Two new employees working for the Town of Sundre since July are eager to contribute their administrative and planning expertise towards making the municipality grow and prosper in the years to come.
"I see a lot of opportunities and positive challenges that could help this municipality grow into a direction I think that the community can be proud of," said Mike Marko, manager of planning and development, during an interview with the Round Up in a meeting room at the town office.
Betty Ann Fountain, special projects administrator, also looks forward to sharing her insight.
"I'm at a certain age where I feel it's important in municipal government that people like myself who have been in the government business for a long time to pass on expertise, knowledge and innovative ideas to those that are just starting their careers," she said.
Following a several month vacancy in the municipality's position for a director of planning and operations, administrator Linda Nelson said a chance arose to create two positions with essentially no additional impact on the budget.
"We were able to get two positions for the price of one, basically," Nelson told the Round Up.
"We're really pleased that we have two very experienced and senior people to supplement the already amazing and talented crew that we have."
The successful candidates bring with them an extensive background of related municipal planning experience.
Fountain, whose main role with the municipality will be to review bylaws, policies and procedures as well as to offer suggestions for improvements and amendments, arrives with about 18 years of public sector administrative service with the Town of Strathmore that had followed roughly 14 years of working in the private sector for TransAlta.
"I went from selling electricity to selling water ó it was an easy transition," she said, adding that in 2006, she transferred to Strathmore's planning and development department.
Eventually deciding the time had come for a change of pace, she ended her career with that municipality as a development officer and set her sights on Sundre.
"This is an area where I'm seriously considering settling down," she said, adding previous recreational experiences camping and quadding in the West Country in recent years led her to develop a fondness for the region.
"It's absolutely beautiful."
Although currently residing at a recreational vehicle site she owns near Caroline, the plan is to within the coming months find a permanent place in Sundre, she said.
Collaborating to find ways to get projects off the ground with a variety of people from different backgrounds such as developers, builders and homeowners is largely what Fountain loves about her line of work.
So far, her first few weeks have flown by, she said.
"It's a busy little office we have here. Managing and administrating the town and working for the ratepayers, it's a huge job."
The staff have been friendly and are "very keen about their work, and they want to do what's best for the people and citizens of this town," she said, adding that visitors are also an important part of the community.
"In the beginning I was a visitor too," she said, adding they have questions and needs that must be catered to as well.
One aspect of Sundre that left a resonating impression on Fountain is the number of amenities a municipality this size has available to everyone, she said.
"I'm happy to be here, and I'm looking forward to being a member of this community."
Meanwhile, Marko, who will be working part time, said his position largely entails providing a leadership role in all of the planning functions that are associated with the municipality in terms of long-term goals, as well as assisting council to develop a policy framework all the way down to the nitty-gritty details of building and development applications.
"Planning is about making sure the infrastructure and the land use and the development itself is adequate and appropriate for the town, based on the vision that council sets," he said.
Developing is a complex yet crucial process to steer a municipality towards growth, he said.
"Growth and development go hand in glove."
Harbouring since his high school years a keen interest in the interaction between people and the use of the land as well as the ensuing impact on natural resources led him to pursue a degree in environmental studies. He graduated in 1977 from the University of Waterloo, and has since built up a repertoire of experience in a range of municipalities from urban centres as large as Calgary to rural governments such as Rockyview County.
"I've got rural planning experience, I've got small-town experience, I've got mid-size city experience and large-city experience."
Along the way, Marko learned about using provincial, federal and municipal funds to make redevelopment plans a reality and he also has experience working with all levels of government.
Coordinating with all of the different stakeholders that stand to be impacted by a proposed development to find common ground is among the most rewarding aspects of a profession in planning, he said.
"Our role is to problem solve and be able to find a solution-based scenario for development that is acceptable to the multiple stakeholders that are involved or have an interest."
Marko sees no shortage of opportunities to improve Sundre for its residents as well as to make the municipality an even more attractive destination for potential visitors, and he looks forwarding to helping the community grow.
"I'm very excited about being here."
