Irricana resident, Teasie O’Donnell has announced that she is running for a seat on Irricana’s council on Oct. 21.
Her family moved to the town in 1956 and while she’s left a few times, she’s returned to live in the house she grew up in.
“I’m running because there has to be clear communication between council and the residents,” she said at the Irricana Town forum held on Oct. 10 at the Irricana Community Hall.
In addition to increasing the Town’s communication policy, O’Donnell believes that council needs to curb its spending practices.
“I don’t believe Irricana has a revenue problem,” she said.
“I believe it has a spending problem.”
O’Donnell references the maintenance work done to 2nd Street this past year, that came over budget by $100,000.
“Engineers said (the work) was OK, now the town has to pick up the bill,” she said.
She also believes the Town is carrying too much debt load.
As of 2011, the Town of Irricana is carrying 16.9 per cent of its debt load (just under $80 million), which is down from 2006 when it carried 31.8 per cent, according to the financial indicators complied by the Alberta Government.
Current figures on present debt load were not available.
Increasing tourism is also an important platform issue for O’Donnell.
“I would like to see more advertising of the benefits of living out here,” she said. “A clean, safe community with wonderful residents.”
She added, advertising the “three-year” tax break for new businesses would help bring more into the main street.
Also on the horizon if elected, O’Donnell would like to enter into the conversation with the Aqua 7 water commission to try and find a solution for the high price of water.
As for why residents should vote for her, O’Donnell explains that, “(She’s) very honest and will do everything to answer any questions asked of her.”
“Plus, I will know what administration is doing,” she said.
“I guarantee you that.”
