DUNMORE, AB — Cypress County has selected a new reeve.
Richard Oster, who was re-elected in the recent civic election, was voted to the position by his fellow councillors Tuesday morning. Oster replaces Darcy Geigle in the position.
“I’m pretty excited about it,” said Oster, who represents Ward 7, which includes the north area of Seven Persons and Desert Blume. “When I was reeve back a few years ago, I didn’t quite do the process the way I should have. I’ve learned a lot, and I’m looking forward to being the reeve now and to building the group and all (of us) working together, lots of communications and just moving us forward.”
Oster says collaboration between the county and the city will be one thing he hopes to build on as reeve.
“There’s a whole bunch of things that we do together, so I’m looking forward to working with those people,” he said.
He adds safety on the Trans-Canada Highway remains a priority for council.
“We want to actively pursue some lights at the Dunmore intersection where the service station is,” Oster said. “Council feels that’s a real priority and that we should definitely spend some time and effort on that to get the government officials to work with us.
“We’re willing to work with them, but they just have to step up to the table. And I feel they will. They’re very open, so I think things are going to happen.”
Tuesday’s meeting saw the councillors sworn in for another four year term. New councillors Michelle McKenzie (Ward 1), Robin Kurpjuweit (Ward 4) and Shane Hok (Ward 8) were sworn in alongside the incumbent councillors, five of which were acclaimed on September 18.
Dan Hamilton was once again voted Deputy Reeve at the meeting.
The full councillor list is below.
Ward 1 (Hilda/Schuler) – Michelle McKenzie
Ward 2 (Irvine/Walsh) – Darcy Geigle
Ward 3 (Elkwater) – Ernest Mudie
Ward 4 (Longfellow) – Robin Kurpjuweit
Ward 5 (Dunmore/Veinerville) – Dan Hamilton
Ward 6 (Seven Persons/Black & White Trail) – Dustin Vossler
Ward 7 (Seven Persons North/Desert Blume) – Richard Oster
Ward 8 (Redcliff/Highway 523 North) – Shane Hok
Ward 9 (Jenner/Suffield) – Alf Belyea
