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Mayor calls for collaboration in state of the town speech

Collaboration was a key part of Mayor Rick Bonnett’s state of the town speech during town council’s regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Collaboration was a key part of Mayor Rick Bonnett’s state of the town speech during town council’s regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Speaking after council approved the allocation of tasks at its organizational meeting, Bonnett stressed that working with stakeholders is important.

“As we move into the next stages, we have to remember that we need to be regional collaborators and we will alwasy need to have partnerships to continue to move forward,” said Bonnett.

Alliances are going to be even more important as infrastructure costs are rising and government grants are being provided less frequently than they used to, according to the mayor. However, Bonnett added both provincial and federal governments have stated their intention to boost the economy.

In their search for a new CAO. he added that council would need to be diligent to hire the right person for the job and said council would most likely seek the help of a consultant in that process. He suggested there would be challenges along the way, but that he is confident in the town’s abilities.

“We are in some difficult times ahead and we will struggle through them,” said Bonnett.

Organizational meeting

Council also set the schedule for deputy mayor and committee appointments.

Deputy mayor schedule:

November to December 2015: Coun. Teri Underhill

January to February 2016: Coun. Sandra Lyon

March to April 2016: Coun. Carla Prediger

May to June 2016: Coun. Marc Yaworski

July to August 2016: Coun. Loanna Gulka

September to October 2016: Coun. Tim Falkiner

Meeting schedule:

Regular council meeting times are changing.

For the winter months town council will be meeting at 6 p.m. The earlier time is for the months of November to April and they are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

For the spring to fall months of May to October, council will meet at 7 p.m.

Committee of the whole meetings will be held on the third Tuesday of the month with the exception of December and July, where council does not meet. For the months of November to April, committee of the whole meetings will start at 6 p.m. and from May to November they will start at 7 p.m.

Council standing committee appointments

Councillors approved their committee and sub committee appointments with a few changes as to who sits on what committee.

Finance: Yaworski; Union Negotiations: Yaworski and Underhill

Planning, promotion and economic development: Underhill and Prediger; Subdivision and appeal board: Bonnett and Lyon; Parkland Community Planning Services: Underhill and Bonnett

Protection and safety services: Yaworski and Prediger; CP Train: Gulka

Community services: Yaworski and Gulka

Recreation, parks and trails and Recreation Advisory Committee: Falkiner and Bonnett

Heritage/Downtown Revitalization Committees: Underhill and Prediger

Ponoka Ag Events Centre Society: Bonnett and Yaworski

Central Alberta Regional Trail Society: Falkiner and Bonnett

Social and Health Services: Yaworski; FCSS: Gulka and Lyon

Transportation, utilities, cemetery and environmental services: Bonnett and Lyon; Utilities/Environmental Committee: Bonnett and Lyon; Airport Development Board: Underhill and Bonnett; Battle River Watershed: Falkiner

External committees: Central Alberta Economic Partnership: Gulka and Yaworski; Ponoka Stampede and Exhibition Association liaison: Bonnett and Falkiner; North Red Deer River Water Services Commission: Bonnett; Rimoka Housing Foundation: Gulka and Prediger.