Remembering Councillor and Former Reeve Larry Spilak: Along with Foothills County Council, Admin and Staff, we express our great sadness on his untimely passing on November 6, and remember, with appreciation, Councillor & Former Reeve Larry Spilak’s many contributions and dedication to our community, while sending our deepest condolences to his family, his wife, Danielle, and son, Ben. Larry was on Council for over 13 years and spent 9 of those years as Reeve. He generously provided his time and business experience to the County in the promotion and creation of recreation facilities, a full-time fire service, and many other projects and services now provided in the County. We will be forever grateful of his time spent serving the residents of Foothills County and for the support he has always provided to staff. The Scott Seamans Sports Rink and the Regional Fieldhouse are part of Larry’s legacy that will serve generations to come. He greatly admired the diversity throughout the County and kept a watchful eye on Division 6 where his constituents cherished him. He was a huge supporter of all the work we do, believing that staff was the heart of the organization. Larry was a champion of the County and will be missed!
SW Calgary Ring Road: Thank you for your communications regarding the state-of-affairs resulting from the closing of the 37 St. connection to Highway 22X/Stoney Trail, which has impacted many travellers who access SW Calgary from this area. Just wanted to let you know that we are getting the attention of MLAs, Alberta Transportation, AT Minister and Calgary Councillor Colley-Urquhart with the request that a solution to improve the condition of the 53 St./146 Ave. route be found or the actual SWCRR access be opened earlier. 53/146 lie within the boundaries of the City of Calgary and therefore the County cannot grade these roads. We await a response that makes sense, since the SWCRR completion date is a year away and this issue is directly-related to the construction of the ring road. Complaints about these roads can also be called in to 3-1-1, the Calgary phone line.
RMA: Our Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) Conference took place on November 3 and 4, giving our Council the opportunity to participate in our first “virtual” conference with this organization, as we usually travel to Edmonton for this. We heard from provincial ministers, the Premier, guest presenters and chose a new RMA President (Reeve Paul McLauchlin from Ponoka County) and a new representative for our South RMA Zone (Reeve Jason Schneider from Vulcan County). Along side, we participated in meetings with Mayors and Reeves and RCMP K-Division reps regarding policing in the County pilot project, cost model and plans within the organization. We asked questions at Ministerial Forums and also took part in the 20 resolutions session to bring attention to matters of importance and ask for RMA support to lobby on priority topics.
Continuing as Reeve on a NEW Way Forward: At our annual organizational meeting on October 21, 2020, our Council gave me the opportunity to represent Foothills County as Reeve for a second year. I will also continue to serve you as your Division 4 Councillor – just have some more homework, meetings and chair the Council meetings. I thank Council for their support, and also note that Division 1 Councillor, Rob Siewert, continues as Deputy-Reeve.
In 2020, we have worked together to navigate health, operational and economic challenges. Along with our talented Team, I hope to bring creativity in the face of challenge, champion our rural perspective and assets, and strategize for a beneficial future for Foothills County residents. Our Team effort in 2020 has required a NEW level of adapting to circumstances and being resourceful, a new way to manage our organization yet keep work and services flowing, a new level of consideration and being responsive to hardships, and a new chapter in our emergency management plan “on responding to a pandemic” to add to flood, fire and other events.
Along with our Council, Admin and Staff, I look forward to creating NEW opportunities, as a partner in our community in recovery, by streamlining our processes and reducing red tape, bringing services to our Industrial Corridor and attracting business, tackling rural crime for a safer environment, maintaining our service levels amid reduced income and uncertainty, keeping taxes steady to keep the burden lower on residents, and solving planning, service and infrastructure issues.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with health and happiness!
Best Regards, Councillor Suzanne Oel
For Other News & Updates:
Please visit my website: suzanneoel.com
www.facebook.com/councillorSuzanneOel
Suzanne.Oel@FoothillsCountyAB.ca
