With regards to the budget, Mr. Barron says he is confident the town will be able to complete a lot of necessary upgrades that Wabush has been in need of for quite some time.
“Our budget will cover everything from snow clearing, to waste management, to wages,” he said. “Within that we also have some capital infrastructure, we’ll be purchasing a new sand truck and we hope to get a new asphalt machine so that we can repair roads more quickly and efficiently.”
While these upgrades will be much needed accomplishments, Mr. Barron says there are some developments that he is hoping the provincial government will work with the community on.
“We’ve went to government looking for seven million dollars for water and sewer upgrades,” he said. “We’ve also asked for 10 to 12 million dollars in roadwork to be done, and these are things that are on the need list, not the want list.”
Mr. Barron says he is hopeful that the provincial government will recognize the urgency of the community’s needs.
“With the demands on infrastructure especially with the growth that has been happening here, these things can’t be delayed much longer. So hopefully government will pay attention to what is happening here in Labrador West, see the needs we have, and invest in our area.”
Overall, Mr. Barron says he is pleased with what the town has to work with in 2012.
“I feel good about the budget,” he said. “One thing I am happy to say is that there will be no increase in taxation to our residents or businesses this year.”
As for any predictions for the New Year, Mr. Barron says his biggest concern is making sure the community moves forward.
“There are going to be a lot of challenges for the town of Wabush in 2012,” he said. “And it’s hard to say how they will unfold. Hopefully they will all be positive. A lot of residents don’t like change, but it has to happen, and if we don’t try to keep up, we’ll get left behind.”
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