Bowden mayor will run for the job again

BOWDEN ñ With strong indications the town may be heading towards renewed prosperity, Mayor Robb Stuart is going for his third term as mayor.

Stuart, a retired federal government worker, was first elected in 2010 after defeating incumbent Cody Berggren. He was acclaimed three years later to serve a second term of four years. The 2013 municipal election saw every one of Bowden's seven council seats filled by acclamation. In the meantime, there are no other publicly declared mayoralty candidates for the upcoming 2017 municipal election.

"There was not enough people interested I guess," said Stuart, who served as a council member for six years before being first elected mayor in 2010.

"I can understand why. It takes a lot of time and effort if you are putting in a big job," said Stuart of the past lack of community interest to serve on council. "A lot of people will thrive on it. I wouldn't have even thought of it until I retired. As a councillor I was stretching things a little thin. As a mayor it is a lot easier now that I am retired."

Stuart's 13 years on council began with a downward trend for the town's fortunes, with businesses either closing or struggling to make ends meet. In the meantime, the town's population remained stagnant, hovering at just over 1,200 citizens.

However, since the late winter of 2016 there have been strong indications that could all change. Groundbreaking has begun for the new $50-million Paterson Grain terminal just outside the town's northwest boundary. Calgary-based Gen III Oil Corporation is planning a new $90-million re-refinery a kilometre and a half north of town at the current Parkland Refining Ltd. site to turn used vehicle oil into new synthetic-grade motor oil. When or if both projects are completed it could mean up to 50 full-time jobs. And groundwork has started for the new 10,750-square-foot community hall, which is being built on a $1.7-million budget.

"Hopefully we will get businesses that are close and people can live in town and work at these sites. Just with the construction (of Paterson Grain terminal) would be significant," said Stuart. "The downtown core is almost vacant."

But with the Paterson Grain terminal going up, Stuart continues to set his sights outside town borders for future prosperity.

"Most of the businesses are in the county," noted Stuart.

He said W.A. Grain and Pulse Solutions, which is located in Red Deer County but on town-owned land, is planning an expansion. Stuart said the town has just started the annexation process for two quarter sections, which would accommodate the company's future growth.

He said another commitment he will bring to citizens is resolving jurisdictional issues with the provincial government and CP Rail.

"We are trapped between Highway 2 and Highway 2A and the railroad tracks, so those are big, either the government or the corporation," said Stuart. "Everything you want to do you have to get permission from Alberta Transportation or CP Rail to do things like signage."

He said the town also has to develop an infiltration strategy to lessen costs of wastewater, which is now coming into the main sewer line and costing the town money to pump it through the wastewater line.

"We really have to do something with that," he said, adding a campaign to camera the lines would be one step towards an overall solution. "Innisfail has been really successful with that, like with the lining of sewer lines."

In the meantime, Stuart will forge ahead towards the October election knowing there is a possibility he may run unopposed. He would like to see more interest come from citizens to serve the community.

"It's four months before the election and hopefully we will get some interest," he said. "I think people should have a choice, whether somebody runs or not. I've done the best I can and I will continue to do so whether I get in or not."