This week we turn our attention to the municipality of Villers-la-Ville and its mayor Emmanuel Burton, once again re-elected with a strong majority in the last elections. A leading figure in the municipality, his political sense has continued to convince voters and his running mates for around twenty years.
Meeting a mayor who puts closeness to residents first.
Your political longevity is impressive; the result of a well-managed and convincing path, your list enjoys an absolute majority. What, in your view, are the secrets behind such success?
There are two essential elements that give credibility to one's actions.
First of all, availability to the population. This means a constant presence on the ground, at the heart of the many activities that shape municipal life. Villers-la-Ville is a particularly lively municipality, and this closeness makes it possible not only to be an accessible representative, but also to sense the daily realities and concerns of the population.
The second fundamental element is keeping commitments: doing what you promise. This requires a clear vision of the objectives being pursued, as well as a coherent strategy to achieve them, taking into account the human and financial resources available to the municipality. In this respect, longevity is a valuable asset, as it brings experience and thorough knowledge of the ground.
The municipality of Villers-la-Ville has its own particular features: from the abbey to the rural landscape. How, in your view, can you preserve the intrinsic character of your municipality while adapting to constant urban development?
Urban development is one of the elements that must be kept under control in order to preserve the rural character of our municipalities. It is essential to keep in mind that the municipality must remain on a human scale.
This objective is of course expressed through thoughtful land-use planning, but also through the life of our villages and schools. This rural character rests above all on the social ties that form between the residents of Villers-la-Ville. The population is the true heart of this vision, to which I am deeply committed.
Over the past decades, you have been able to carry out quite a few projects in your municipality. Which ones are closest to your heart?
In twenty years, there have been very many achievements. To name just a few: the sports complex, the new school in Tilly, the recycling centre, a project my predecessors had discussed for decades without ever managing to make it happen, but also the construction of youth centres in the villages of Marbisoux and Mellery, and many more...
Alongside these visible achievements, there are others, less noticeable day to day but nonetheless of major importance. Nearly thirty million euros have been invested in sewerage and wastewater treatment. Significant investments have also been made in storm basins and flood management. Villers-la-Ville used to be among the most vulnerable municipalities on this issue; that is no longer the case today.
So there isn't one particular achievement that is closest to my heart. It is the sum of all these projects that allows us to be proud of the work accomplished together, with all the elected representatives of the Mouvement Réformateur.