The slate of candidates for the six Councillor seats in the City of Yorkton is a long one.
A total of 24 are running. Yorkton This Week prepared a single question for their response: What is the key issue you want to address if elected?
Candidates were provided the question in advance, and asked to submit an answer in 200-words or less.
Their responses will appear over the next two issues.
The order has been randomized, and the responses appear in the format and style of the individual respondent to reflect their approach to the question.
The election will be held Wednesday, Oct. 26.
Christopher Kosteroski
Christopher Kosteroski will be the voice of the Community and its Citizens. I will actively listen to our citizens, community organizations, and businesses about social issues, which arise alongside our expected and continued business and population growth. My key priority is for City Council to balance economic decisions with social decisions. I have experience in both economic development and human services. I value both economic growth and social vitality simultaneously.
I will ensure that our children, youth, parents, grandparents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, newcomers to Canada/Yorkton, First Nations, persons with barriers, are all supported within the community by collaborating with our service providers and businesses. Â
As the voice of the Community and its Citizens, I will ensure that there is a voice in the City Council Chamber for local bus services, access to food, a new health facility, affordable housing development, adequate recreational facilities and activities, and continued support for local education and training opportunities.
We often talk about investment and resources in economic or monetary terms. I like to view the complete picture. I prefer to think about investment as an opportunity provided to our most important resource – People. A healthy economy needs a healthy community.
Ken Chyz
• More discussion should happen in open council so that the public is privy to what all is involved and how council has reached their decisions.
• All city contracts should be tendered to make sure that we get the best possible suppliers and contractors for the job at the best possible price. Preference should be given to local businesses even if they do not have the lowest bid as long as their tender is within reason.
• We need to encourage new business to locate in Yorkton. Our economic development officer should be doing more to convince major corporations as well as small mom and pop operations that Yorkton is a place where good things really do happen. Encourage new and expanding businesses by offering tax breaks for a specified period of time.
• We need to make the Broadway Street project, as well as other main roadways, a top priority. We can’t continue to have prominent Yorkton businesses shut down every time we get a major rainfall. Because of the flooding issues we have had in the past six years, homeowner and business insurance rates have risen significantly.
Brent Murdock
Citizen safety is one of my main goals to improve in Yorkton.
The Fire department in Yorkton is one of the Citizen Safety issues that I want to investigate if elected to council. The current state of the Fire Dept. has only one 4-person crew on duty. If there is a structure fire, a 4 person unit response can at best take action to prevent it from spreading to neighbouring buildings, but they can’t go inside until the second unit arrives. This can mean up to 20-minute delay. The second crew must be contacted and they then have get to the station to get the second unit out. Also a supervisor and a pump operator have to get there.
As a Councillor I will work toward enhancing the city fire department staffing in some better way without breaking the bank. There is a lot of overtime involved already, which is a high cost to the taxpayer. It seems to me that if the City spends this money anyway, there is likely a way to restructure the staffing so the delays are reduced.
Secondly, having this type of minimal staffing may be causing business and residents to pay higher insurance rates. Something to consider.
Randy Goulden
I’ve spent my entire adult life in Yorkton. I’ve raised my family here, I’ve run a business here for 26 years, and I’ve seen our community go through growth and tremendous change. Throughout those years, I’ve learned that any community, including ours, needs fairness and balance in how city council spends money and provides and supports a wide range of services. A healthy community is one that achieves a balanced approach to meet a variety of challenges. For instance, we must foster new businesses and help expand those already here. We must also ensure that all age groups have the opportunity to meet their social, economic and recreational needs. We want a community where cultural activities flourish, where families and residents have job opportunities, and where our municipal infrastructure serves us well. While we are not directly involved in healthcare and education, we can assist in improvements, as we did with Parkland College. We must strike a balanced approach that is affordable and fair, and that benefits all, from young people and new families to longtime residents and senior citizens, making Yorkton a good place to live, work and play for all of us who call it home.
Aaron Kienle
Infrastructure is an issue that affected me, other businesses and residents during the road construction on Broadway and Mayhew.
I have small businesses in the Linden Square Mall and Parkland Mall. Lengthy road construction in front of the Parkland Mall nearly closed my business. The project happened during the entire summer and busy back to school season. We are still recovering from a project that should have been completed much faster. I personally understand the impact these projects had on me, small businesses and the people of Yorkton.
In the future it’s clear there will be more large road and infrastructure projects to complete, including Broadway Street. On council, I plan to ask more questions about the details and explore all options available. These will be very difficult times, not only for small business owners, but for all the residents of the city.
Communication is important and a lot of times it starts by asking questions. I plan to be part of clear communication between the city and the residents, that way less room for rumours about where and how our tax dollars are being spent.
Encouraging communication and asking questions is how we make Yorkton where good things happen
Les Arnelien
The key issue that our newly elected council will need to address is fiscal responsibility. The city of Yorkton has experienced unprecedented growth but as of late both our Saskatchewan and Yorkton economy has been slowing which will result in lower tax revenues. At the present time the city of Yorkton has one of the best financial statements in Saskatchewan.
During our next council term we will need to:
(1) Continue to improve our infrastructure—roads and sewer
(2) continue to improve our drainage to reduce flooding areas
(3) foster a business friendly environment to attract new business and the expansion of existing business
(4) ensure Yorkton is a safe community to live and raise a family
(5) build a new Public works building
(6) continue to invest in our airport
(7) invest in a new Regional Health Centre
(8) and at the same time keep residential and business property tax increases to a minimum.
