Giving thanks for the past, looking forward to future

Glenn Koester
Wheatland County Reeve

 

As 2016 comes to a close, it is important to recap the year that has passed.
Once again, I am proud to be a member of this great community, and I know that I speak for all of council when I say that we are honoured to serve you, the people of Wheatland County.
This past year, we adopted a new tagline, “Where There’s Room to Grow.”
We feel this simple line has a great deal of meaning, and truly represents Wheatland County and what we strive to be.
We are a place where there’s room to grow … your home and family; your business; and your community. Wheatland County truly is a choice place to live, work and play.
Some milestone projects we saw completed in 2016 include reclamation of 47.5 miles of county roads. Duck Lake Road paving was also completed, and we are very pleased with the results.
A much needed regional water project has also begun. Working with the villages and hamlets in the area, and with funding from the federal and provincial governments, we will be upgrading the Standard and Gleichen water treatment plants and providing safe, clean drinking water from Gleichen to Rockyford. This is a vital project, and we are very excited to see it moving forward. We will keep everyone up-to-date on its successes as we go.
Another program that we are very proud of is CERB. The program is intended to invest tax payer dollars annually to support recreational, cultural and other community activities, facilities, and resources that are utilized by Wheatland County residents.
This year we contributed $371,166.84 through the Community Enhancement Fund, and $50,000 to local community libraries. As well, council introduced a new program aimed at assisting the communities of Wheatland County, by providing them with unconditional funding for programming and facilities.
The Community Regional Services Infrastructure Program (CRISP) funding totalled $748,952.70. We look forward to reporting the results of this additional funding, and how it is benefitting the people of Wheatland County.
As we move into 2017, we look forward to continuing to serve the people of this county, and we welcome your input, ideas and questions. Making sure the county is a safe and happy place to live and work is truly a team effort … All the best for the year to come, and thank you again for allowing me, and the rest of council, to humbly serve.