An Okotoks realtor is running for a seat on council to help fix traffic on Cimarron Blvd.
Glenn Stieben, who is also running for Foothills School Division trustee, said he is a one-issue candidate in the upcoming municipal election.
“My main reason is, I’m going to fix part of the problem in Cimarron – the traffic – before a kid gets killed,” said Stieben. “It’s just getting worse and the Town has burned these people very bad.”
He said the commercial area at Southbank developed more than initially planned for once Costco came into town, and the infrastructure was not expanded to match.
A lot of traffic flows between the Cornerstone commercial area, where Walmart and Sobeys are located, and the Southbank area, which is home to retail such as Costco and Save-On Foods.
Stieben said he would like the Town to take action to get Highway 7 doubled between the two commercial zones.
“I want the councillors to back a $500 discount on the taxes in Cimarron, everybody in Cimarron, until the Highway 7 is doubled behind Sobeys and double turning lanes,” he said. “And don’t vote for a councillor who’s not going to go for the motion.
“It doesn’t matter who you vote in for councillors, they’re all going to do what they want anyway, so at least I’ll get this part done.”
He’s been knocking on doors along Cimarron Blvd., speaking to residents and encouraging them to support his stance. Those who commit to voting for him to solve the traffic issue are given a blue ribbon to put outside their homes.
“It’s outside their house, saying they’re only voting for councillors who are going to vote for this motion,” said Stieben. “When these councillors see all these blue ribbons, they know there’s votes out there, if they go with the motion. That’s what I’m after.”
He said his experience on the board with Rocky Ridge Ranch Homeowners Association plays into the role of councillor and pushing policies, because he was able to overturn the board when its executive were unable to have the community building brought under its purview.
“I threw out the whole board, took the board over, and in the end I planted a couple hundred trees and got a new board in line, got the community building handed over to us, and then I sold out and I left them with $600,000 in the bank,” said Stieben.
There are a few other issues that pique his interest, such as resolving the water concerns in Okotoks.
He said the how doesn’t matter so much as the when, and it’s long overdue.
“We should have tied into Calgary a long time ago just like Chestermere did,” said Stieben.
As far as development, while some people have stated they don’t want to see Okotoks turn into a bedroom community, he said that doesn’t bother him.
“I sort of like a bedroom community,” said Stieben. “I don’t want to have everything here.”
