My Campaign

I want to see greater usage of the downtown core for business/residential development. I will work with council, landowners, and developers to ensure this land is developed as well as the empty, undeveloped lots. We as a council need to offer incentives to have businesses populate these vacant lots and premises. Empty Business buildings and vacant commercial lots contributes to stifling the town's growth.We have a main street with vacant lots; these lots need to be developed or taxed a lot harder as this can contribute to encouraging development.

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The growth in business in our town could dramatically reduce your taxes. I hear your voices; we pay a lot. We get a little in comparison to other towns surrounding us. The reason is simple; they have businesses that have put roots down. Those businesses bring employees to town, that put down roots. Those employees' children go to school locally and they use local services like the stores, libraries, pharmacies. This is what we need. The current businesses that we have in town pay a vast amount of taxes to help the town's budget, but so many of our residents don’t support them. This is a recipe for disaster. We need our community to support local as much as possible. By doing so, those business stay in town and they can earn enough money to renovate and develop their relationships with local clientele. When people see that sense of community, they want to be a part of it. 
 

I would like to see the lots on our main street developed as business units with the option for live-in suites above it those buildings, it would be a huge step to revitalizing the central part of Bruderheim. Our main street used to be a vibrant and thriving place. I have listened to Councillor Campbell and Gerald Maschmeyer. They reminisce about how our town was a "hub" years ago. I am not saying I can bring that back. I am saying I want to see the empty lots full of new business and residents. I firmly believe it would be a great start for revitalizing our town's core.

One of the most recurring questions people ask me is, "What is in-camera?". These are in reference to closed sessions held by the Town Council. People have the belief that it's where the council schemes to avoid conflict with residents. I believe that in the past, it has been used for that. I have spoken to the previous council and have definitely received that feedback. IT HAS TO STOP. The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP), which is the typical reason for going into closed sessions, needs to be used as little as possible as you all deserve a transparent town council. I will support moving into a closed session only to discuss matters that would harm the town, it's employees, or residents. Our budget is YOUR budget and you deserve to listen to how we formulate a plan to pay the bills and reduce taxes. The town council must be more transparent. It's your town. We are not the "Town of Secrets".

​It’s been tried before and failed. BUT I want to see a committee of council members and town management establish bonds with businesses to try and secure future business in town. I want us to attend the Alberta Industrial Heartland as a community that is open for business. It was stated last year at a council meeting that it was a good place to go to for donations. We need to throw away the begging bowl and stand up on our own two feet! Bruderheim has the potential to be great. We are 12 minutes from billions of dollars of spending, and tens of thousands of employees. We need to know why don’t they pick us to as a community to build satellite shops, or why those employees won't buy a home or build a home here. 1 home in 3 years is pitiful. Something is broken and it needs researching and fixing NOW. The days of patting the town's managers / custodians on the back has to stop. We need growth. We need a dedicated committee that will work tirelessly to promote our town and its proximity to the Alberta Industrial Heartland - no matter how it is dressed up. The town has stagnated and our current officials seem to be content with that. They are cherry-picking minor highlights instead of focusing on the glaring lowlights.

We do many events in this town. Some are good and some are lack-lustre, but the effort that goes into these events is immense. Town staff want to give our community a good event. Let's champion other towns around us, and support their events while doing everything possible to not clash with their event. Let them know we want to support them. Then our community can hold one big event a year that they can support, and inform their residents and neighbours of. I suggest the town council ask you, the people, what would be an event that can last a day or a weekend that our residents and neighbouring communities would attend and enjoy. Ideally, this would be something that would grow year upon year.

I would like to see service clubs be the prime vendors for town events. That way they have a chance to supplement their fundraising capabilities. If that means buying a town owned BBQ trailer or small concession stand, I think it’s a great idea. The clubs in town always need funds. They always ask town council to waive fees and that must stop. Buildings need repairs, maintenance, and bills paid. Let the seniors run a BBQ stand, or the BMSA sell pop and hot dogs. It’s a great way to support and give back. It will give those clubs a chance to breathe.

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Canada Day! I have spoken to residents that have told me that Bruderheim WAS THE PLACE TO BE. What happened? We scrape whomever we can to try to make a parade or event for the day. The truth is, MOST residents go to Fort Saskatchewan for Canada Day. When that community does it, they do it right. They are backed by big business sponsors in Fort Saskatchewan; we at not. So let's revisit our Canada Day celebration event. I would like to see a town event where we have a multi-municipality BBQ with surrounding municipalities and ourselves. To put on an event for people to come celebrate our district. Where we mingle and build relationships. Pool our resources for a band, fireworks, and a good old-fashioned dance. I anticipate the smaller municipalities would join.

Many of you have voiced your opinion about the number of staff the town of Bruderheim has in the main office and in the shop. Also about the equipment that the town has. I would like to ask the towns CAO to review the current staffing situation and justify the staffing that we have. We may actually find out we have too many or not enough staff. I know that running a town takes many hands. I would like to see those hands justified and either downsize or increase those number of hands as needed. Then we can be assured that you the residents are getting your dollars worth. Yes, I do see lots of town vehicles - including trucks, mowers, and quads; so many assets! Are they all needed? I can only assume so. I would ask council to get the town's Chief Operating Officer (COO) to justify the equipment that we have. I personally would like to see a freeze on spending for machinery and vehicles, except for continued maintenance on the existing fleet, but I need to know facts first. I think that some things we have are "wants" and not needs. It's time that the "wants" were brought to council for review.

​They are part of this town's future and deserve so much. We have many family businesses in town. Massage therapy, wood working, small engine repair, a car re-building shop, a butcher, and so many more. Sorry if I left you out... I would like to see the town work with these businesses so that we can pay a fee to them to run summer how to do workshops. Get the youth engaged, teach them skills, and hopefully give them a seed to plant as a potential career. Maybe teach them about how to bank and how to start a home business, even if it's mowing grass or repairing quads. These young people deserve to be championed. 

I want to explore the feasibility of paying members of the town staff four hours, for three days a week to open the Karol Maschmeyer Arena during the summer breaks for a Youth Program that offers games and activities.

IT IS NOT CHEAP. However, I believe through prudent cuts in council spending, we can pay for additional policing or cameras. It is 100% needed and I would ask the town council to put forward a referendum to you all, for a vote on increasing our tax base to get better policing. We already do pay towards it so it does sting. Many of you have talked to me and say that Bruderheim needs more protection. Only your voices should decide a matter that increases your taxes. It has a downside financially, however, it can have many upsides in relation to reducing crime and making Bruderheim a place that is not an easy target for criminals.