East End-specific issues, a future arts and cultural hub and fiscal management were at the forefront of the fourth and final political forum.
The forum was hosted by the Cochrane Settlement Community Association (CSCA) (East End) at Frank Wills Memorial Hall last Friday.
Roughly 150 people filled the community hall seeking answers to questions on noise concerns and development in older areas such as the East End, as well as big picture concerns such as a future arts and cultural hub.
Leslie and Jack Blair arrived early to stake out their seats at the forum. Leslie said she wanted an opportunity to meet candidates and listen to how they respond to questions, as she is mostly reliant on the local newspapers to inform her about the candidates.
“How are we going to manage growth?” said Leslie, who moved to Cochrane in 2011 from Calgary.
Jack said his two chief concerns include which councillors have plans to move forward in some capacity on a future arts/cultural hub, as well as ensuring “proper governance of administration.”
Mayoral candidate Jeff Genung spoke to the “erosion of culture” that he sees throughout town and that the site where the old pool and the current Lions Event Centre “must remain a hub for the community.”
Candidate Patrick Wilson emphasized that with roads and traffic a top priority, public-private partnerships may need to be explored for a more feasible approach to the build of an arts and cultural hub.
Candidates addressed the mounting concerns of East Enders regarding noise – with the Greystone residential and commercial development soon to come online and the continued traffic pressures on Highway 1A.
Councillor and mayoral hopefuls spoke of everything from beefing up tree buffers, implementing sound barriers and conducting sound feasibility studies – as proposed by candidate Vivian Cox.
Genung spoke to the concerns of East Enders as evidence that the town has done a poor job at actually consulting the communities they are impacting. Establishing a task force to engage residents in that community was the obvious solution to future pressures such as infills and preservation of historical buildings.
Candidates spoke to centralized services for seniors – a point raised by candidates such as Marni Fedeyko and Alex Reed.
Reed said he believes the town has done a poor job of meeting the needs of its seniors, putting the “pool palace” ahead of an aging population.
Mayor Ivan Brooker spoke to the town’s marginal 1.79 per cent tax increase over the last four years as proof that he is capable of fiscal management – a point that Genung countered with the recent rise in property assessments.
All councillors highlighted the need for commercial growth to keep better pace and bring up the residential/non-residential tax base – with Coun. Morgan Nagel referring to the town’s heavy reliance on developer levies as a “Ponzi scheme.”
