Nilsson named mayor of village

Following the traditional rule the person with the most votes, Ben Nilsson, was elected as the village’s mayor in Stirling Tuesday evening.

Committee and board assignments were also decided during Tuesday night’s organizational meeting where councillors took the oath of office and were sworn in.

On the Municipal Planning Commission, or MPC, Jonathan Bikman, Jason Edwards, Trevor Lewington, Mike Maynes and Ben Nilsson will all participate in. Village Chief Administrative Officer Mike Selk will also serve as the village’s development officer.

All councillors and Mayor Nilsson will participate in the Emergency Management committee. Mayor Nilsson will also be a part of the FCSS committee, Stirling Historical Society, Group of four Mayors Meeting, Southern Alberta Chief Elected Officials and ORRSC.

Bikman will be chairing the Recreational Advisory committee, Municipal Library Board, Chinook Arch Regional Library Authority and the Candian Badlands Initiative with former mayor Jason Edwards. He will also be the alternative for the Joint Safety Committee.

Edwards will also be a part of the Community Futures committee, Regional Emergency Services Commission, Ridge Water Quality and will serve on the Ridge Water Services Commission with Mike Maynes and alternate Mayor Nilsson. He will also act as the alternative representative on the Chief Mountain Solid Waste board.

Trevor Lewington will be the chair for the Fire Department and will also serve on the Southgrow Regional Partnership, Chinook County Tourism, Ridge County Housing Authority and Regional Drainage Committee. He will also act as the alternate for the Stirling Historical Society.

Coun. Maynes will also be a part of the Chief Mountain Solid Waste board, the Joint Safety Committee, the Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association. He will also be the alternate for the Oldman River Regional Services Commission.

Five fresh faces, and one familiar face, were greeted by acclaimed Magrath Mayor Russ Barnett Tuesday evening as the new council was welcomed and committee assignments were decided. Although the faces may be fresh to Magrath’s council they are not without experience. It seems almost every elected councillor has had some experience before, except newcomer and long-time Magrath resident Brian Oliver, who was a successful business owner in the community for 35 years.

There are a myriad of options for councillors to choose from when it comes to deciding which committee they would like to serve on, many committees require more than one member.

Coun. Gerry Baril will be a member of the Development and Appeals Board, Chinook Foundation bBoard – which deals with the Diamond Willow Terrace in Magrath and the Chinook Lodge in Cardston. He will also be on the Economic Development and Recreation and Tourism boards and the Block 33 Home Owners Association.

After accepting the role of deputy mayor for the next four years Coun. Brenda Beck will also join the Human Resources committee, act as an interface between the town and schools, serve on the MPC, Water Commission and Intermunicipal Development Plan (IMDP), and Recreation and Tourism. She is also responsible for representing herself or Mayor Barnett at the Mayors and Reeves meetings.

Coun. DeVar Dahl was selected to represent the FCSS, Recreation and Tourism, the Water Commission and Library board.

Coun. Craig Godlonton will be on the Ag Society committee, EMS, MPC, Block 33 Home Owners Association and will act as the alternative for the Celebration and Special Events committee.

Newcomer Brian Oliver will be taking on the MPC, Celebration and Special Events, ORRSC and Economic Development board. He will also chair the Golf Course and Chamber of Commerce boards and act as the alternative for EMS.

Coun. Richard VanEe will serve on the Human Resources board, IMDP, Water Commission, Financial committee, Development and Appeals, Chief Mountain Solid Waste and he will act as the chair for ORRSC.

As for Mayor Barnett he is responsible for Human Resources, administration, public relations and can serve on any board he so chooses. He is obligated to be a part of the Chinook Foundation board, the IMDP and Chief Mountain Solid Waste.

“We can adopt these assignments now and move forward from there,” Mayor Barnett said after the assignments had been given.

Committee postings will be added to the town and village websites and can be viewed respectively at either http://www.magrath.ca., or http://www.stirling.ca.

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