Coffee with the CAO

Coffee with the CAO

 Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

Communication is key, and that’s why Village of Andrew Chief Administrative Officer Kylie Rude decided to launch ‘Coffee with the CAO’ every Friday morning between 9 and 10 am during the month of April.

The first hour long session on April 4 had Mayor Barry Goertz along with the local pharmacist in attendance. While Rude was expecting to see a few more faces, she was ready and eager to listen with her pen and notepad near at hand.

As CAO, Rude wears many hats, and has many demands on her time. As a result, she is not always able to meet with residents at a moments’ notice. That’s why she decided to try ‘Coffee with the CAO’ on a trial basis to see if residents find value in meeting informally to share their questions, concerns, or suggestions.

One major accomplishment has been fulfilling all the directives that were set up by the Minister of Municipal Affairs following a Municipal Inspection. “It entailed mostly bylaw and policy development, and that just starts to set the stage for the next steps. That’s just the very beginning part of the healing. That’s how I like to put it.”

She added that, “There’s still a lot of internal controls and procedures that are being developed. We’re putting together the pieces of what existed and what makes sense today. The past five years were the most challenging because there were changes with council and CAO, and staff which all impacts consistency, efficiency, those types of things.”

Rude explained that they are “rebuilding the foundation to be able to do the things people see as a service or something tangible.” Part of the rebuilding process is working with administrative and public works staff, who are all relatively new to their positions. “The longest-term staff has been here eight or nine months.”

Much of staff training is hands on, and that will take time as well. “Again, from the foundation up, building that trust, building those relationships.”

Some of her attention will be on sewer line replacement along 51 Avenue. “We’ve secured one grant and we will be applying to get other funding.” The project is estimated to cost $1 million. So far, the Village has secured a $230,000 grant. The rest of the funds will be debentured, but there will be no levy imposed on residents.

Other capital works projects that have been proposed is concrete repairs in front of the administration building as well as sidewalk repairs there and a few other areas in the village. Rude said roof repairs to the building, which includes the school are 75 percent complete and on budget with the total cost estimated to be around $170,000. “We had an inspection of the sprinklers and minor repairs are almost done to a tune of nearly $6,000.”

Rude, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Andrew Rural Academy Foundation, said enrolment was targeted at 85 students and now expect to see that number rise to 100 before the school opens this September.

A day care will be housed in the facility, and village council has already heard proposals from two local residents. The Foundation has requested $50,000 in gap funding from Lamont County and expect to hear a decision in the very near future.

Eventually, the Village hopes to replace the playground that used to be located in duck park, near the famous mallard. “It’s just green space currently.” The project will be “grant contingent” and are hoping to partner with a local non-profit which can apply for grants municipalities cannot.

Rude said there is no rentals at the moment, and only a couple of homes that are up for sale in the community, but the municipality does have around 15 available lots, varying in size and price between $7,000 and $50,000.

Council recently established a small business assessment sub-class. “So, the intention there is to hopefully tax existing businesses that are operating slightly lower than businesses that are just sitting there. It’s a strategy to try and develop the main street and other areas that have business potential.”

There’s many more things Rude has on her plate, and she’s ready to take on all the challenges to make the Village of Andrew prosper once again.