With elections over and the results official, Ponoka County council is up and running, after holding its organizational meeting Oct. 29, with the only incumbent Paul McLauchlin at the helm as Reeve.
Coun. Bryce Liddle was appointed as deputy Reeve.
As one of their first three actions, the newly formed council decided to purchase up to 30,000 tonnes of good quality gravel from ANT Construction Ltd at $12 per tonne from the Fenwick Pit.
This is a slightly higher price than what council would usually pay, but through the business deal the county is saving on trucking expenses because the west portion of the county needs to be serviced next year and Fenwick Pit is located northeast of Bluffton.
Council also decided to rescind the recently increased nomination fee, which went from $100 to $250 for the 2013 election, and allow candidates to receive a full refund of the fee.
The current per diems, subsistence, convention rates and millage costs were also accepted as they were.
McLauchlin is in charge of ties to Rimoka Foundation, Municipal Planning Commission, West Central Planning Agency (alternate), Central Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, and Central Alberta Economic Partnership.
Liddle will be liaising with Ponoka Seed Cleaning Plant, Rimoka Foundation, Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, West Central Planning Agency (alternate), and Crime Watch Ponoka.
Coun. Mark Matejka will function as Agricultural Service Board chairman and will be responsible for FCSS Ponoka, Municipal Planning Commission, Hobbema Healing Centre, and North Red Deer River Water Commission.
Coun. Doug Weir will be alternate liaison to Ponoka Seed Cleaning Plant and will manage links to Parkland Regional Library, Municipal Planning Commission, West Central Planning Agency, Gull Lake Management Plan Committee, and the Ponoka Ag Event Centre Society.
Coun. Nancy Hartford will take over as vice-chair of the Agricultural Service Board, FCSS Rimbey, Parkland Regional Library (alternate), Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, Crime Watch Rimbey, and Emergency Services Rimbey Fire/Ambulance.
CAO Charlie Cutforth was appointed to: Subdivision and Development Appeal Board Secretaries, Public Safety Services as director, and returning officer.
All councillors will be responsible for relations with the Agricultural Service Board, Fire Wardens and Public Safety Services Central Committee.