Town of Claresholm welcomes new director of infrastructure

By Rob Vogt
Jace McLean wants Claresholm to be a place where people want to live, put down roots and make Claresholm their home.
The new director of infrastructure started working for the Town of Claresholm in January of 2013 as a temporary labourer, until January of 2014.
He went full time then, in 2015, moved into public works where he took all the necessary training and certification through Alberta Environment in water distribution and wastewater collection to be a Level 2 operator.
In mid-November, he was notified he got the position of director of infrastructure.
Starting on Jan. 1, he started spending a few hours a day with Mike Schuweiler, the director at the time who was retiring.
That turned into more and more of his day, until March 1 when McLean stepped into the role, and Schuweiler stepped back, but was still there.
McLean describes his role as big picture, where he sets the direction for infrastructure needs and upgrades in the town.
That includes administration, and working with contractors and engineers.
Asset management is also becoming more and more important, and is a big part of McLean’s job.
Asset management is a system that helps municipalities manage their infrastructure, make investment decisions, and meet a required level of basic services, in the most cost-effective manner, through the management of physical assets.
He noted infrastructure is aging, so it has to be assessed and a plan put in place to maintain and upgrade it.
McLean is married to Brandy, with two children, Ty and Jordi.
He was born and raised in Nanton, and came to Willow Creek Composite High School in Grade 10.
“I fell in love with the town,” he said, adding he worked on the road but came back when he was 21.
“We bought a house,” put down roots,” he said, then started a family.
Since taking over the role as director of infrastructure, McLean has settled in nicely.
“It’s been good, everybody’s awesome,” he said, adding the public works staff and staff at the office have all been fantastic.
“Everyone’s been so supportive,” McLean said.
His goals in his new role are to upgrade for future development and make Claresholm a great community to live in.
“I want to attract people,” he said. “So they put down roots, and make their life here.”
His door is always open, and he enjoys helping people.
“That is what my job is,” McLean said.