Retired lawyer Marilyn Scott is hoping to make a return to the Humboldt City Council scene as she steps once more into the race for a seat.
Scott was born and raised in Humboldt, and she boasts an impressive career of service in her profession and on various boards, an attribute she feels will serve her well on city council.
For ten years prior to 1992, Scott worked as director of governance and board services for the Saskatchewan Workers Compensation Board. She’s served on the board of the Farm Credit Corporation and with the one-time Saskatchewan Regional Health Authority, as well as with a number of local boards.
All those experiences have contributed to her ability to work with people and find conciliatory solutions to challenging issues.
Marilyn says she’s excited to step back into the fold at a time when Humboldt is on the precipice of many exciting opportunities.
“I previously have been on city council and very much enjoyed that work,” explains Scott. “This is an exciting time for Humboldt because there’s so much going on. We’re hearing so much about anticipated growth, and I think it’s important to be involved with how we might support that growth.”
Scott recalls that during her previous tenure, the city worked with mine developer BHP on analyzing the housing needs for the area. Following an inventory, Scott recalls that the city elected not to make large scale moves on development of city lots, largely in deference to taxpayers given the costs of such widespread infrastructure work. It’s a decision that Scott does not challenge.
Down the line however, she’s been watchful of the city’s move to encourage outside developers to participate.
“If the city makes that sort of decision, then it’s incumbent on the city to make sure that it’s very welcoming to developers. That’s something I’d be interested in learning more about – what the barriers or impediments are; what’s attractive about us to the development community.”
Scott says she has observed limited transparency from council through her observations of webcast council meetings. She says it’s about understanding the thought processes that have led to decisions.
“I think it would be good to hear the kinds of barriers that exist there, and for that we need to hear from the developers.”
In regard to infrastructure needs, Scott differentiates between hard and soft infrastructure. The hard side includes physical attributes like roads, pipes and sidewalks.
“Planning is really important. We don’t want to be in a position where we are paving a road just to dig it up again. I think the city is doing a better job than it had in the past, and I appreciate that there are always going to be, given our climate, circumstances where that can’t be prevented.”
She says soft infrastructure includes recreation and culture that she says creates the sense of the community. Scott says there’s room for improvement in supporting some of those elements.
“We’ve always had a reputation for having a vibrant arts community. We have the museum and gallery that, I think, are doing very good work, but not always feeling that they are adequately supported. I’m not questioning that we have rinks and recreational activities, but I think it’s also important that we not lose sight of cultural and artistic elements of our community.”
Transparency is the watchword for Scott’s intention going forward. For her, the processes are as important as the outcomes. It’s a quality which she would like to see council undertake in the future, and it’s one she is hoping to be a part of should she be elected.
Enjoy Marilyn Scott's conversation with Discover Humboldt's Blaine Weyland.