Town considering city status for Taber

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

 Mayor Andrew Prokop and town council are asking for public engagement on a subject of significance to Taberites. The question at hand is: To be or not to be a City? That’s right – the Town of Taber may make the leap to City status in 2025. Over the next several months, council will be discussing the prospect as the issue unfolds in the court of public opinion. The mayor said that one way or another, town council will be making a decision on the transition, and that the more feedback it gets from residents, the better.

 After all, the council chamber isn’t supposed to be a hallowed hall where decisions are made in a vacuum. A public consensus is preferable, though not necessary, for the seven elected officials to reach a verdict. So the public is being asked to speak up. It’s an open invitation.

So, why the possible change? It’s a calculated move to maximize the town’s economic growth and prosperity, and the timing seems opportune. Think about it: The Highway 3 twinning project is a massive undertaking, but it’s not going in for drivers who want a passing lane when they’re enroute to Medicine Hat for Sunday dinner at grandma’s house. Highway 3 is being dubbed an ‘agrifood corridor’ because agrifood is a huge business and southern Alberta is the heartland of agriculture. That makes Taber a hub with extraordinary potential.

 “Basically, this is economic growth driven,” Prokop said. “The last few council meetings have been very focused on economic growth and development in our town. You know, new business is always a plus. We’ve averaged that 40 to 45 new businesses plus for five years or so. That includes home businesses also, so that’s a positive.” He estimated that last year, that number was fairly evenly split between home and walk-in businesses, and the majority of those have survived past the first year.

 “That’s really refreshing,” he said. “All kinds of business, whether it’s a yard care out of their home, or a hair salon out of the home, or restaurants, etc. and all the new retail happening on Highway 3 service road. Over the last several years, there’s been more and more activity and more interest.”

 The expansion at McCain’s at Chin, for example, is a major contributor to what’s going on. The plant is expecting that it will need 260 employees for its expanded operations. In addition, the province is committed to helping the region to achieve 208,000 additional irrigated acres and the St. Mary River Irrigation District is clearing hurdles to go ahead with its Chin expansion reservoir. Other major players are on the move as well, some local, some national, and even international. Investors look at the Highway 3 corridor and see an opportunity, and that means more local jobs, residents, and services. City status elevates a town’s clout and draws more investment from the provincial and federal governments.

 Prokop talked at length about the prospects for Taber’s future – as either a town or a city – and it certainly sounded like he was close to endorsing the move to city status. He wants to “Seriously weigh all the pros and cons and then try to make the best decision possible. Right now, with what’s on the table, it looks like that’s probably a really good way to go, but again I’m not making a final decision. I’m not going to say I’m totally in favour.”

 He’s ready to explore the options, gather a general public consensus, and look at what the best decision is. “It’s something that we definitely need to do. I’m speaking on the favourable side, for sure, but also open minded, saying, I want to hear other input and know more details before we’re making that final decision. I’m not saying flat out this one decision is the only way to go, but I think it looks pretty positive.”

 The mayor was clear, the Town wants feedback, and while social media chatter can have a place in the discourse, it’s harder to formulate as data. It’s best if citizens participate in the formal surveys issued by the Town. Town councillors and the mayor will also be available in-person during the Coffee With Council opportunities at Parkside Manor and the public library or can be reached by phoning the Town office. The surveys will arrive in everyone’s mailbox along with the utility bill.

 “Sometimes, of the surveys open to every resident, we might get a 10 or 15 per cent turnout,” he said. “We would hope for more than that. Sometimes the survey doesn’t go over, but we’d like more public engagement. It’s not for a lack of trying.”

 The Town has prepared an FAQ package, available on its website. It spells out with clarity the advantages that the title of ‘city’ carries with it. And those advantages are nothing to sneeze at. The title carries some weight. Next week’s edition of the Times will do a deeper dive into the pros and cons.