The voters of Estevan have spoken and they have chosen Roy Ludwig as mayor of a team that will also include Councillors Chris Istace, Lori Carr, Greg Hoffort, Kevin Smith, Brian Johnson and Dennis Moore.
Congratulations to all seven successful candidates.
Now get to work.
We say that somewhat facetiously, but only somewhat as there is a lot of work to do and a number of issues that require immediate attention in the city.
As we heard time and again throughout the campaign, infrastructure is the major issue facing Estevan. It got a little ridiculous at some points, but there is no disputing that the city's roads require a significant amount of tender loving care.
The issue of what do with the stretch of Highway 47 that passes through Estevan (Souris Avenue, Sixth Street and 13th Avenue) must be decided upon soon. That section of road is in terrible shape and will only get worse after another Saskatchewan winter. The provincial government has said it's on-board to pick up a major portion of the costs and the City is waiting on them to decide when they will grace them with the necessary cash for what will be an expensive project.
Ludwig and the new council may have to play a little hardball with the government to ensure this project begins in 2013. It simply cannot wait any longer, especially with heavy trucks making the situation worse daily and no foreseeable start date for the bypass around Estevan.
There are a number of other areas that require immediate attention on the infrastructure front and the new council must ensure that progress is made on these matters as well, the residents of Estevan are tired of being promised that work will be done only to learn it has been pushed back another year. We have heard the excuse that there are not enough contractors to complete all the work the City has scheduled. That is a valid point, but it is also one that must be solved. If other construction companies don't want to work for the city then the members of council must find out why that is and if some apologies for past issues need to be made, then someone needs to suck it up and make those apologies. Otherwise the honeymoon for this new team, which has the potential to be the strongest groups of councillors Estevan has had in many years, will be a very short one.
Housing is another issue that will need to be a primary focus. Although it may not seem like it, there has been groundwork done that should lead to some significant improvements on the housing front as soon as 2013. The Dominion Heights project by Trimount Developments is also moving along at a rapid pace and should be an example to developers and the City in how to get projects done.
A modicum of patience will be required for some of the other avenues to bear fruit but not too much as the stakes are just too high.
Perhaps most of all, the new council cannot allow any sort of status quo to linger in the air. Change was a significant theme in the election and for Estevan to move forward and continue to grow, there must be some changes made to the current plans.
The new council should undertake a review of City operations and plans and if they find that changes are needed, they must have the fortitude to make them. It might require some tough decisions, but they were elected to make those difficult choices.
The old saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected of. The seven people elected in last Wednesday's election have been given the chance to guide the future of this city and help it become everything that residents believe it can be. This is a pivotal time in Estevan's history and the decisions that are made over the next couple of years are going to have ramifications for the long-term future.
The voters have elected a team that is long on experience at various levels of municipal governance and one that seems committed to work together for the best of the community.
But as always, time will be the ultimate judge.
