ESTEVAN — Shelly Veroba is running for a third term on Estevan's city council, emphasizing the need for experienced leadership as the city prepares for changes, with at least four new members on council.
"With so many seats empty, I do believe there needs to be some experience with council," Veroba said.
Veroba finished first in both the 2016 and 2020 councillor races. She has lived in Estevan for 36 years and manages Creighton Lodge, a position she believes helps her understand the community's needs. She's been involved in a number of different boards.
Looking back at her time on council, Veroba highlighted key achievements such as the city's pathway system.
"The pathway system was huge. It gets people out moving, and people are meeting each other, getting to know their neighbours," she said.
Veroba also pointed to the Churchill Park project as an example of successful community input. She also noted the downtown revitalization project as a highlight of her last term, but also a learning experience.
"One thing I've learned from the downtown revitalization project is communication. As much as we felt that we did get the word out, there were still a lot of people who didn't understand how the project came about, so when we had first started working and thought the different phases of what we could apply for, somehow that got misinterpreted that we were going to continue with all of the phases," Veroba said.
"I think the downtown revitalization is going to be an asset to our community once it's completed. I think it was a good project, but I think we need a lot more communication moving forward with all of our projects."
She also noted that in both of her terms, the city debt has gone down, and council kept tax increases minimal with a few years of zero increases.
As she looks to the future, Veroba identified infrastructure improvements as a priority, particularly addressing the condition of roads like Perkins Street.
"There are some roads that need to be looked at. But I also think we need to continue with the communication and with ensuring that our community maintains a safe feeling for all the citizens," she said.
Regarding the future of the coal industry in Estevan, Veroba expressed cautious optimism. She pointed to discussions about converting coal to graphite and hydrogen as potential ways to sustain the local economy.
