Council Confirms Sikh Temple Member to CDA

Balhair Dulai, a 34-year resident and trustee, is the newest member of the Community Development Authority.

The Oak Creek Common Council confirmed Tuesday. In brief remarks before the council, Dulai thanked Mayor Steve Scaffidi, Police Chief John Edwards and others in the city who have helped the Sikh community in its time of grieving.

"We are very grateful for that," he told the council.

"I'm hoping that in the future I can be of some help and I would like to take this time right now to thank everybody and I'm looking forward to helping wherever I can."

In the aftermath of the Aug. 5 shootings at the temple, Scaffidi said he wanted to better integrate the temple into the community. Having the Sikh community involved in Oak Creek government is part of that, he said.

"We couldn't have a better nominee," Scaffidi said.

The CDA, which functions as Oak Creek's economic development organization, is an important municipal committee. The committee coordinates the city's marketing efforts to attract new businesses and monitors existing businesses and industries in Oak Creek.

Five residents and two aldermen sit on the committee. Members are appointed to four-year terms.