Oaths were taken as the new Lacombe County Reeves were sworn in during Lacombe County’s Organizational Meeting, on Tuesday.
During the Oct. 26 meeting, Lacombe County Councillors Barb Shepard and John Ireland took the Oath of Office and were sworn in by County Manager Tim Timmons.
Shepard, a Division 3 Councillor has been appointed Lacombe County Reeve, Ireland, will serve as Deputy Reeve.
“I want to thank my fellow councillors for appointing me as Lacombe County Reeve. There are many changes to our Council following the election, and I’m looking forward to working with both new and familiar faces to lead Lacombe County forward,” said Shepherd as she assumed the Reeve’s Chair after taking the Oath of Office. “The previous Council left us with a strong foundation to build on as we tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead of us.”
Since joining Lacombe County in 2013 Shepard has been an active representative for Lacombe County on the Lacombe Regional Waste Services Commission Board, Blackfalds Recreation and Parks Board, ALUS Community Advisory Panel, Red Deer/Lacombe Rural Crime Watch and Ellis Bird Farm Board. Recognizing the challenges facing rural Alberta, she continues to be passionate about issues surrounding the environment, rural crime and responsible spending of tax dollars.
Ireland, an Lacombe County Division 1 Councillor was sworn in as Deputy Reeve for a two year term.
During his time on council over the last four years, Ireland has been a representative on the Highway 12 and Highway 21 Water Commission, the Red Deer River Municipal Users Group, the Lacombe Regional Waste Services Commission, and the Lacombe County Agricultural Service Board, to name a few.
Acknowledging that he lives in a special place, he continues to work at making Lacombe County a sustainable community well into the future.
“I’m honoured to serve a second term as a Lacombe County Councillor and thank Council for appointing me as Deputy Reeve for Lacombe County,” says Ireland. “We have several new councillors with new perspectives joining us at the table and I look forward to working with each councillor, experienced and new, to find workable solutions for the matters that will arise over our next term in office.”