Reflecting on Merritt’s busy centennial year since incorporation, Mayor Susan Roline says the city has been fortunate and she is optimistic about what the new year holds for the community.

Roline, who recently began her second term as Merritt’s mayor, said that economically speaking, Merritt is in a good place compared to other rural communities.

“The mills are still crying for employees,” she said. “We’ve had many new business start ups and a number of new employment opportunities.”

Roline expects this trend to continue into the new year with several projects scheduled to begin in the spring. Among them are BC Hydro’s two transmission line projects – the Merritt Area Transmission line upgrade and the new Interior to Lower Mainland transmission line – plus the new Merritt Green Energy project, which received the go ahead from BC Hydro this year.

Roline also mentioned Huldra Silver’s plans to build a silver mill at the Craigmont Mine property. With construction already underway, the mill is expected to be up and running by early February.

New construction means a demand for local labourers and local services as well as potential opportunities for employment once construction is complete, said Roline, adding that the development will benefit all sectors of the economy.

“The employees will look for accommodation, they’ll need to buy groceries, do laundry etc.,” she said. “Residents with basement suites could rent them out for the next two years.”

Looking back on the past year, the mayor also mentioned the return of Mountainfest and the emergence of The Great Canadian Bike Rally as highlights of 2011 that show promise for the city’s future. Both events are on Merritt’s 2012 calendar with the bike rally scheduled for July 12-15 and Mountainfest set for July 19-22.

“I think that Mountainfest changing back to its original weekend will help with the weather and people will have had a whole year to have heard about it,” said Roline. “The bike rally is also going to be a lot bigger this year.”

Besides the festivals, Roline said Merritt’s 100th Anniversary celebrations were a success. The festivities included a re-enactment of the first council meeting in April, and Merritt’s 100th Anniversary Homecoming Week activities in July.

With two boundary expansions in the works and city upgrades underway at DeWolf Way, the Merritt Airport and Granite Ave, Roline expects 2011 to be a busy year as well.

“Merritt has been very fortunate and we’re just going to get busier as things strengthen in the province,” said Roline.