BOWDEN - Crime, development, taxes, and the need to spur new businesses in Bowden dominated the Oct. 5 Mayoral Candidates Forum.
About 45 people attended the event held at the Friendship Centre. The election is set for Oct. 16.
Challenger Earl Wilson, a retired automobile warehouse manager, has been a town councillor for six years. He criticized Stuart for voting against a motion to accept an offer by Parkland Industries for the land currently occupied by the rest stop.
Stuart said he voted against the motion because it was the company's initial offer as far as he could tell, and he believed the town could get more for the land by negotiating further.
Wilson also criticized Stuart for saying the town's decision to spend $2 million to install sewer and water services in land on the east side of Highway 2 was wrong.
He said the town urgently needs to lure business and industry to the town to help relieve the tax burden for residential taxpayers. Stuart said the land has sat empty for years, there's no sign of business or industry wanting to locate there, and the town is still paying for the installation of those services.
Wilson said if he becomes mayor, he'd work to attract industry throughout the town, including on land the town is acquiring on the west side.
Currently, residential taxpayers cover 80 to 85 per cent of the tax burden because there are so few businesses in town.
Because of that situation, both men said they want to lure more business to town in general. They also said new agriculturally-based industries locating near the town could be a good source of jobs.
Stuart said he was surprised by the amount of concern about crime in Bowden and the decision by many residents to spend money on security measures to keep their homes and other property safe from thieves.
“I knew that criminal activity had been an issue, but I did not realize how many of our residents had had to install security systems for their own peace of mind,” he said.
“I think it is time to hold another, more in-depth open house to try to strategize some way of dealing with the criminal element,” Stuart said.
Stuart said he had a good relationship with Olds RCMP. He noted a crime prevention open house was held last spring and said perhaps it's time to hold another one. He suggested it may be time to create some combination of Neighbourhood Watch and Citizens on Patrol to curb crime.
Both expressed concern about the cost of utilities, forced on the town by regional sewer and water lines.
Wilson also lambasted Stuart for criticizing his expense claims publicly during a council meeting, saying that could have been done in private and he would have been OK with that. He said he was unaware of a rule Stuart cited.
“Robb has had seven years,” Wilson said. “Vote for me please; I want this town to go ahead.”
Incumbent mayor Robb Stuart
"I knew that criminal activity had been an issue, but I did not realize how many of our residents had had to install security systems for their own peace of mind."
