New city councilman takes aim at local infrastructure

Elected to Holyoke City Council Nov. 8, Trae McCallum has one main area of focus: infrastructure.

“We’ve got to hold people accountable to do their job,” he said. “Just plain and simple.”

The town roads and alleys must be fixed, he continued, citing his talks with residents while on the campaign trail. He recalled his gutters flooding while he lived on Main Street; as for his neighbor, her basement would flood each time it rained.

Roads also cause challenges, according to McCallum, as “you can drive around and hit potholes 90% of the time.”

Additionally, he believes Holyoke should look closer at its water supply. Because of a long-term drought, he said, the town’s aquifer is “deteriorating.” 

“If [the drought] continues, what are we going to do? What’s our plan of approach?” he said. “There are only so many wells in this town. We need to look at the bigger picture and not just right now.”

McCallum is the sole new member to be elected on the council. Mayor Kevin Scott said he appreciated adding “young blood” to the council’s ranks and agreed with McCallum on the need for better roads and waterways.

“I’m the same way,” he said. “Our water lines are really old in some parts of town and they need to be replaced.”

McCallum served in the U.S. Marine Corps and currently works as a mechanic for Scholl Service Center, but he said his parents’ example just might serve him the best on the city council. They instilled in him a lesson: “A job worth doing is worth doing right.”

“A good leader needs to know when to lead,” he said, “when to follow and when to listen.”

The council is set to swear in McCallum – along with incumbents Brian Akey, Cathy Edge and Gene Bittner – on Dec. 6.