Championing Olds: The Vision for Re-electing Darren Wilson to the Town Council

Welcome to the Re-elect Darren Wilson, Olds Town Council web page! As I seek re-election for a second term on the Town Council, I see this as an opportunity to connect with the vibrant community of Olds. In the month leading up to the October 20 election, I invite you to visit my webpage and follow my updates on Facebook. This platform will serve to highlight the challenges and opportunities we face together, as well as outline my priorities for the Town of Olds.

Delivering Core, Essential Services

One key aspect of my time on Council is ensuring that the Town is delivering core essential and necessary services in an efficient and effective manner. Since day 1, this council has been faced with many difficult choices in terms of finding the balance between a reasonable level of service and being mindful of cost and responsible budgeting. My focus for the next 4 years will be what I call the core fundamentals of operating the Town, there is little to no room for discretionary spending without consideration of the revenue implications. A question i always consider: how does this improve the quality of life for our residents.

Economic Development

Supporting existing businesses while attracting new commercial, retail and industrial is crucial for the growth and sustainability of Olds. Invest Olds leads the Regional Business Support Network (RBSN) in providing free business resources, strategic guidance, promotional tools and training for new and existing business. By fostering a robust business environment, we not only create diverse job opportunities but also expand our tax revenue base. In 2024, residents contributed 71% of total property taxes, while businesses paid 29%. In 2024, the Town collected $11.1m in tax revenue.

Infrastructure Maintenance

Maintaining our aging infrastructure is essential for Olds' sustainability. Our roads, pathways, and recreational facilities need constant preventative maintenance as well as repair. Addressing water loss and inflow and infiltration (I&I) is the towns' largest and most urgent infrastructure challenge. The Town is losing upwards of $2.4m annually. The cost to operate our utility infrastructure is nearly $2m above average when compared to similar sized communities. Through our inspection, repair and reline activities, we are seeing positive results. Our target for monthly water loss is 10-15% monthly (historically 22-32%) and our target for wastewater system is 15-20% (peak was 48% in 2022). The size of the prize is significant...achieving these targets would save the Town in excess of $1m annually.

Re-Elect Darren Wilson for Olds Town Council

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

As we look to the future, our community faces several immediate challenges. Inflation has impacted everyone with annual rates ranging from 3.2% in 2021; 7.7% in 2022; 5.3% in 2023 and 2.4% in 2024. Provincial funding has decreased from $2.1mln in 2014 to $1.4mln in 2025. Downloading of services from Federal and Provincial has increased. As a municipality, we have limited revenue-generating options....yet we are responsible for over 60% of infrastructure. The solution is obvious: building a stronger financial foundation based on core responsibilities; maintaining essential infrastructure and managing spending with discipline while pursuing economic development and addressing our housing stock and affordability issues.

Timely Communication

In the past 3.5 years I have come to learn and appreciate that residents deserve and expect timely and thorough communication. I believe Council and administration have made improvements to address concerns raised by residents: partnership page on town website; The Amplifier - Bi-Weekly e-Newsletter; return of Monthly insert - Utility Bill Promotion; Municipal Minute now a blog on Town web-site and Local Headlines and sharing local news stores on the Town website.

Personally, i will periodically post to my website and FB my thoughts on emerging issues and challenges for the Town as well as lessons learned for myself.

Wrapping Up

In summary, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your support and active involvement in our community. I have a keen appreciation for what our residents are passionate about; it demonstrates people care about our community. Civic responsibility is so much more than voting—it also means staying informed about the future of Olds. I ask for your continued support as I seek re-election to the Town Council. I promise to dedicate myself wholeheartedly to serving the residents of Olds.

Thank you for visiting my page, and please check back often for updates. I look forward to collaborating with each of you to ensure Olds remains an inclusive community where everyone can thrive.