Town Growth

This email crossed my desk August 26, 2014. 

"Good day gentlemen,
I'm contacting council today to ask all of you a question and am looking to have each individual email me separate responses.
In the attempt of educating myself and understanding the town of Kindersley operation I find myself coming back to the same question and am finding it difficult to answer myself so I'm looking for your assistance.
The question is improvement and growth in Kindersley and what has been the improvements and growth in the past 10 years. So now I ask can each of you give me a minimum of ten items that created improvement and growth in or community and how they have created improvement and growth. Excluding the water west project and roadways/sidewalks.
I appreciate your time and response"

 Response

Community growth is a multifaceted ongoing activity reflecting the confidence of a group of people living together. The question posed implies that municipal government is a driver of growth. I don’t think that municipal government activity drives growth or recession. Growth is the result of the decision of businesses, non-government organizations, and citizens, acting or reacting to their vision of the future. As a result, the growth that you see, or don’t think you see, is a result of everyone’s confidence and decisions about their individual life and life together with others.

New fire hydrant in Brookhollow Estates. Aug 27/14

Politics, at its fundamental level, is about discussing the question about what the good life is and how we live together.

What do municipal governments facilitate? There are 4 things municipal government facilitates: beauty, justice, fulfillment, and relationships. (as a note: I include economics under justice)

Beauty

Beauty isn't just about how aesthetically pleasing a community appears; though it is very important to live in a community that is inspirational. Beauty is also about hygiene: is the water, waste-water, and refuse treated appropriately so there are no health concerns?

New Bridge at Motherwell Reservoir. Sept 4/14

How our neighbours keep their yard, how our businesses and organizations keep their property are also beauty considerations. Beauty is the result of the collective effort, including establishing budget priorities, of people living together.

A jewel of Kindersley. Sept 4/14

The Town facilitates some of this but the appearance of the Town is fundamentally that of the community working together. So, if you are looking for signs of growth congratulate the Walking Trail Committee for the ongoing development of the Motherwell Reservoir Walking Trail, congratulate the Communities in Bloom committee for the ongoing work they do to beautify our Town including the new picnic spot at HWY #7 & HWY #21, thank Dean, the sponsor of the spray park, and congratulate Darren Olsen at Pharmasave for the renovations he is doing.

New picnic area HWY #21 & HWY #7. Sept 614

“Thank-you” also goes to the companies like CN who donate money for beautification such as a dog park or the company last year that donated money to plant trees around town. 

New exterior at Pharmasave. Sept 4/14

And let’s not forget Public Works and Parks for their work to keep everything clean and running. Ensuring the safe disposal of solid waste we are working with more than 20 other communities to build a new waste disposal site. As part of building the new facility we are assessing the current facility to transition it to a new purpose. Our lagoon is nearing capacity and we are starting the process to build a new facility to manage waste water.

New water pumps part of upgraded EK Water Line. June 24/13

We are also discerning how best to implement a new transportation plan, developing a culture and economic development plan, including the community initiative to build a new pool, gym, and arts centre.

Play Day at Kinder Kollege, Jan 28/14

Justice

At the municipal level justice is about upholding the other three pillars of community, such as homes being well-kept so there are no potential risks (falling buildings, mold, etc.) and conditions for rats like long grass, garbage lying about, and land use design. Justice is about sustainability: economic and social sustainability. Justice in the municipal context is also about enforcing federal and provincial regulations designed to ensure beauty, fulfillment, and relationships. As an example the National Building Code is enforced by the Town.

New Backwash Water pond supplying water for industrial use ensuring sustainability. Sept 4/14

Thank the COPPs for the dedication they make to ensure commercial and industrial doors are locked, that impaired drivers are identified and reported, and nuisance activity is reported or stopped. Thank our bylaw officer for having the ambition to become be a “Special Constable” to better serve the people of Kindersley.

Recently the Town adopted a new Official Community Plan that guides the relationships between different types of land use. To ensure that sustainable growth can be accommodated the Town is currently implementing our Asset Management Plan and Long Term Financial Plan which is built on the foundation of our infrastructure capacity assessment.

Fulfillment

I believe that everyone is searching for significance in their lives. As a result municipal government works with residents so there is appropriate space. As an example the WCEC contributes to people’s fulfillment by providing space for hockey, figure skating, yoga, boxing, walking, and more. Land is zoned so that industrial activity doesn’t interfere with residential living. Space is provided so that churches, mosques, and temples can be built. Further, parks are provided and commercial enterprises have space to flourish.

Joint Project Ducks Unlimited and Motherwell Walking Trail Committee. June 10/13

Gratitude needs to be extended to the West Central Crisis and Family Support Centre for their work to help people overcome their challenges and grow their capacity, thank Kindersley Minor Sports and their affiliated organizations and the countless volunteers who teach and coach so children, youth, and adults can continue to grow. Thank the churches and other civic groups that help people find meaning in their lives and allow them to contribute to Kindersley.

Air Cadets celebrated their 10th Anniversary this year. June 8/13

As part of the Town’s contribution to this process is the development, once a new Director of Community Services has been recruited, of a new Recreation Plan in conjunction with the culture plan currently under development. However, the success of these plans is dependent on community participation.

New retail businesses east of the C-Store. Sept 6/14

Another aspect of fulfillment is people's pursuit of their entrepreneurial goals. Recent examples include the expansion of a couple of local businesses who are constructing their own building, McDonalds' recent expansion, and the building of a new lot and building for a local car dealership not to mention Kindersley Mainline's expansion and Tisdale's renovation.

McDonalds new expansion. Sept 6/14

Relationships

Living together can be hard. The town frequently gets called to intervene in conflict between neighbours, and as a result bylaw becomes involved. Municipal government responsibility is to allow spaces for peoples to gather together for a host of reasons including: fellowship, learning, worship, and more. The Town facilitates space but civic groups and individuals can also create the space for gathering.  Most importantly, what goes on in the space is about relationships. How one land use, such as commercial, relates to another land use, residential, is important and good design is a part of that relationship.

Newmeyer infill development mixing downtown commercial and residential. Sept 4/14

How user groups, teams, and individuals relate to one another at the West Central Events Centre, Rotary Field, or any other facility, is the core of our community. Community is about relationships. Group 2, who completed the Phase 2 West Central Community Centre Needs and Operational Assessment, said that facilities influence our relationships.

RM of Kindersley working to build the parking lot at the fishing hole at Motherwell Reservoir. Sept 4/14

“Thank-you” to our emergency response personnel, to teachers for helping our children develop appropriate social skills, and for all of the volunteers who work together to make Kindersley a better place. Let’s not forget the restructuring of the schools by Sun West SD to allow greater investment in our children.

Installing infrastructure at Brookhollow Estates. Sept 4/14

 Conclusion

The Town of Kindersley doesn’t drive growth and it doesn’t cause retraction. The Town has a role to ensure growth is healthy and responsible and it has a role in ensuring sustainability. Here is a quick note: 130 municipalities have been told by the province that they can not have any new residences and commercial and industrial businesses because they don't have the infrastructure to support the growth. This is not the case in Kindersley.  Furthermore, the Town is but one component of our community. Kindersley is about us, you and me, working together creating a life for you, me, our neighbours, acquaintances, and friends. Kindersley is us working, playing, and creating together.