By Sheldon Spackman

Creasey anticipates further growth for Lacombe in 2019

Dec 27, 2018 | 6:46 AM

As 2018 draws to a close, the mayor for the City of Lacombe describes the past 12 months as a positive year full of intensive learning.

Grant Creasey says for him personally, at least, becoming more in-tune with council and City’s senior administration was one of the more enjoyable aspects.

“I think the realization that all of us are more or less headed in the same direction, I think was a particularly good realization for myself,” states Creasey. “That’s not to suggest that we don’t have differences of opinion, but a healthy respect for one another and the realization that we’re all in this for the public good, I think was good for all of us to end up with.”  

Creasey says 2019 will see a number of exciting construction projects either get underway or phased-in over the next year in all quadrants of the city.

“Our west end development will be in high gear come spring and the utility feeds there,” adds Creasey. “Then we’ve got some businesses that will be springing up, as well as the new interchange to access the Midway Centre. Then we’ve got a new Alberta Health Services community centre that will be opening up later on in the fall in the south end.”

Two-Year Diploma

Red Deer Polytechnic creates accelerated Practical Nurse Diploma pathway for health care professionals

3h ago

advocating for strategic action

Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce comment on Land Use Bylaw public hearing

3h ago

Chance to win prizes

Registration open for Green Deer spring cleanup campaign

4h ago

Creasey points-out a number of downtown businesses will also see some refurbishing taking place on their exteriors, in addition to some new businesses in the city’s core as well.

“That’s going to be an exciting time for our historic downtown area,” Creasey exclaims. “On the east end we’ve got some commercial retail units that are coming on stream there and hopefully some other news for a major retailer there that will be coming forward if discussions continue on as positively as they have been. Then in the north end we’ve got some seniors buildings that will be coming on stream around our Henners Lake region, as well as the outfall from the storm water retention at Henners Lake itself that will be completed during the year as well.”

Creasey says it’s pleasing to see that kind of growth taking place during times of economic struggle and political uncertainty with both provincial and federal elections expected in 2019.

“It certainly does bring about a number of challenges,” he admits. “One of the ones that relates specifically to the provincial election is what was termed MSI (Municipal Sustainability Initiative) funding. I think the province is finally coming around to the realization that municipalities needed to be addressed in more of a collaborative manner and be given the infrastructure funds that they need and that are so important for our province as a whole.”

Although current MSI funding is appreciated and well utilized according to Creasey, he says having a more legislated and guaranteed funding model for municipal infrastructure, falls more in line with the expectation of the multi-year budgeting the province requires from municipalities.

“I think 2019 will hopefully see some sort of a more defined model that helps address those much-needed funds,” he exclaims. “I guess that kind of ties in with the province financially. They’ve got their work cut out for them with the energy market being the way that it is and the situation the province finds them in but as important as that is, that doesn’t take away from the fact that Alberta’s cities and towns still have important work to do as well and I’m hopeful that we’re going to see some agreements made in that regard in 2019.”

A final highlight Creasey notes from the past year includes awards received at the AUMA Convention in Red Deer in September for some of Lacombe’s major projects.

“One of the ones that was given to us was an award for Sustainability in Collaboration Award,” says Creasey. “So it’s nice to be recognized as a leader in that area of the province. It’s our $73 million project for the North Red Deer Wastewater project successfully completed and Lacombe took on the administrative role of that entire system, so it’s been a very positive outcome.”