Process to begin for city status

Times Reporter

 

The topic of looking into changing from town status to city status has once again been brought forth to council. On July 19 administration asked council for direction as to whether or not they should proceed with the process. 

“The first step of the process would be the public consultation process. We are recommending extensive public consultation and that pending results of the consultation, and the survey that we would bring the results back to an open council meeting for a decision on whether we go forward on city status,” said Linda Nelson, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the town.

Nelson continued on to say there will be numerous public meetings, possible surveys and advertising done to get an idea of which direction the public would like to see Strathmore head to in the future. 

Councillor Earl Best voiced a number of concerns including the image portrayed and the fact there will be no changes to taxation since many grants are based on a per capita basis. 

“I believe the most significant advantage to the status change would be the increased opportunity for advocacy and image promotion. However our greatest potential liability of taking on city status would be the mandated turnover of responsibility for assumption of responsibilities for primary and secondary highways,” said Best. 

“Provincial Highway 817 and likely Highway 1 within town boundaries, when the bypass is complete would be turned over to the municipality. Road grants that the town currently receives would be discontinued and replaced by a different program designed for cities.

“We would be obliged to change all of the Town signs to City signs, all communication apparatus would need to be changed, and many man hours would be required to change our bylaws and policies to reflect our status change.”

Best continued on to say if a majority of the town wishes to change to city status it is something that certainly needs to be discussed with the community. 

“I couldn’t agree more. This is just the process and let’s go with the process. I’m not trying to demand anything, it’s just let’s put it out there for the public, and be clear and precise on the whys and why nots,” said Mayor Steve Grajczyk. 

Councillor Bob Sobol also agreed with what was said, but felt a plebiscite would also be required as a part of the public process. While a plebiscite isn’t mandatory, Sobol said he feels the issue is important enough to require one. Grajczyk said he would like to have the community itself request one if it is what they want, but did agree it is something to consider later down the road. 

“We can be a little city with a small town attitude,” said Grajczyk.

“I believe that can happen, and I know other communities that are the same.”

It was a mixed table, with some of council feeling that a change to city status would be beneficial and others not so sure. 

“My personal opinion as a councillor here, I disagree with every thing that’s been said here,” said Councillor Rocky Blokland.

“Strathmore city status, this wasn’t even an election issue. I see no need for plebiscites or anything else and I will definitely speak against anything to do with anything going towards city status. I see no advantage for Strathmore turning into a city by name only.”

Blokland said he could see the change costing the municipality money and would like to keep the status quo at this time and use that money instead for street repairs, downtown revitalization and other projects. He said he suggested administration wait until it grows another 5,000 people before looking into a status change. 

Best made a motion for administration to begin the process of the change of town status to city status and pending the results of the public surveys and consultations, bring the results back to an open council meeting at a later date. Blokland was the only councillor to vote against the motion.