Community question 8 of 10
Infrastructure, essential services & municipal capacity
Take care of what we already have first — roads, water, wastewater, sidewalks and the people and systems that keep municipal services running.
The question
Marathon has several major projects underway, but the Town also has ageing roads, water and sewer systems and other essential infrastructure to maintain. If elected, how would you balance investing in Marathon’s future with taking care of the basic municipal services residents rely on every day?
My answer
For me, taking care of what we already have has to be a priority.
I think about it much like my own home. If I want my house to last, I maintain it. I don’t wait until something completely fails before dealing with it, because that usually costs more in the end.
I would bring that same philosophy to the Council table.
Our roads, sidewalks, water and wastewater systems and other essential infrastructure are things residents rely on every day. Maintaining them well, keeping them safe and planning ahead protects the investment our community has already made.
Accessibility matters too. Sidewalks need to work for someone using a wheelchair or walker, a parent pushing a stroller, a senior worried about falling, and children walking through town.
Council also has to make choices within a budget. What needs attention now? What can be planned over several years? What outside funding is available? And where will an investment provide the greatest long-term benefit?
That does not mean we stop investing in Marathon’s future. Communities need to grow and improve too.
It means we build from a strong foundation.
Sometimes the most important investments aren’t the ones that come with a ribbon cutting. Maintaining a road, repairing a sidewalk or taking care of essential infrastructure matters just as much.
For me, investing in Marathon’s future starts with taking care of Marathon today.