Fort Macleod resident Patty Ness visits with MD of Willow Creek chief administrative officer Derrick Krizsan during ‘Coffee With Council’ on Wednesday at the Fort Macleod and District Community Hall.
MD of Willow Creek council and administration hit the road Wednesday for their first in a series of “Coffee With Council” dates.
Council was host to a three-hour informal gathering at the Fort Macleod and District Community Hall.
“Coffee With Council” is presented as an alternative to a more formal open house in Claresholm.
Traditionally, council schedules an open house in council chambers at the MD of Willow Creek office in Claresholm.
At those open houses, department heads have presented reports on activities over the past year, and answered questions from ratepayers.
Council decided to try a new format in 2023.
“Instead of having one open house here we present all the facts and then people ask questions, we thought it would be more intimate if we could have one-on-one chats, Reeve Maryanne Sandberg said.
MD of Willow Creek chief administrative officer Derrick Krizsan, Sandberg, and councillors. John Van Driesten, Earl Hemmaway, Evan Berger, and Glen Alm were in Fort Macleod on Wednesday.
The turnout of ratepayers was steady and people seemed to appreciate the new format for the open house.
“We’re not preaching to them,” Sandberg said. “They’re bringing their concerns or ideas to us.”
The less formal atmosphere accommodated people who are not comfortable speaking in front of larger groups.
Topics raised by ratepayers on Wednesday included dust issues, hooking on to a water line, grading roads, road conditions, the water situation at Moon River and transportation plans.
Ratepayers also expressed interest in MD of Willow Creek operations and provided some suggestions.
“We talked about the possibility of, instead of owning our own gravel trucks, looking at contracting,” Sandberg said.
“There were all kinds of ideas how we could try and save money for the MD and for the ratepayer.”
Council welcomed the chance to talk one-on-one with ratepayers, and appreciated their input.
That input will add to discussions council is already having with regard to asset management.
‘We’re always looking for ways we can save money and still provide the services to the ratepayers without raising taxes,” Sandberg said.
Sandberg said council will discuss the Fort Macleod meeting and perhaps refine the approach to “Coffee With Council.”
“We’re going to learn from this one how we should do the next one,” Sandberg said. “This is our first one. We’re learning from it.”
The next “Coffee With Council” event is from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 3 at Granum Drop-In Centre.
The third “Coffee With Council” event is set for 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2 in council chambers in the MD of Willow Creek office in Claresholm.
The final “Coffee With Council” event is Wednesday, Nov. 22 from 5-8 p.m. at Stavely Community Hall.
