The Wastewater Treatment Plant is complete, and the City of Lloydminster is up and running on the new events centre, reflects Mayor Gerald Aalbers as he looks back on 2023.
Council accepted the final report on the new $81.5 million facility at its GPC meeting on Monday, Dec. 4.
The mayor sees the Wastewater Treatment Plant as their biggest accomplishment this year. He says the city is also celebrating the ongoing work for the new events centre with Cenovus Energy onboard.
“Securing funding from the governments of Saskatchewan and Canada for the Cenovus Energy Hub – the naming of the hub; having Cenovus Energy step forward as the naming sponsor of the facility,” says Aalbers.
The mayor is also happy with the completion of the first phase of downtown restoration and thanks the community for its patience over the construction period.
Also, he is elated to see people have “come back out and about.” He referenced summer activities and December’s Here Comes Santa which had a great turnout along with the warm start to winter.
Aalbers sees issues related to the funding of projects as a key challenge in 2024, along with a $257 million deficit to replace aging infrastructure in Lloydminster.
Ongoing concerns include the issue of homelessness across the country including Lloydminster, notes Aalbers.
“Certainly, the unhoused in our community is a concern at city council. We continue to advocate on a regular basis, if not daily with the provincial and federal governments regarding that challenge of the unhoused – working with the provinces again (on) mental health and addictions.”
Returning to the warm start to winter, concerns from area producers, and the need for moisture, let alone winter enthusiasts, Aalbers thinks back to the mid-80s and then late 90s as a possible last time that it was this bare in December. Still, he is optimistic that the weather will kick in, even though the city welcomes the savings on the snow removal budget.
“Give Mother Nature a little time, she can soon change our attitude towards things. I appreciate it. Our team appreciates it that we have not put the blade down yet to move any of the white stuff. Suppose we can get through to the end of this year into early January. In that case, I think most people will be happy, except I guess the cross-country skiers, the outdoor rink, and the snowmobilers,” says Aalbers as he reflects that the North Saskatchewan River is still in “pretty good shape.”
The mayor shares his thoughts for the holidays and 2024.
“I wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. I hope that they have the opportunity to gather with friends and family. And if you are alone, please reach out to somebody and make a connection for this Christmas. No one should be alone at Christmas. We have some great charities that are asking for a little bit of help from everybody if they can,” says Aalbers.