Richard Froese
Independent reporter
Steps have been set to fill the vacancy for the mayor for the Town of Stettler after Jim Hunter resigned last month after serving almost five years as mayor.
At its regular meeting on Aug. 4, town council confirmed the dates for a possible byelection.
Hunter resigned July 21 after he was promoted as a lawyer to a provincial court judge in Red Deer.
If a current councilor decides to seek the seat, this would also create another vacancy on council.
Any current members of council who desire to seek the mayor’s chair would have to resign at least 18 days before the official nomination day.
According to the election calendar, if the mayoral byelection is to be held on Oct. 19 as required by law, councilors who are willing to run would have to resign by Sept. 2.
Assistant chief administrative officer Greg Switenky was appointed the returning officer.
Council also authorized the returning officer to determine the days and hours of an advance poll.
He was also authorized to take votes of an elector who because of physical incapacity, is unable to attend the voting station or and advanced voting station to vote.
Polling stations will also be located at Stettler Health Centre hospital, auxiliary hospital, the hospital nursing home, and senior lodges of Willow Creek, Heart Haven and Paragon Place.
The successor in the mayor’s would serve the balance of the three-year term that expires in October 2010.
-Tender for fencing
Council awarded a tender for chain link fencing for the new Stettler Sports Park to fence three baseball diamonds to Jack’s Mustang Service of Stettler in the amount of $44,596.60 the lowest of three tenders, with the other two tenders over $70,000.
“They’ve done work for us before and we’ve been satisfied with their work,” said town manager Rob Stoutenberg.