Council for the Town of Vermilion discussed the 2017 General Municipal Election and decided the appropriate dates as provided in the local Authorities Election Act in a meeting of Council on June 21.
On October 16 the Town of Vermilion will vote for new members of its Town Council; this includes one new town mayor and six new town councillors for four years.
Council approved the motion that Nomination day will be held four weeks before Election Day on September 18, 2017. The Returning Officer will receive nominations at the local jurisdiction office between 10 a.m. and noon on nomination day.
On Election Day voting stations shall be kept open continuously from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. A municipality may by resolution, provide for the holding of an advance vote on any vote to be held in an election. If an advanced vote is authorized, the Returning Officer must determine the days and hours when the advance vote is to be held.
In 2013 the advanced vote was held one week before the election date. In addition, a Municipality by resolution authorizes an institutional voting station. However, this has been done in the past with very little results.
Mayor Bruce MacDuff announced that he will be running again for reelection as Mayor of Vermilion.
Council for the Town of Vermilion appointed Denise MacDonald as the Returning Officer for the 2017 Municipal Election for the Town of Vermilion.
Key Dates:
Nomination Day – September 18, 2017
Election Day – October 16, 2017
Council Orientation – October 24, 2017
ATCO Electric Discuss Led Lights At Council
ATCO Electric provided Council with a presentation on LED lighting and its renewable energy benefits for the Town. Council talked about converting approximately 687 lights in Vermilion to LED lighting.
ATCO Electric preventatives explained that LED lights consume 50 to 60 per cent less energy, significantly reducing electricity costs. LED lights have a 20-year life expectancy (five times longer than HPS bulbs) reducing maintenance costs by up to 80 per cent.
It was discussed that the upgrade to LEDs would save the Town approximately $1 million annually in energy and maintenance costs.
“The Town owns half of our own power poles and ATCO own the other half,” explained Mayor Bruce MacDuff.
Council agreed that better light quality that significantly reduces electricity costs would be a good investment, but it was agreed that more information about how much costing over a four year period would be. ATCO Electric agreed to return before Council on September 5 with a revised costing plan.