There'll be some new faces on Bowden council

BOWDEN - There will definitely be some new faces on town council after the Oct. 16 municipal election because at least two councillors – Lloyd Lane and Sheila Church -- have decided not to run again.

A third councillor, Paul Webb, says he's still undecided if he'll run again.

As was reported earlier in the Albertan, incumbent mayor Robb Stuart is running for a third term as mayor (he's been on council for 13 years). Coun. Earl Wilson, who has served on council for about six years, has announced plans to run for mayor as well.

Two other councillors – Sandy Gamble and Wayne Milaney – could not be reached for comment by press time.

Both Lane and Church say they've decided to step aside because they'd like to give younger people a chance to sit on council.

Church, 75, has been a town councillor for 12 years.

"I really enjoyed my time on council; there's no doubt about that," Church told the Albertan. "But I think it's time for some new ideas and new people to come in and keep the town progressing."

Church was asked if there's anything she feels she helped accomplish during her time on council.

"I'm proud that we are making progress at getting a few more businesses in Bowden. We really need that as a tax base," she said.

"I am sorry that we don't have a better commercial area. As you know, our downtown is quite vacant and I would like to see more there, but perhaps if we get more businesses and more people there will be more commercial enterprises come in as people see with the population that they can actually make money."

Church said a new pizza restaurant has opened. Also, plans call for a new pulse crop processing plant to be built near Bowden. Also, a Paterson grain terminal will be constructed outside the town.

In addition, she noted Parkland Industries has expressed interest in buying the rest stop area.

Church said she and fellow councillor Sandy Gamble have pressed to have the town beautified by getting more trees and flowers planted and doing a better job of maintaining those already in existence. Church is proud of that.

"Sandy and I have worked hard on that and I hope that will continue, that more care is taken of the trees and plants and grass so that the town continues to look good," she said.

Lane said he's not seeking re-election because "I'm too frickin' old, that's why. I want to spend some time down south in the winter."

"I've been on for seven years and my wife (Mildred Lane) was on for 27 before that. We've donated enough," he added.

"I think that there's a lot of younger people out there that could be a lot more effective than me. I don't have the energy I used to have."

Lane said his proudest accomplishment over his time on council was his involvement with construction of the new sewer and water lines for the town.

"I was one of the initial guys when we started the wastewater line and the freshwater line," he said. "That was kind of interesting -- watching all the bricks and mortar get into place after our planning sessions."

Lane was asked if he'll miss any aspect of town council.

"I'll miss the camaraderie," he said. "We've got a really active group – especially the ladies on our council. They're very active, and kind of our bricks and mortar, keeping us going. I'll miss that. But I'll see them around town -- in the summertime."

Webb is completing his first four-year term on council, according to town staff. He said it hasn't been easy to decide whether to seek re-election.

"Four years is a long commitment," Webb said. "I'm just talking with the family and seeing what we want to do."

Webb said, like others, he has taken out nomination papers "but I don't have them completed. It's a blank form at this point."

The deadline to file nomination papers in order to run for council is Sept. 18.