Harvinder Sandhu

What are the three most important outcomes you want West St. Paul to achieve during the next four years? What measurable result would tell residents you succeeded?

My three priorities are better traffic flow and connections; reliable emergency services and easier access to RM staff, services and facilities; and growth that balances development costs with community needs, including parks, trails and recreation.

How should West St. Paul balance keeping municipal taxes competitive with maintaining and expanding services? Identify one area of municipal spending you would protect and one you would examine most closely for savings or efficiencies.

I would work to keep municipal taxes affordable and predictable while protecting emergency services, road maintenance and snow clearing. I would review purchasing and regular ongoing costs for savings. Major spending choices should be clearly explained, with a yearly update showing spending, savings and funded projects.

When the RM has an operating surplus or significant reserve funds, how should Council balance saving for future infrastructure, paying down debt, funding current projects and limiting future tax increases?

My main aim would be to limit future tax increases. Each year, I would review available money against the community's most important needs and the cost of maintaining services. I would protect money saved for future roads and services, and consider borrowing costs before deciding how much should go towards savings, debt repayment or current projects.

West St. Paul continues to experience rapid residential development. What costs should new development be expected to carry, and what costs should reasonably be shared by the municipality as a whole?

Developers should pay for new roads, drainage, water and sewer connections or extra capacity needed by their developments. They should also fund parks and recreation linked to that growth. The municipality should pay for improvements that benefit the wider community and take responsibility for ongoing maintenance after construction. These costs and responsibilities should be clear before a development is approved.

What types of businesses and commercial development should West St. Paul actively encourage? How should Council balance expanding the commercial tax base with traffic, infrastructure, nearby neighbourhoods and community character?

I would support local shops and suitable commercial growth. Council should consider traffic, the roads and services a business needs, and the character of nearby neighbourhoods. Business growth and its costs should be considered together when decisions are made.

What are your highest infrastructure priorities for the next term? How should West St. Paul respond to increasing traffic and demands on roads, drainage, wastewater and other infrastructure as the municipality grows?

Traffic flow and road connections are priorities for me, including access between McPhillips Street and Kapelus Drive. I would seek a public list of road, drainage and sewer projects, with clear costs, schedules and progress updates. Plans for these services should keep pace with new development. I would also work with the Province and other partners on improvements that need their involvement.

As West St. Paul grows, which municipal services need the most attention or investment — such as fire protection, community safety, public works, snow clearing, parks, recreation or bylaw enforcement — and why?

I would give priority to emergency services, road maintenance and snow clearing. These services need to keep up as the community grows. I also want RM staff and services to be easier to reach, and RM facilities to be easier to access. I would support practical park, trail and recreation improvements that the municipality can afford to build and maintain.

What do you believe is the single biggest issue facing Ward 2, and what specific result should residents expect from you by the end of the next term?

For me, Ward 2's biggest challenge is connectivity. Access from McPhillips Street onto Kapelus Drive is complicated, and residents report a long detour to turn around before entering the community. I want this access problem addressed so entering and leaving the community is easier.