Town of Barrhead mayor Dave McKenzie says without the help of organizations like the Rotary Club of Barrhead the community cannot function.
McKenzie was one of two guest speakers at the club’s inaugural meeting in their new facility Nov. 13 and noted it is his intention that the partnership between the town and the club remains strong.
“It is important for me, whether it is perceived by the public or is in fact reality, that the community and the mayors office and council have open lines of communication,” McKenzie said, adding it is not about one individual’s vision of the community.
McKenzie, a former RCMP officer and Alberta Transportation safety consultant, said collectively, residents and council will create the community we want to have.
“It takes good open dialogue to do that and I want the community to understand that. I don’t want the process to be onerous or intimidating. I’ve been in the community a long time in a variety of roles and I like to think that I’ve always been approachable. I want that feeling to remain that way,” he said, adding people should feel comfortable in approaching the mayor or council.
Having spent 26 years with the RCMP, McKenzie said not everyone he spoke to then was happy about it but as the mayor, he wants communication to be a happy event.
“It’s not always going to be that way. Sometimes you are going to ask questions and you may not like the answer but I can assure you that it will be clear and accurate.”
The movement of information back and forth has always been important to McKenzie.
“I don’t want miscommunication or misunderstandings. I’m not a great fan of the rumor mill. I want our residents and community members to be able to contact myself, or the rest of council, whenever there are questions or concerns. Together, we will do good things,” he added.
