INNISFAIL – The town’s new director of operations has arrived and is settling in quite nicely.
And Rod Fraser’s new boss, chief administrative officer Todd Becker, is right out of an old song lyric from The Who – "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.”
Becker was Fraser’s boss at the Town of Rocky Mountain House, where both previously worked.
"He’s hired me twice. I like to joke about that,” said the veteran engineering technologist with a chuckle.
Fraser, who officially started his new position in Innisfail in late January, comes to town with impressive credentials.
The bulk of his working background over the past 20 years has been with civil engineering projects for provincial municipalities, including Parkland County, the Town of Devon and the Town of Beaumont. He also has experience working for engineering consulting firms on civil engineering projects.
And while he has only been with the town for a few weeks he is already excited about the professional possibilities that lie ahead.
"Some of the things that sold me on Innisfail were the cool things going on, and just recently at my first council meeting there was a presentation on the solar farm proposal. That interested and motivated me,” said Fraser.
However, there is more for him and his wife in Innisfail than new professional opportunities.
"We are so close to the mountains here as well. We are close to major centres. That is always appealing as well,” he said. "The other thing is the development pieces are pretty healthy too.
"There are subdivisions where you have your choice. You can build in a few locations, still dig a basement and build a house, where some communities don’t have that luxury of having more than one subdivision. They are stuck with one,” he added.
And despite the excitement of his new job, Fraser and his wife are still finding time and having fun finding the right new home.
"Here we are fortunate with choices,” said Fraser. "We have some places in mind we are scoping out.”
Rod Fraser, the town's new director of operations
"Some of the things that sold me on Innisfail were the cool things going on, and just recently at my first council meeting there was a presentation on the solar farm proposal. That interested and motivated me."
