Redeveloping a strong relationship with Ponoka County is in high order for both mayoral candidates running in Ponoka’s 2017 Municipal Election.

Current mayor Rick Bonnett, and mayor hopeful Larry Henkelman both had their say at the Candidate Forum last night.

Henkleman, who served as mayor for three terms, said the feud between the County and Town regarding the transfer of fire response units in 2016, needs to be resolved.

“The problem right now is we have a divided community. Our Town and County, for the last six months, haven’t really been talking. When issues arise, it’s pretty hard to resolve them if the two municipalities aren’t talking.”

It was the Town’s decision in July to only cover half of an invoice worth $76,732.64 given to them by the County to replace missing fire equipment of the units, in which they thought they would be receiving.

Bonnett said he understands there are some problems that need to be fixed, but said there has also been decent communication between them and with the new Municipal Government Act in the process of being updated he expects it to continue.

“We’ve been working very good together on a lot of regional programs. In the new MGA we will get way more information and way more collaborative as we move forward.”

The Municipal Government Act is the legislative framework in which all municipalities and municipal entities across the Province of Alberta operate.

Incentives for local business owners?

Is an over saturation of similar-type businesses in Ponoka killing the small business owner? One councillor candidate thinks so.

Clayton Nelson believes it’s time for local business owners in Ponoka be rewarded for opening shop rather than being forced into competition by outsiders.

The council hopeful suggested, what he called, a Ponoka Advantage, where business owners from Ponoka receive incentives for opening a business.

“I was thinking about an incubation period for small businesses. We need more start-ups, so a one to three-year tax break on small businesses just to get their feet wet and get up and running.”

He said having multiple business of the same nature isn’t good for anyone.

“It keeps those businesses from being bankrupt over competition for no good reason. If there is no good reason to have five hardware stores in town then why would do that?”

Nelson proposed the idea at the forum last night, which was met with an applaud from the audience.