural engineering report
21. The Regional Emergency Services Plan project is now proceeding