Your vote for Les Arnelien will allow me the opportunity to accomplish the above so that the city of Yorkton continues to be the place ``Where Good Things Happen``.
Together we can build a better tomorrow.
Thank you for your support on October 26th
Donna Brothwell
I truly believe that to grow our Community we need to foster an environment where business will be attracted here and grow. Along with that comes the ability to afford to fix the infrastructure issues, to keep our roads in better condition and keep our community amenities that attract the business owners and their families to want to come here. Then to succeed we need to use our funds as efficiently as possible. We must as Council be presented and seek out information to be able to make the proper and best decisions for the community. To do this we must task the staff to make sure we are presented with several options that are well researched so we can provide direction for the operation of the municipality. To foster business growth means to have an open and fair tender process and promote local businesses. Being open and engage the community, and listen to their concerns. Growth in Business means growth as a community. If elected I will be instrumental in encouraging business growth by looking into the processes that surround new business and existing business to grow. By managing our processes we grow our City!
Brent Hamm
Hello, to the fine citizens of Yorkton.
What is the key issue I want to address if elected? There are many; infrastructure and roads are definitely a big one. For this question though, I would like to address public safety. You all know there has been a rise in crime in the last year. Home invasions, drug problems, and the latest, a murder. Thank you to our police for doing a great job.
But our police need extra help. I know extra police means extra money. Why not have the rural RCMP, and the city RCMP, join forces. Providing us with more officers in the city and with little added expense to the city.
We could increase our Bylaw officers, which would have more authority and be governed by the city, to do duties such as, monitoring speed zones, red lights, stop signs, etc. Thus, freeing up our police for more important matters.
I know there is no easy fix, but we can take steps to having a safer city, where our children, seniors and everyone can feel safe in their neighbourhoods.
If elected, this is one concern that will be brought up at city council. Let’s make this town a safer place to live.
My Town, Your Voice.
James Wilson
My key priority is fiscal accountability of the tax payer’s money. The decisions Council makes all require money that has to be a direct benefit to the citizens. Key initiatives are to improve the streets, ensure proper storm drainage, adequate policing and prepare for a new hospital. In order to accomplish these initiatives my experience will be an asset in the decision making and leadership over the city.
My focus is to work diligently on Council to: 1) ensure smart and prudent management of tax payers’ money, 2) create an environment for business growth and expansion, 3) support health care and social needs for all citizens for a healthier community, 4) foster an environment that supports young families, 5) create a safe and secure community with ample policing as Yorkton continues to grow, 6) foster an environment of respect and open communication with citizens and community organizations.
I believe strongly that municipal government is about helping people. I consider it an honour to serve others. I would like to serve you as a Councillor of action with a vision of ‘Our future is now’.
Dustin Brears
The key issue I would like to address if elected is Business Growth in the city of Yorkton. I have two young daughters who I plan to raise in the City of Yorkton and I want to do my part to make it the best place possible for them to grow up and call home. If we can encourage Business Growth, this will create benefits for not only today’s generation, but tomorrows as well. We need to take a look at the current tax structure and incentives for new Business, while also taking care of the ones that currently call Yorkton home. When you have good paying jobs locally, that keeps local people employed, brings new families to the area, and ultimately supports business growth as those families will spend their money right here in the city. It’s a win-win situation. We cannot have families uprooting and moving away from Yorkton to greener pastures, we need to be the greener pasture! I want a City that my family can be proud to call home, and Yorkton is that place.
Kyle Dionne
If elected I will address the relationship between the business community and the City of Yorkton. In slow economic times Yorkton needs to work hard to be an attractive place for new businesses to open and a willing partner in helping local businesses succeed. The way to create business growth is to address the city’s policies on development levies and to create a first-in incentive for new commercial areas. Building infrastructure and creating commercial zones can be very costly for a city, but when a levy is placed on any business trying to develop these zones it leads to stagnated growth and unsold commercial lots. When new businesses open or local businesses prosper the city needs to treat it as its own success. Instead of charging businesses to move into newly created commercial zones the city should create a first-in incentive to move in an anchor business and create a reason for additional businesses to move into these new areas. I will emphasize a view of long-term perspective focused on helping businesses grow, start-up businesses succeed, and paying for our infrastructure through businesses success and the additional taxes it brings.
Jordan Rosluk
I have attended every City Council meeting since December 14, 2015 and I believe the key issue facing Yorkton is the $586,000 city budget deficit we currently have.
This $586,000 deficit is the result of commercial property values decreasing and business owners winning their tax appeals. Along with decreasing commercial property values we are experiencing declines in real estate values. If these declines continue there will be less money for the city to use in areas such as building a new hospital, repairing/replacing roads, and replacing sewer/water lines. To replace these three major infrastructure needs it will cost an estimated 276-293 million dollars. It is also imperative that Council finally address the areas of our city that continually flood and implement a solution that will work.
To pay for these infrastructure improvements we need to boost the local economy so we can increase Yorkton’s budget. I recommend tax incentives for new businesses and decreases in current business taxes. A strong business economy can restore Yorkton. I would also like to see Council extend an invitation to Justin Trudeau and Brad Wall and have them visit Yorkton so we can request federal and provincial funding. For more information please visit www.jordanrosluk.ca.
The remaining 12 candidates will appear in the Oct. 12 edition of Yorkton This Week.
