Lana Grenier ready to take the reins as Reeve of Argyle

Lana Grenier is no stranger to municipal government and she loves a challenge so she is about to take on a new role as the Reeve of the Municipality of Argyle.

She is really looking forward to the role and feels confident in what she can bring to the table. “I said, I’m running because I think I could do a really good job,” she said. “And I enjoy it. It gives me something else for my brain to work on.”

That may be one of the best descriptions of Grenier’s approach to municipal politics.

Always on the go, she admits she has a hard time sitting still and enjoys having something new to tackle. What appeals to her about municipal government is that no two days are necessarily the same.

“It sort of is like part of every day is different,” she explained. “There’s always something new.”

Grenier has already served on council and says the experience gave her a good understanding of the municipality and the people she will now work alongside.

She also credits Argyle’s municipal staff for making the transition easier.

“We’re lucky in Argyle, we’ve got such great people working for the municipality,” she said, pointing not only to the municipal office staff but also public works employees.

“The staff in the office are amazing. When you have great people working with you, it just makes your job so much easier.”

That sense of teamwork will be important as Grenier begins her term with a new council and a number of ongoing projects and priorities.

One of the first things she hopes the new council will do is revisit the municipality’s strategic plan.

During the previous term, Argyle undertook an extensive strategic planning process that included surveys, open houses and public engagement. Residents were asked where they saw the municipality heading and what they wanted their municipality to focus on in the future.

Grenier says the feedback was valuable and provided council with a clearer understanding of what residents wanted.

“I really want to emphasize the strategic plan,” she said. “We’ll wait and see what the new council would like to start with.”

And Infrastructure will continue to be an important part of that plan.

For a rural municipality where agriculture plays a major role, roads and infrastructure remain a significant responsibility. Grenier also sees asset management becoming increasingly important as municipalities deal with aging infrastructure.

That includes keeping track of roads, culverts, bridges, buildings and other municipal assets, knowing their condition, when they may need replacement and what those replacements could eventually cost.

“It’s all setting stuff up for the future,” Grenier said.

Another major initiative already underway is the municipality’s purchase of the McKay gravel pit, located south of Glenora near the Rock Lake area.

Grenier considers the purchase a significant investment in Argyle’s future.

Gravel represents a major expense for rural municipalities because of its importance to maintaining roads. Owning its own gravel source will eventually allow Argyle to reduce its reliance on purchasing gravel.

“It’s going to be huge for our budget in the future,” Grenier said, noting that while the municipality still has to pay for the purchase, once it is paid off, the gravel pit should essentially pay for itself and more.

Waste management is another area Grenier expects the municipality to continue investing in.

Argyle operates a full waste disposal ground rather than simply a transfer site, and maintaining that facility requires ongoing work and engineering.

When equipment previously used by a contractor to shred waste became available after the operator retired, the municipality purchased the equipment itself.

Again, Grenier sees the decision as an investment in the future.

“It’s looking for the future,” she said. “That’s what will keep us being able to have a fully functioning waste disposal grounds for as long as possible.”

There are also projects already nearing completion, including the new Argyle Library. Grenier says she is excited to see the project moving ahead and hopes the facility will eventually become more than a traditional library.

The municipality has received numerous requests for services and resources, and Grenier sees an opportunity for the building to become a broader community resource centre.

As she begins her new role, however, Grenier says she does not want to lose sight of one of the most important parts of municipal government: listening to the people who live in the municipality.
“Most important thing for me is always feedback,” she said.

That could mean public hearings, surveys or simply making sure residents have opportunities to communicate their ideas and concerns.

Grenier would also like to improve communication from the municipality to residents, suggesting regular updates about what is happening throughout Argyle.

She believes keeping people informed is important not only so residents know what their municipality is doing, but also because informed residents are more likely to provide meaningful feedback.

“If they’re aware, then you’re more apt to get opinions,” she said.
Grenier’s enthusiasm for the job is perhaps best summed up by something her grandfather used to say: If you can find something you love to do and get paid to do it, you’ll never work a day in your life.

For Grenier, the people she works with are just as important as the work itself.

As she prepares to lead a new council, she says she is looking forward to the challenges ahead and to working with both returning and new members.

“I think I can do a good job,” she said. “I’ll do my best, and we’ll go from there.”

And if Grenier’s first term on council is any indication, she is unlikely to be sitting still for long.