Hussar CAO resigns

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: April 2016 Strathmore Times

Justin Seward

Times Reporter

 

After four years as Hussar’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Jennifer Pratt made the decision to step down from the position effective March 17.
Pratt grew up in Calgary before moving out to Hussar 16 years ago, where she was able to raise two children, who now have grown up and moved away.
Prior to the CAO position, she had no history in politics and held many jobs including at the Emme’s Esso gas station in Bassano.
She said every day was a different day when you’re a small town CAO because there was always something interesting and challenging that came of her project responsibilities.
Her tenure included being involved in the lift station upgrades, road paving projects and an updated community emergency management plan.
“It’s a very active community,” said Pratt. “They’re always trying to get new projects and make improvements. The biggest thing I just finished was the community emergency management plan and I’ve been working on that for three years. That was one of my biggest accomplishment was getting that finished.”
Pratt felt that project was important to her because every community needs an emergency management plan, it was something she was interested in personally, and the village’s plan hadn’t been updated since the early 2000s
Pratt said challenges with council contributed to her decision
“Definitely mixed feelings,” said Pratt. “I going to miss the residents. I really like living here and the people in the town. They were always helpful and supportive to me. I learned how municipal government works and you don’t have a clue until you’re doing it and you realize how much goes into running a municipality.
“I gained a lot of respect for the bigger centres, Strathmore and Calgary, and everything they have to do. You just see it on a micro-level in a village but then you extrapolate that to a big city and you realize how much it takes to run a municipality.”
Pratt hasn’t ruled out a similar position in the future.
Hussar’s council had no comment on Pratt’s resignation.