Town of Penhold Mayor Mike Yargeau with his daughters and Santa Claus. (Supplied)

By Alessia Proietti

Community Hub, new middle school and fire hall

Year in Review: Mayor of Penhold finds pleasure in responding to resident requests

Dec 31, 2023 | 8:30 AM

Mayor Mike Yargeau in the Town of Penhold says he was pleased to respond to resident requests throughout 2023.

He says they Town invested local, provincial, and federal funds towards their Active Community Plan and for future projects.

“It was nice to have a normal year after a few years that maybe weren’t so normal and I feel like we’re getting back into the swing of things,” he said.

One major project of pride, he says, has been the near completion of their Community Hub around the Multiplex area. Adding over seven kilometres of trails, he says they just have some work left in this area but have completed the building of a new ball diamond, all to attract new families and businesses to the town.

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Looking forward, Yargeau says he is particularly excited to see their new school for Grades 4-8 come to fruition. While they have already prepped the area for construction to begin immediately, he says the new building will replace one of the oldest schools in central Alberta.

READ: New middle school in Penhold expected to be completed by September 2025

He says he is also eager to continue their year’s work on a new Public Works Shop and Fire Hall for the town. Now in the design phase with $140,000 in grants from the federal government’s Green Municipal Fund, the project aims to study emissions reduction opportunities in the facility and Yargeau says he hopes to earn more funding for the project in the future.

After all, funding has been the biggest challenge over the year, he says.

“Everything that cost us $100 a year ago might cost us $110 now. The reality is that things cost money and there’s less of it out there,” he said, adding that the more projects are delayed, the higher they increase in cost.

Examples like RCMP retroactive payments, requested by the federal government, are just one of the economic strains placed on municipalities, Yargeau says.

However, working with other levels of government and neighbouring municipalities to form successful relationships to benefit residents is always something to be learned, he says.

“Sometimes it means taking the attitude out of politics and just putting your nose down and getting to work. Fortunately, I have a great council that we’re all on the same page and we’re all committed to working for our residents,” he said.

Overall, Yargeau says it has been a successful year and he and council are excited to work next year for the community they love.

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