Kimberley mayor outlines priorities

McRae places economic development high on list

Newly elected mayor Ron McRae at Kimberley City Hall. — Gerald Vander Pyl photo

Kimberley residents voted for change in the recent municipal elections and now newly elected mayor Ron McRae and a mostly rookie council has a full slate of challenges to tackle the next three years.

Kootenay Business asked McRae, who also served as Kimberley’s mayor from 2002 to 2005, for five priorities that he would like to see accomplished during the current term.

Economic development

McRae said there is a need to grow and also diversify the economy in Kimberley. He said the previous council was working toward the establishment of a light industrial park in the community and he wants to have that process completed.

A high-profile project on the diversification side is the Sun Mine, a two-megawatt solar energy project proposed on the site of former mining operations. McRae said voters in the recent election gave the city the okay to borrow up to $2 million in funds towards the project, but nothing will be built until all the finances have been finalized. The city has said the Sun Mine would only be developed if it can be done without cost to Kimberley taxpayers.

Business support

Another priority for McRae is to see what the city itself can do to support both existing and potential new businesses locally. He said it’s important for Kimberley to be seen as business-friendly, and he welcomes the local business community to become involved in city decisions and also in understanding how the city operates.

The city should also do what it can to encourage people to shop locally, McRae said. During his swearing-in speech, the new mayor pointed out that every dollar spent in Kimberley reaches seven other hands before it leaves the community.

Infrastructure

McRae said Kimberley is not alone as a municipality in terms of infrastructure that needs upgrading or replacement. He said high on the list is replacement of the Mark Creek flume, a concrete channel that protects against springtime flooding.

The city will seek funding for the estimated $4-million project, and McRae said the replacement would have a more natural look, such as rock, but would serve the same purpose as the current concrete structure.

Social capital

Utilizing the human resource potential of Kimberley residents is another priority for McRae, who said many people are attracted to the community for what it has to offer and bring with them a wide range of skills and expertise.

He said tapping into the varied knowledge of residents can benefit the community, as can a continuation of the spirit of volunteerism that Kimberley has always been known for.
In addition, McRae said a greater effort needs to be made to engage youth and offer them a reason to stay in the community rather than move away, as often happens.

Community branding

McRae said he doesn’t really like the term branding, but thinks there will be a need in the coming years to freshen up the image that is used to market Kimberley.

He said previous branding efforts such as the Bavarian theme don’t have to disappear, but  Kimberley could build a broader identity to reflect other aspects of the community, whether it’s mining history or the abundance of popular festivals.