Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
Councillor Bert Journault has decided not to seek re-election and instead allow others to step up for the role during this upcoming municipal election.
Journault described his term as 鈥渁 delightful four years鈥� that went by quickly, and he also praised the new, community-focused direction that CAO Bill Biven has taken the municipality.
鈥淚 think there鈥檚 going to be some very progressive things happening for the next council,鈥� Journault said.
鈥淭heir job is going to be quite rewarding, because it鈥檚 going to be a very progressive four years, in my mind.鈥�
Journault explained how he never planned to run for more than one term, which he initially decided to do when a friend suggested that he run for councillor or mayor.
鈥淚t was just too big of a jump to go for the mayor鈥檚 chair, but I thought, 鈥榊es, I will do council, but only for one term.鈥� I鈥檓 in my 70s. There are other things to do. I鈥檝e been in Jasper for 37 years. It鈥檚 served me well, and I think I鈥檝e served it well.鈥�
Back in the 鈥�80s and 鈥�90s, Journault served as a trustee with the Jasper School District for 11 years and sat on the town committee for one term before Jasper became incorporated.
Journault said he enjoyed working on council these past four years but found the pace of committee to be slow at times.
鈥淚鈥檓 a businessman and entrepreneur, so I like to get things done,鈥� he said.
Journault also argued that tax dollars weren鈥檛 spent enough on the community, specifically for streets, although he acknowledged the repaving of some roads this year.
鈥淚 come from the conservative side, so I basically was looking after taxpayers, making sure that we meet their needs, and often I think that the administration and council were a bit lax there.鈥�
Journault plans to continue working in the private sector with several businesses.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always somebody calling who needs help, so I like it that way, and I鈥檒l be keeping a close ear and eye on council work.鈥�
He urged the new council to continue looking after residents and taxpayers, whether it was paving a street or fixing a sidewalk.
鈥淛ust pay more attention to the needs of our residents.鈥�
