Merete Heggelund will assume the role of City Manager while council begins the search for a permanent city manager (Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Former CAO appointed as temporary City Manager

Mar 8, 2022 | 12:33 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A familiar face will be returning to city hall to act as the interim city manager.

The City of Medicine Hat announced at last night’s council meeting that Merete Heggelund has been appointed to the role temporarily while the city is in the process of finding a permanent individual.

Heggelund served as CAO of the city from 2015 to 2018 She also served as commissioner of corporate services from 2012 to 2015.

She has been in retirement since 2018, but she told CHAT News she is happy to come in and help out.

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“I hope some of my experience is still relevant to council because this is still a very new council a majority of them, and they need to find their feet and stake out the direction they want to take, and I hope I can help facilitate some of that, and help staff figure out some of the right responses to where the council wants to go,” she said.

Heggelund will begin in her role starting March 14 and will serve in the new position until a permanent city manager is found.

According to Coun. Shila Sharps who chairs the council employment committee, finding a permanent city manager could take between three to six months.

by Tiffany Goodwein

Former CAO appointed as temporary City Manager

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