Woodlands County is seeking applications for Members at Large

By Laura Bohnert

Woodlands County is looking for applications from residents who are interested in serving as Members at Large.

“Woodlands County has various committees that make decisions or which make recommendations back to council on various aspects of municipal operations,” Luc Mercier, Chief Administrative Officer for Woodlands County, explains. “Members at Large are positions on these committees that are filled with Woodlands County residents to ensure that we are able to get input from all areas and facets of our county on decisions that are made. Woodlands County wants to hear from its residents in making decisions on services that are provided.”

Applications are being sought for Woodlands County residents who wish to serve as Members at Large on boards that include the Agriculture Services Board (one vacancy), the Economic Development Committee (two vacancies), the Joint Economic Development Committee (one vacancy), the Municipal Planning Commission (one vacancy), the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (two vacancies), and the Woodlands County Community Services Committee (one adult and two youth vacancies).

“Any resident of Woodlands County may apply for any of the positions,” Mercier adds. “The only restriction is that our Community Services Committee has two youth positions which may only be applied for by Woodlands County youth between the ages of 16 and 25 who are still attending high school or a post-secondary institution.”

Applications are due by noon on October 13, and each position will be held for a two-year period, from November 1, 2016 to October 31, 2018.

“Each of the committees has a different mandate and different duties for each of the members,” Mercier explains. “In general, however, each member at large will have the opportunity to have direct input during the discussion on specific agenda items and will have a vote (amongst five to seven other members, depending on the committee) on the decisions that are made.”

“The Agriculture Services Board, Economic Development Committee, Joint Economic Development Committee, and the Community Services Committee make decisions and recommendations on the specific municipal operations and services that are provided to residents,” Mercier outlines.  “The Municipal Planning Commission and Subdivision and Development appeal boards, however, are quasi-judicial boards which make decisions on discretionary development permit applications and subdivision applications.”

“Woodlands County is here for the sole purpose of providing services to its residents,” Mercier continues. “Although these services take many shapes and forms, it is imperative that input and ideas are obtained from its residents so that the services provided reflect the needs and wants of the residents. Members at Large positions are important because they allow for another way in which to engage the municipal residents in a meaningful way.”

Mayor Jim Rennie agrees with Mercier about the importance of Members at Large: “Members at Large are a very important component to a variety of our decision-making boards. Some of our boards even include youth, such as Community Services, as their voice helps round out the needs of Woodlands County.”

“Our council hopes to have many applications this fall as we build our different teams that help direct the path of Woodlands County,” adds Rennie.

For more information, individuals can either call the municipal office (Whitecourt 778-8400, Fort Assiniboine 584-3866), or email Luc Mercier directly at luc.mercier@woodlands.ab.ca.