A former Westlock County councillor is coming out of retirement.
Bert Seatter will run for Div. 7, but his potential competition, incumbent Dennis Primeau, has yet to announce his intentions publicly. Seatter had been a councillor for three terms — 2004-2013 — and had filled nomination papers in the last election, but pulled out at the last minute.
Seatter decided to step back in the ring after the municipal inspection report released Aug. 30 mentioned initiatives, such a developing a vision for each of the hamlet and long-term planning, that had been started when he had been on council.
“One of the communities mentioned was Jarvie — that’s in my division — and I thought, well, that’s something I can get involved in and hopefully get it revitalized, and hopefully motivate some of the other councillors to do the same in their communities,” Seatter said.
“With the municipal review complete, I feel I am capable of working with the 27 recommendations that have been set.”
One of the most important issues Seatter hoped to tackle if re-elected is road maintenance.
That would involve developing a long-term plan to bring transportation up to the code of provincial weight and measures standards.
“There was a strategic long-term plan as well as a road maintenance plan when I left council in 2013,” he said. “However, this needs to be reviewed and updated.”
He noted that back in the day, public works put together an extensive road program in a binder that all councillors and employees received, but believed that stopped when the head of the department left.
The community enhancement program is another of his priorities and is something he would like revitalized and strengthened.
Seatter explained, in 2010 the county worked with the communities in Fawcett, Jarvie, Busby, Pickardville and Vimy on strategies and long-term planning.
The county also offered a 25-per-cent rebate program for projects that could be matched by provincial and federal grants, which he hoped to enhance.
“It creates the idea to keep programs going and keep the communities building up and expanding,” he said.
Seatter also said the public should be regularly informed of the work that councillors do.
“Communications from council to the general public should be done at least twice a year to provide the ratepayers with council’s intentions and accomplishments,” he said.
Seatter would also like to draw more growth to the area and encourage economic development, which would also increase the county’s tax base.
“Working with Westlock County and the Town of Westlock co-ordinating efforts to mutually benefit and complement each other, as well as working with our surrounding counties and municipalities, is of great deal of importance,” he said.
The Westlock Airport, which is jointly owned by the town and county, and the Tawatinaw ski hill were two assets he would like promoted.
“I think (the ski hill) is a huge asset to the community and I think there’s some other ways that can be done to generate some revenue towards it,” he said.
“I noticed that the county was upset that they were going to take all the revenue from the airport because the airport’s a success.
“Maybe they’re not trying hard enough to make the ski hill a success.”
