Feyter voted mayor in Fort Macleod

Controversial mayor Rene Gendre is leaving Fort Macleod town council, following a third-place finish on Monday. Councillor Brent Feyter, who had served as deputy mayor, was elected to lead council in a close 573-553 vote victory over Bill Kells. The former mayor received just 71 votes.

Gendre crossed swords with the former council shortly after the 2013 election. Council moved to sanction him in 2014, saying he was “repeatedly warned about acting outside the bounds of council procedures.”

It proceeded to remove him as the town’s representative with a number of boards and organizations. Gendre filed suit for a legal review of council’s actions, but a justice on the Court of Queen’s Bench ruled in council’s favour.

“Council was in the best position to weigh the competing circumstances in the context of the history of the difficulties between the parties,” wrote Justice K.D. Nixon.

Following that ruling, the province’s municipal affairs department named two officials to review town council’s operations.

Fort Macleod’s new council includes six candidates from a field of 15. Jim Monteith topped the polls with 933 votes, followed by David Orr, Gord Wolstenholme, Kristi Edwards, Marco Van Huigenbos and Werner Dressler.

“There’s a great group on council now,” Feyter says, bringing a broad spectrum of experience.

Along with its ongoing efforts to attract new business to town, he says council is also looking forward to opening the town’s new administration building next year.

After a $5-million renovation to the former G.R. Davis Middle School, town officials will be sharing the building with the Livingstone Range School Division.

Feyter says council may also consider leasing rather than selling its present building, designated one of Fort Macleod’s historic resources.

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