With three new councillors on board, the Town of Stettler council staged an organizational meeting last Friday to become the 39th council in the town’s history.
The historic town was incorporated in 1905.
At last Friday’s ceremony, Stettler Mayor Dick Richards welcomed youthful newcomers Karen Sernecky, Sean Nolls and Will Brown, along with returning councillors Darcy Bachman, Al Campbell and Malcolm Fischer.
“We do public service for the love of the community,” said Richards, who has served as mayor for four years and on council for 13 years.
With a new four-year term scheduled, the mayor said he’s eager to move the community forward.
“We have a strong team to lead the town for the next four years and we want to create a forum for healthy debate,” Richards said.
“We have built strong ties with the county, villages and school board, and it’s imperative that we foster those relationships.”
For the position of deputy mayor, councillors were appointed to eight-month terms in order of standings in the election, starting with Fischer, followed by Campbell, Brown, Sernecky, Nolls and Bachman.
Appointments
Council members and others were appointed to committees and boards:
Heartland Beautification committee — Brown and Sernecky, members at large Rob Spencer, Sue Anne Hennessey, Grace Fix, Marilyn Crowshuman, John Leard, Graham Scott and Jacqui Newton, parks director Lee Penner and CAO Rob Stoutenberg.
Canadian Badlands — Campbell and board of trade executive director Aubrey Brown.
Central Alberta Economic Partnership — Nolls (alternate Campbell) and Aubrey Brown.
Citizens Recognition committee —Brown and member at large John Grant and one vacancy.
Community Police advisory committee — Sernecky and members at large Andrea Hatch, Chuck Orlick and Fred Abbott.
County of Stettler Housing Authority — Nolls (Brown), member at large Carol Nixon.
Stettler and District Family and Community Support Services —Brown and Bachman, member at large Gelaisa Long.
Inter-municipal development plan — Richards, CAO and planning and development officer Leann Graham.
Municipal Emergency Management Agency — all council, CAO and regional disaster services director John Bishop.
Parkland Regional Library — Bachman (Campbell).
Performing Arts Centre — Brown (Bachman).
Physician recruitment — Brown (Bachman).
Red Deer River municipal users group — Campbell (Fischer).
The Red Deer Watershed Alliance — Campbell (Fischer).
Regional collaboration grant steering committee for stormwater project with County of Stettler —Bachman and Campbell.
Stettler Regional Fire Authority —Nolls and Fischer (Sernecky) and CAO.
Stettler District Ambulance Association —Sernecky and Brown.
Stettler Development Authority —Brown, Campbell, Nolls, Bachman and Fischer.
Stettler Health Services Foundation —Sernecky.
Stettler Municipal Library board — Bachman (Campbell), librarian Mary Zazelenchuk, members at large Gail Peterson, Kathy Faltin, Tanille Timmins and Vicki Leuck.
Stettler Regional Board of Trade and Community Development — Richards and Nolls (Sernecky) and CAO.
Stettler Subdivision Authority — all council.
Stettler Subdivision and Development Appeal Board —members at large John Grant, Doug Delker, Dave Dennis, Norm Dennis (Sally Hurley).
Stettler Town and Country Museum — Nolls (Campbell) and member at large Jim Ainsworth.
Stettler Waste Management Authority — Nolls and Fischer and CAO.
Union negotiations — Brown, Campbell and Bachman and CAO.