Bruderheim names new interim CAO

BY JOHN MATHER

Bruderheim Council has named Robert Stephenson as its Interim Chief Administrative Officer effective Feb. 4.

Stephenson currently works in the municipal governance area for Strathcona County. The Town has a longstanding agreement with Strathcona to supply a CAO for Bruderheim.

Bruderheim Mayor Karl Hauch and Deputy Mayor Judy Shueler both met with Strathcona County officials to discuss appointing Stephenson to the interim position.

They told council further details of the hire would be forthcoming at a later date.

Stephenson will replace Patty Podoborozny, who leaves her position as the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer to take up new duties as the CAO of the charge for parents using a credit card, so it must be built into the fee.

County of Minburn as of Feb. 4.

She will have one more council meeting to attend as she has agreed to help Stephenson get off on the right foot at his first council meeting in February.

Cole did not provide an exact amount or percentage being charged to parents but speculated a rate of 2.4 percent was a common surcharge.

EIPS Communication Director Laura McNabb said by email that the fees are set in the Rycor online payment system and include credit and debit charges but could not provide the sur- charge amount.

“The surcharge is not removed if a parent pays cash. EIPS incurs other costs when a fee is paid by cash or cheque such as the time spent by staff handling, securing and depositing the funds,” she said.

Meanwhile, schools are beginning the process of consulting with parents before setting their school fees for the upcoming year.