Recent History – 1999
Dec. 9, 1999
With a short swearing in ceremony and the handing over of the village gavel to new Mayor Jill Wonnacott, it was out with the old and in with the new in Pouce Coupe Monday.
Parting Mayor Joe Judge still presided over the last act of the old council, authorizing a bill be paid to GPEC Consulting (to do with the new village office), then spoke a few words.
“I’m really pleased with the new council coming in,” Judge said.
“The village is in very good shape financially — probably the best it’s ever been in,” he told the new council. “You’ve got a good staff working for you and you can only continue to go forward.”
When Mayor Wonnacott took over, it was business as usual.
In the new council, Wonnacott is responsible for the fire department and solid waste. She’s also the village’s representative on the Peace River Regional District.
Coun. Donna White, the only incumbent councillor as Wonnacott moved on to the mayor’s seat, was given the portfolios of library, parks and playgrounds, recreation, Healthy Communities, and Municipal Insurance Association. She’s also the alternate on the Peace River Region Recreation Advisory Committee, of which Pouce resident Ron Martens is the representative.
Coun. Laura Hamann has the portfolios of animal control, museum and tourism, and the cemetery. She’s also the liaison to the Northern Rockies Alaska Highway Tourist Association and the Chamber of Commerce.
Coun. Doyle McNabb has the large portfolio of public works and, with the mayor, is responsible for finance and personnel.
Coun. Peter Kut has the portfolios of special events, beautification, Municipal Emergency Program and community planning. He’s also council’s alternate director on the Peace River Regional District board.
The council as a whole will tackle issues in the development and planning department, which includes such areas as zoning, Municipal Emergency Program and utilities.
One of the first acts of the new council was picking up where the old council left off with the new village building, approving several extra minor expenditures not included in the original contract such as electricity plug-ins for outside Christmas lighting.
The new council office is already under roof and is expected to be finished by Feb. 18, 2000.