DIDSBURY/CARSTAIRS/CREMONA - Municipal elected officials in the area have outlined some of their proposed plans for 2017.
Mayor Lance Colby of Carstairs said the town has seen impressive growth in the past year and he expects more in the future.
"Things are looking up," he said. "We did 64 (new) homes this year and we have a lot of interest in developers in building more homes here in the coming year."
Colby said that the population increase is mainly because of people looking to move out of the city, likely due to increased housing costs.
"We're getting young families," said Colby. "We've had another 100 children waiting to go into kindergarten. For the past few years we've had pretty much 100 new children going into kindergarten. I think we have three preschools here and they're all full."
He said the town's infrastructure and services are meeting the challenge. He added it's great to have two medical clinics in Carstairs and six doctors.
"That's a big benefit," he said, "and we're building a skate park this spring. We have the water park. There are a lot of activities for people to do. Once we complete that we'll have completed all the recreation plans we had in place. Then we'll have to look at what the needs will be in the future."
Colby said council and administration are eagerly awaiting the release of the census.
"We want to see where that takes us as far as policing goes and everything else," he said. "We have two enhanced RCMP officers here, so we'll see if we have to go to regular policing, then that'll change. We're just waiting to see what comes out."
Colby said the town is looking forward to the construction of a tri-services building with EMS, fire and police in the near future. The multi-use facility will be built east of the campground, likely in 2018.
"We're looking forward to continuing negotiations with the county and working with them," he said. "We're busy doing that and looking ahead to working with the county and the towns around us."
As for whether or not he'll seek re-election in 2017, Colby said he expects to run.
"I believe a lot of our council will return," he said. "I think it'll remain fairly stable."
Timothy Hagen, mayor of Cremona, said the village does not have any major projects planned although it has not finished its budget yet.
"We'll have a few smaller ones," he said. "We did a few larger ones in 2016 that took up a pile of money. We paved a few larger streets."
Hagen did say they are looking at developing a corner road through 1st Avenue west.
"Years and years ago they closed it for some reason but it was never legally closed, so we want to make it go right through," he said. "We want to make it into a road to begin with and hopefully when we get around to paving we can do all of 1st Avenue."
Hagen said he expects a few new businesses to pop up in the new year. He said he expects a new bottle depot to open.
As far as new residences go, he said the village has a proposed subdivision for eight acres it is looking at.
"The (developer) has been working on it for a year or a year and a half so we're waiting on him," said Hagen. "Hopefully that gets going quickly."
Hagen said he is seeing some increase in population although nothing too alarming.
He said the proposed medical marijuana facility expansion at Aurora could bring in a number of people including families. Aurora Cannabis is Alberta's only licensed producer of medical marijuana.
"The last census (for Cremona) was for 457 (2015) and last year was probably about 465," he said. "I'm hoping with that expansion to Aurora ó they say it will expand jobs there from 75 to 200. They're going from 55,000 square feet to over 600,000 square feet. So they're going to increase their workers. I'm hoping that some people in Cremona that need a job can get one."
Hagen is also hoping new hires from Calgary, Olds, Red Deer or anywhere will want to move to the village.
"There are all those kind of things that could happen," he said. "You never know these days."
As for running for re-election, Hagen said he has not decided. "I know there are people saying I should," he said, adding that the job can be quite tiring.
"The first year was a real learning curve," he said. "After that it's just lots of meetings."
For Hagen, this has been his first term as mayor and his first time ever on council.
"For all of council it was their first time," he said. "It's gone really well. We can make decisions and be totally against each other and we don't hold it personally. That has worked out really well."
Mayor Rick Mousseau of Didsbury said the town has a number of major projects ready to go for 2017.
"It was quite a year for the Town of Didsbury," said Mousseau. "Many projects that were started in 2016óthe Rosebud trunk line, 20th Avenue rehabilitation, new location for the town office, expansion of the libraryówill carry on into the new year."
The 20th Avenue rehabilitation project includes improvements to the road, storm sewers and sidewalk from 10th Street to 19th Street.
Phase 1, which is set at a cost of $1,619,060, has already begun and is set to be completed in 2017. Phase 2, which will also be completed in 2017, will cost $540,000 and includes new street lights and sanitary liner.
The controversial boulevard addition has been removed.
The other major project set to start in 2017 is the town hall office moving to a new building allowing for the expansion of the library into the current town hall area.
The town office, as well as Didsbury Neighbourhood Place, will be moving into the previous Venue Church property at 1710 14th Street.
Estimated cost for the purchase and renovation of the new building is $1,100,000.
Mousseau said the town is looking at several new businesses opening in 2017.
"The Town of Didsbury issued 340 business licences in 2016, which is good considering the economy," he said. "Council also adopted the strategic plan to assist future councils to use as the Town of Didsbury moves into the future."
