‘I’m proud of the place’
Berwick mayor reoffering in October elections
It’s an exciting time to be the mayor of Berwick.
“We’re right in the middle of some big things,” said Mayor Don Clarke, who will be reoffering in the upcoming round of municipal elections slated for October.
Clarke listed the new town hall and library complex build, expansions related to the wind farm generating energy for the Berwick Electric Commission, future phases of the Kings Mutual Century Centre and the new Wheaton’s store pitched for a parcel of land across from the fire station as some examples of significant projects in the works.
“I’m really hopeful that the wind farm will provide us with some much-needed revenue that we wouldn’t normally have, and that that revenue can be used to keep our taxes reasonable and maybe add some services and some facilities,” said Clarke.
“If you have to rely 100 per cent on taxes it’s hard to maintain the level of service that people really want.”
Clarke joined Berwick’s town council in 1997, serving as a councillor for 15 years until assuming the role of mayor in 2012. He’s watched the town weather economic blows with the loss of major employers like Larsen Packers Ltd., and he’s seen Berwick bounce back with the help of new and existing businesses.
“We’ve been fortunate as a small town ... to have things like Bargain Harley’s and Wheaton’s ... be the draws,” he said.
Recent enquiries relating to an increase in education costs within the town revealed that Berwick was the only municipal unit in Kings County to see a slight increase in student popu- lation this year, said Clarke.
“We like to think it’s a trend and that we have some younger families coming to town.”
He’s proud of the roles staff and council played in helping the Town of Berwick win an accounting services contract with Kings Transit, and become selected as the future site of the Annapolis Valley Regional Library’s new headquarters.
“It’s nice to be involved in decisions about where we’re going and how we’re going to get there,” said Clarke. “I enjoy that part.”
A long-time resident of the town, Clarke intends to continue to push for progress if reelected as mayor.
“I hate to see towns dissolve. I know it has to happen in some cases, but I really think if a town can progress and do well, then it’s good for the area,” he said.
“I’m proud of the place. I really like to see it do well.”