Conversation with the Mayor

 Sharon McLeay

Times Contributor
 
Michael Ell arrived at the Strathmore Times, to talk about his vision for the role of Mayor of Strathmore. The conversation revealed insight into the man behind the title. 
He is quietly confident and at ease with the prospect of a new role.
 “I want to sit down with the new council, and I want to ask them what the citizens said to them and what their priorities are. I want to ask administration to tell us what priorities we have to worry about and then together come up with a plan to solve some of those concerns,” said Mayor Ell.
He states he is just an ordinary, retired man with a wife and family, similar to those Strathmore families he is about to serve. He values the support his wife Ellen has given to him over the years that they have been married, and looks forward to introducing her to everyone at various events that occur in the coming year. Ell is proud of his 28-year-old son Matthew, who has a career in rope access high level construction, working on structures such as the BC Place football arena, the Talisman Centre, and the Bow building. 
“He hangs from the sides of tall buildings and does construction. He has a lot of adventure in him. I don’t visit him on the job, because I am afraid of heights,” said Ell.
Ell was born and raised in High River, with a strong love for agricultural-based communities. Like most small town young men, he moved away to Calgary to pursue education and career opportunities, but later moved to Strathmore and has stayed for 35 years. He wants Strathmore to offer youth another option.
“I see some positive input from the citizens. They want to see some changes and the town to grow in an organized fashion, where there is business. When children graduate from school, they will find a job here; raise their children here, close to their grandparents. This should be a family oriented community,” said Ell. 
He said there were days in the past when he struggled to pay the bills and provide for his family. 
“Throughout your life you have to support your family, so I know and understand that the average person is trying to support their family and put food on the table,” said Ell
Ell wants to make it easier for the couples that may be in the same situation. From his love for nature, he wants to protect the environment for our children’s future.
Ell has background in mediation and conflict resolution. His employment experiences will come in handy. He has been a Domtar factory worker, a property tax and land appraisal clerk for Marathon Realty, a Credit Union teller, a small business owner, held management positions in banking and finance, worked in a corporate credit office and put in 16 years in the federal government. 
When he talks about taking his place in the Strathmore council chamber, he sees it as a team effort with the potential for leadership. He is encouraged that the re-elected councillors will bring their experience, teaching the new members, enabling them all to bring their strengths and ideas into the decision making process.
“I am just one man on council,” said Ell. “The citizens come in, the council listens, and the citizens talk and tell us want they are thinking. Hopefully, council will make the best decisions possible,” said Ell. “There are several committees council sits on, as the mayor, I want to be able to go with the councillors to the various committees, not necessarily every month, but go and talk with the people on those committees.”
He wants to establish open working relationships with town staff and council.
“I don’t want ‘yes’ people. I want people to be able to give me their opinions and reasons for those opinions. We need that communication and we need to know what the problems are, and council should not be overstepping the CAO’s responsibilities,” said Ell. “I am not naïve enough to expect that we are going to solve all the problems at once; it’s going to take time.”
There are a few key concepts to consider this fall. He wants a good communication process, so the community can have active input into council. 
“My belief in an open door policy is that the mayor gets out from their office and goes to talk to people and build relationships; then people are going to come back and talk to the mayor. I do not believe in the amount of in-camera sessions, and I don’t believe in secrecy. I will encourage being open, so that the people know what is going on. Be honest, up front and tell them what we are doing” said Ell.
He suggested implementing open house or ‘fireside’ coffee sessions, where the public can bring concerns on a regular basis, to keep them in the loop and give feedback, communicating to those who don’t use technology and those that do.
The year-end budget process is coming up in December, and he thinks it will be a good time to look at the books, crunch the numbers and make some improvements. He would like to see a regular report from the mayor posted, outlining the status of issues and how things are progressing.
Ell sees short and long term strategic planning initiatives correcting development issues. He could see the benefits of a full time, qualified, on staff, planning manager and economic development officer. They would work hand in hand with other staff, the public, developers, and potential business contacts. He foresees a time when the parks and recreation officer’s role will move to a new level as well.
He respects diverse cultures and the right to individual opinion. He is looking forward to opening up partnerships with other municipalities, the Siksika nation, as well as minority populations within Strathmore. As a young man he was moved by the power and music of Aboriginal powwow sessions and hopes to improve relationships with First Nations leaders.
Town Council was officially sworn in on Oct. 28. Ell invites everyone to come out to the first Council meeting set for Nov. 6, and personally get to know him and the other council members.