Dear Editor,

One year has passed since our municipal elections and many of you have not heard from, nor seen, me since the day I knocked upon your doors and asked for your support. I enjoy and appreciate the opportunity that my residents have provided me and, more importantly, I welcome and respect your input at every opportunity.

Providing residents with opportunity to engage council in two-way dialogue has been, and remains, at the top of my agenda and, although council members may differ with their views on this matter, we are all working towards a solution which will, hopefully, provide a similar outcome but be more targeted towards specific locations and issues.

Engaging residents in providing council with feedback and direction is, none the less, a challenge. Many options are used in an attempt to improve upon this objective. We have a county website, numerous open houses, a mail-out survey, and we attend as many public functions as possible to interact with our residents. Please feel free to corner me at any opportunity or phone to express your concerns or to address your needs.

Council is considering and responding to several important community concerns not limited to infrastructure services nor healthcare issues, but rather community services and, in particular, a Performing Arts Centre in partnership with the new St. Joseph school and collectively referred to as the Community Learning Centre. Tentative planning envisions a facility capable of accommodating up to 600 patrons and is intended to function as a multi-use facility. It will be a tremendous asset to our greater community and will ultimately provide our residents with some great cultural and entertainment experiences available only at larger centres.

Public open houses seeking your support and input will be provided for as plans move forward into the new year.
Driving the province forward to stand behind its commitment to build a new community hospital in a timely fashion has also been a high priority for both Woodlands County and the Town of Whitecourt. In addition, high hopes are in place to obtain from the province some form of commitment or support to construct or operate at least two rooms dedicated for hospice or palliative care somewhere within our immediate area.

Growing demands for country residential properties have also created some conflict with adjacent uses by individuals expecting to use these lots as a base for operating their small business such as transport or trucking companies. In an attempt to alleviate these disputes, we have introduced a new zoning designation titled Country Residential Business (CRB). This zoning is intended to accommodate these small business enterprises with larger land parcels and is clearly established to allow these kinds of operations as “Permitted Uses” rather than “Discretionary Uses” and is intended to put some space between residential properties and multi-use properties. We are continuing to review the location and specific limits that will apply to this new designation.

Surface mineral leases for gravel extraction have also put heavy demands upon certain roads within our county and we are continuing to work with the province and industry to make the use of our roads both safe and acceptable.

In closing, I am pleased to be able to state that our partnership with the Town of Whitecourt has been both mutually respectful and beneficial. Mrs. Chichak, as the Mayor of Whitecourt, brings to the table a very accommodating and hospitable attitude and I believe we are moving forward effectively and collectively. I am looking forward to the next three years as we serve and work together to represent the residents of Woodlands County and Whitecourt.

Ron Govenlock
Woodlands County, Division III
Whitecourt Central