Local leaders are hoping to not only gain valuable insights into running their municipalities, but also to rub shoulders with a veritable ‘who’s who’ of provincial decision-makers at the upcoming Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis) Convention and Trade Show in Red Deer.
Confirmed attendees from the Town of Rocky Mountain House are Acting Mayor Marley Capraro, Deputy Mayor Ken Moesker, as well as Councillors Len Phillips and Tina Hutchinson.
From Clearwater County, Reeve Michelle Swanson and Councillor Bryan Cermak are set to attend.
Sessions at the conference are set to cover a wide variety of topics from housing to waste management, from infrastructure to drought preparations.
Hutchinson mentions the Town of Rocky Mountain House hopes to make the most of a short, scheduled meeting with Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs.
Among the topics for the minister’s attention, Hutchinson says the delegation has put forward a resolution to establish an integrity commissioner’s office to investigate code of conduct complaints, determine their validity and recommend suitable disciplinary actions.
“By putting this responsibility at arm’s-length, independent body municipal elected officials can focus on local governments for the betterment of the community,” says Hutchinson.
Having that arm’s-length body to investigate code of conduct complaints would potentially have the effect of reducing conflict in council chambers, she says.
“It does sometimes put barriers up between individual councillors when code of conduct issues do come forward,” says Hutchinson. “So this would take the place of, you know, council being judge and jury so to speak.”
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As an elected official from the very rural Clearwater County, Reeve Michelle Swanson says it’ll be an opportunity to once again collaborate and network with partners at the more urban Town of Rocky Mountain House.
She says the two municipalities shared a resolution at the 2023 conference pertaining to hospice care either through Alberta Health Services (AHS) or through the provincial health ministry.
Now in her third time attending the conference, Swanson adds she always looks forward to the final day which features ‘ministerial sessions’.
“It’s kind of like an open mic, Q&A session, and it’s always interesting to hear what question each municipality is bringing forward,” says Swanson. “It may be a municipal challenge with Minister McIver, or could be an environment challenge with Minister Schultz.”
Swanson adds the County will also be attending the upcoming Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) fall conference in Edmonton on Nov. 4-7.
Exhibition Hall at Westerner Park in Red Deer, AB. (Jordan Rein/94.5 Rewind Radio)
Hutchinson agrees the conference provides a good opportunity to collaborate with other municipalities, as many are facing similar challenges.
“All municipalities are dealing with doing more with less, a lot of downloading obviously, from the provincial government,” says Hutchinson. “Not everybody is in favour of raising taxes, so how are other people doing it?”
Additionally, five senior managers from the Town of Rocky Mountain House are set to receive the Dedicated Senior Team Award for their contributions during the conference.
Being recognized are Corporate Services Director, Betty Quinlan, Director of Planning, Dean Schweder, Director of Engineering & Operations, Rob Shanks, Director of Parks and Recreation, Wes Amendt, as well as CAO, Dean Krause.
“We’re just so proud here in the town of Rocky Mountain House and just want our residents to know that administration is leading the province in municipal management,” says Hutchinson. “Every employee in the town holds themselves to a high standard of professionalism and public service, and it really resonates throughout the entire organization.”
The award ceremony will take place during the ABmunis President’s Dinner on Sept. 24 at the Red Deer Resort & Casino.
The ABmunis Convention and Trade Show will be held at Westerner Park in Red Deer from Sept. 24-27.
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