inside Wednesday, September 23, 2020 Vol. 43, No. 39
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Viking to reduce Harvest in full swing council size to five Patricia Harcourt Editor
Viking Town Council reduced the size of council by passing all three readings of a bylaw at a single meeting. This means that at the next municipal election in a year’s time, residents will vote for five positions rather than the current seven. The council reduction bylaw was passed Monday, Sept. 21, reducing council to four members and a mayor’s position for the October 2021 municipal election. The mayor’s position is a separate election race from the four council seats. Mayor Jason Ritchie had asked administration to find out how many councillors sit on neighbouring municipal councils. CAO Don McLeod reported that Beaver County, Holden, Killam, Ryley, and Forestburg have just five councillors each on their councils. Reducing a council is permitted in the Municipal Government Act, but it must be done before December 31 of the year prior to the next general election. Viking Council’s one concern was how many committees each councillor currently has to sit on, and how to make that work with two fewer councillors to handle the load. McLeod said council can appoint public at large members to sit on committees and report back to council as one alternative to the councillors attending all the meetings. Financial implications of reducing council included a savings of $16,500 per year in legislative expenditures, he said. That figure was worked out based on each councillor receiving $687.50 per month over their tenure. Councillor Judy Acres noted that two boards have already gone by the wayside, including Beaver Municipal Solutions - which has become the legal entity Claystone Waste Ltd. with a new board being put in place - and the Battle River Alliance for Economic Development board (BRAED. As well, she said her extended travel time to Elk Point for Northern Lights Library Board meetings have ended now that meetings are being handled virtually. Council had wanted to downsize prior to the last municipal election but was already into that election year when an initiative was brought forward for consideration.
RCMP seeking public assistance in locating missing persons from Flagstaff Killam RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance in locating 32-year-old Matthew Kozak and 25-yearold Zabrina Paige Ferrier. Kozak was last seen at work in Forestburg, Alta on Sept. 18 and Ferrier was last seen in Galahad on Sept. 18. The couple have often gone to Mount Edith Cavell Road trails and their Hyundai Kona vehicle was located in a parking lot at this location. Their whereabouts remain unknown. Matthew is described as: · 5’ 8” tall · About 200lbs · Short red hair · Blue eyes · Caucasian · Had in his possession hiking gear and a tent Zabrina is described as: · 5’ 7” tall · Approximately 140 lbs · Blond shoulder length hair · Blue eyes · Caucasian If you know the whereabouts of Matthew and/or Zabrina, please call Killam RCMP at 780-385-3509 or your local police.
Killam RCMP are asking the public's assistance for any information in relation to this incident (or identifying those responsible). Please contact Killam RCMP at 780-385-3509 or your local police. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the "P3 Tips" app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.