As one of two new faces sitting on the recently sworn-in Rocky View County council, Division 9 representative Bruce Kendall said he’s looking forward to getting his hands dirty.
In fact, he already feels hopeful that council is progressing in a positive direction.
“Through last week’s orientation, we came forward with a good agreement of who everyone was prepared to support in terms of reeve and deputy reeve,” he said. “I think a lot of the issues the county may have had in the past were talked out. We agreed to start anew.
“(Council) is looking to move forward, have a fresh start and not bring any baggage with us. I have every reason to believe it’s starting that way and I have every reason to believe it’s going to continue that way.”
First on the docket for Kendall, a 30-year Cochrane-area resident, is to focus on permanently resolving the issue of water-level regulation in Cochrane Lake. He said he believes the county is on the right track to reaching a resolution to the high-water levels with the introduction of the Cochrane Lake Water Management Strategy.
The strategy will consult with residents around the lake to see if they’ll support an improvement tax that would fund the water-level regulation.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction at this point in time,” said Kendall, who is a former reeve and deputy reeve for the Municipal District of Bighorn. “We need to make sure there is an action plan in place, preferably by next spring.”
He said he’s heard positive feedback from Monterra residents about supporting the fee, but added that he doesn’t feel the residents should be expected to shoulder the full cost.
“The residents didn’t cause the problem, but they are certainly willing to be part of the solution,” he said. “But other parties should be part of the solution as well.”
Priorities aside, he said he has no doubt there would be lots to talk about over the next term — for both county council and Rocky Viewers. Overall, he stressed that he hopes the new council will change the way the county does business.
“There are always things we can be doing better,” he said with a laugh. “We need to be always looking for ways to improve ourselves. I think the more public engagement and input we have, the better.”
