New town council sworn-in and appointed to committees

Times Photo Submitted WELCOME: Town councillors were sworn-in on Oct. 23. New to council are Josh Antoniuk, Randy Sparks, and Naomi Wiebe (pictured). Council returned for its first organizational meeting on Oct. 27.

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Taber’s new council was sworn-in on Oct. 23 before it convened for its first organizational meeting on the afternoon of Oct. 27. After Mayor Andrew Prokop was sworn-in separately for another term, the group did introductions and got down to business.

 The primary objectives on the agenda were to approve council appointments and requests to the various council boards, committees and commissions and to appoint councillors to terms as deputy mayor.

 The appointments and requests to serve on the boards, committees and commissions are all scheduled to carry over until the 2026 council organizational meeting.

 Council appointed members by resolution to the Arts and Heritage Committee, the CAO Performance Evaluation Committee, the Development Authority/Municipal Planning Commission, the Municipal Emergency Management Committee, the Library Board, the Taber Municipal Police Commission, the Taber Recreation Board.

 The requested appointments were also approved by resolution to the Barons-Eureka-Warner Family & Community Services Board, the Chinook Arch Regional Library System Board, the Intermunicipal Development Committee, the Joint Economic Development Committee, the Taber & District Chamber of Commerce Board, the Taber Exhibition Association Board, the Taber & District Handi-bus Association Board, the Taber & District Housing Foundation Board, and the Taber & District Municipal Airport Commission.

 Nine other ad hoc committees also required at least one council member to be appointed to each.

 Council appoints its deputy mayors for eight-month terms to assist with town business in the absence of the mayor or to represent the town if he has other commitments. Councillors are selected in the order of the vote count from most to fewest.

 The scheduled terms for deputy mayor are as follows: Randy Sparks Nov. 1 to June 30, 2026; Daniel Remfert from July 1, 2026 to Feb. 28, 2027; Carly Firth from March 1, 2027 to Oct. 31, 2027; Josh Antoniuk from Nov. 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028; Naomi Wiebe from July 1, 2028 to Feb. 28, 2029; Joanne Sorensen from March 1, 2029 to Oct. 15, 2029.