Bob Gaidhar is one of the three candidates to announce his intention to seek election for Division 5 in the Rocky View County (RVC) election.
“I believe change is needed for council to move ahead into a new era,” stated Gaidhar, an eight-year Conrich resident, adding that he is not happy with the representation he currently sees for his division on council.
“There are so many issues in the Conrich area that need to be taken care of, such as traffic, issues with the CN Logistics Park and the condition of roads. People on the east side (of RVC) pay taxes just like people on the west in Springbank, and yet we don’t have some of the same basic needs (met),” he said.
Gaidhar said he is intent on working to find solutions to the problems created by the CN Logistics Park, which was constructed in Conrich as a result of a federal decision. Train noise and traffic at railway crossings in the area are among his concerns.
“The people here aren’t happy. We know the park isn’t going anywhere, so right now we need to focus on improving people’s quality of life.”
With more than 30 years of business and entrepreneurial experience, Gaidhar said he believes in supporting sustainable developments that benefits the community.
“Any development in the County must benefit the entire county, regardless of any divisions.”
Gaidhar has developed land in Calgary, Chestermere and across Alberta, including residential, mix-use and retail projects, and is in the process of building a retail complex in the city of Lethbridge.
“My business experience has taught me about budgeting and controlling expenses wisely so that the end product is superior, and yet, within the budgeted amount. This is an asset, the County will benefit from me being there,” Gaidhar said, adding if he was elected, he would be a full-time councillor and entrust his business interests to his son.
Having been a developer, Gaidhar said he’s not convinced the debt is going in the right direction.
“I have come up with ideas and solutions for the debt problem, which I’d work on implementing if I was elected to council,” he said, but didn’t want to make those ideas public yet.
He said that future developers need to be required to pay for soft infrastructure costs that are required through new developments so the burden doesn’t fall on taxpayers. Currently, municipalities are only able to charge for hard infrastructure costs such as roads, water and wastewater infrastructure and stormwater facilities under the Municipal Government Act.
“Even though I was a developer and had to pay some of those costs, I’m still arguing that developers need to pay the costs to support their projects,” he said, adding that his past experience in the development sector won’t be an issue serving on council.
“If I’m a councillor, I will represent the best interests and needs of the County,” adding that he is “energetic with a fresh approach.”
“I hope that voters will elect me to be their voice in the County,” said Gaidhar, a father of two and grandfather of four.
