By TERRY PUGH
With three terms as a councillor and another three terms as mayor under his belt, Kent Muench is no stranger to the Martensville City Council chambers.
And he’s hoping voters will give him the opportunity to lead the growing city for another four years. In an interview September 5, he confirmed he’s seeking re-election in the November 13 municipal vote.
“It’s been a great privilege to work with residents to build this community,” said Muench. “I’m very grateful for the support in the past, and I’ve been encouraged by many residents to continue in this role. I enjoy it because I’m deeply committed to the well-being of Martensville.”
Muench said one of the biggest assets he brings to the Mayor’s role is experience. He noted the city has changed dramatically in the 12 years since he took the helm.
“We’ve grown very quickly in terms of population,” he said. “And we’ve been able to improve the city’s infrastructure and amenities to keep up with that growth. We now have facilities like the Martensville Athletic Pavilion, the skate park, new elementary schools, a major expansion to the high school, and the brand new Martensville Recreation Centre (MRC) slated to open this fall. Kinsmen Park, with its walking paths, really encourages an active lifestyle.
“We’re working to finalize a water and wastewater partnership with Saskatoon that will give us the capacity to grow in the future. And we have a very strong business sector that’s so important for the region.”
Muench said he draws inspiration from grassroots community organizations and volunteers that have been key to successful projects, including the MRC.
“That was a decade-long project that involved a lot of lobbying, a lot of time and a lot of hard work on the part of a lot of people to make it happen,” said Muench “What was so inspiring is how that Martensville Community Recreation Project sparked so much pride among residents, and that spilled over into other areas.
“That community spirit is a big part of what makes Martensville an attractive place to start a family or open a business.”
Muench said he’s looking forward to the opportunity to be part of the decision-making process and maintain the city’s momentum over the next four years. He noted that work still needs to be done in several areas, including ongoing improvements to health care access, increased emphasis on reconciliation and engagement with Indigenous partners, and discussions with other municipalities on regional planning and future initiatives.
He said his goals for the next four years include completing the MRC and related development in its vicinity, finalizing the water and wastewater project with Saskatoon, and laying the groundwork for development of commercial lands south of the Highway 12 overpass, as well as in the Lake Vista commercial corridor.
He also emphasized the need to ensure resources are allocated for protective services and health care.
“Fire, police and health services are the backbone of a community, and they’re not easy files,” said Muench. “They can be challenging. We’re grateful we have such a strong, well-equipped and well-trained fire department, and we need to keep that as a priority. We also need to work with our local doctor and her team to attract more family physicians.
“Our city council is a firm believer in the need for partnership to have a regional RCMP service. As we grow to hit a population of 15,000 people, we need to plan for that change, because once we hit that threshold, we will lose federal funding. So we will have to pay 90 per cent of the cost, but no change in service. So we need to have a plan in place for when that happens.”
Muench said regional partnerships are key to encouraging growth.
“The larger Saskatoon region is the furnace of the provincial economy,” said Muench. “This is where the real population growth is happening. And the nice thing about the regional partnership in place now is that the municipalities are working together, not because they’re forced to, but because they realize it’s in everyone’s best interest to do that.”