MOOSE JAW — Incumbent councillor Jamey Logan has announced that he is running in the Nov. 13 municipal election. Presented below are Logan’s answers to questions from the Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com. Some answers have been edited for length.
Why do you want to run again?
I chose to run for council in 2024 because I felt I have something more to offer as a city councillor. I really felt like I learned a lot last term and am ready to contribute even more to see the city move forward.
What did you think of your previous experience on council?
The experience was good. There is so much to learn that it’s quite overwhelming at first.
What do you think this council did well and what were some of its achievements?
The Seventh Avenue Bridge repair so that the people who lived over there could actually drive to their house. Obviously, every taxpayer should have access to their home.
Two large water line connections for rural partners north of the city where Young's Equipment and the UFA have been built, as well as the new lots on the north side of the No. 1 highway west of Simpson Seeds.
We need to partner with our neighbours to attract new business and create jobs. These large footprint businesses do not want to be within city limits and we are not losing them as taxpayers by allowing the water line connections.
The online building permit program that the city is adopting as we speak. It will help contractors and developers apply online and track the permit progress in real-time as it makes its way through the system. Rather than the old system of passing through hands from desk to desk, this new system will finally bring the city into the 21st century.
We pushed for and approved forward-facing construction specifications. Currently, when developers hope to work with the city, they need to email city hall or pop in and ask questions about what is required to build in the city. Depending on who they talk to, that answer may vary.
What the new system does has is all the documents standardized and forward-facing on the city website under one easy link. There is no more guessing and combined with the new permitting platform will reduce red tape immensely.
We approved the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant renewal project. This will ensure a source of clean drinking water for years to come.
We adopted the infrastructure renewal project, rather than cast iron renewal, so that all city-owned underground infrastructure is addressed at the same time while the excavation is open.
We approved the bid for the World Para Hockey Championship, once again putting Moose Jaw on the world stage. This was a profitable event for the city and the Moose Jaw Event Centre.
We worked to get the North 49 sow plant finalized. (This was started prior to our arrival).
Hiring a grant writer is also a big one and has been paying dividends already.
What areas do you think council should have done better or missed addressing?
We could have better communication with citizens when it comes to infrastructure renewal. The continually fluctuating tax assessment is creating confusion and worry amongst citizens and businesses alike and needs to be addressed.
What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
I'd like to see how the tax assessment fluctuations can be solved. There needs to be consistency for everyone.
I would like to address our paved roadway surfaces. We need to repair more of the paved surfaces each year.
I would also like to see us have a plan in place to start repairing some of our dilapidated gravel roads like Caribou Street East and Stadacona Street West. There must be an acceptable level of service to every road even if they are gravel.
I would like to see if we can afford to have weekly garbage pickup switched to weekly in May rather than June. I know the landfill is filling up, but May is when a lot of yard work is getting done and having weekly pickup would be helpful to a lot of people.
What would be your top area(s) of focus?
The tax assessments is my priority and work to find a way to keep the fluctuations to a minimum or create a phase-in approach if assessments go up significantly.
Ensure Moose Jaw is business-friendly to attract new business while supporting existing business. We are working towards that with the permit system and specs but there is still more to do.
What issues do you think need to be addressed in Moose Jaw?
The main priority should be infrastructure improvement .
How would you make life more affordable for residents?
I honestly don't think I will be able to. The taxes won't go down. I do hope to provide a bang for our buck though, so that those tax dollars are spent wisely and without waste. We all need to continue to try to find efficiencies and work toward a common goal.
How would you reign in excessive and/or unnecessary spending? Would you consider cutting taxes or reducing projects?
Those are discussions are for budget. The key is teamwork and common goals on council so that the council chooses projects wisely and makes cuts where necessary. I would not be in favour of cutting taxes but would look at reducing projects so that we spend within our means though.
Would you approve of using taxpayers’ money to support the Hilton Hotel project and/or a related parkade?
Absolutely not. That was never a discussion and nor should it be. Naturally, we will work with the project to ensure it runs smoothly, and we will collaborate to connect deep utilities and infrastructure. The tax breaks would come if the job criteria are met as per the bylaw. This project would be treated like any other project in the city.
How would you address the issues facing the community’s impoverished and homeless residents?
The city could continue to meet with the groups that are specialists in this area, such as Square One and the John Howard Society, along with the provincial government. But as a city, this isn't our area of expertise and is outside of our scope.
How would you enhance security or safety in the community?
When it comes to crime, we can continue to properly fund the Moose Jaw Police Service and make recommendations to our police commission members so they may take that back to meetings.
We also have to listen to what people are saying in the community and work with them to find solutions. I personally don't know the answers to that question.
What steps would you take to increase economic growth or encourage businesses to move here?
We need to take care of our infrastructure, transit and recreation venues so businesses have the workforce available when they do decide to move here. With failing infrastructure, mediocre transit and limited housing units available, large business investment isn't a reality. Once we look after the citizens and grow the working population then the large businesses will follow.
I also think our land prices are too high. We aren't Regina or Saskatoon. High-priced empty lots are a benefit to nobody.
How would you address the issues between SAMA and the business community? Would you push harder for that secondary audit?
I will continue to push for more clarity with SAMA and would like to see us model our system after other centres that have been successful. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Saskatoon, Regina and Swift Current all seem happy with their system, so I'd like to see us meet with them and see what they are doing.
Would you halt spending money on the agri-food industrial park until an anchor tenant is found?
I think we have spent more than enough already. I personally think that we should leave land development to developers who do it for a living. At this point on that project, though, we need to continue to push for a large anchor tenant, such as a pulse plant or seed plant of some sort who needs access to cheap water and ample power.
The land is developed now, so hopefully, we can find businesses to fill it.
What is your long-term vision for the community 10 to 20 years down the road? How would you bring that to fruition?
I would love to see the city growing slightly, but more importantly would like to see the infrastructure repaired, the Fourth Avenue Viaduct repaired and the Crescent View Lift Station replaced. By then we will have a new pool and hopefully a transit system that works for the citizens of this city.
If we look after our assets first, then the population uptick will follow.
Why should people vote for you?
With three decades of business experience along with my common-sense approach I am confident that I am the person for this job. I am approachable, conscientious, open-minded and hardworking. I don't see myself as a politician but as an average citizen who cares about this city and wants to see everyone succeed and prosper.
