BOWDEN — Greg Skotheim, Bowden's chief administrative officer (CAO), is the town's new director of emergency management (DEM).
Skotheim made that suggestion and council ratified it during its June 24 meeting.
He replaces chief financial officer Jacqui Molyneux who undertook the role while serving as interim CAO before Skotheim was hired earlier this spring.
Before that, mayor Robb Stuart had served as DEM but had said he didn't feel that was the proper role for the mayor.
Skotheim noted he has taken several courses related to the position as well as the new emergency management course.
On top of that, he said, he had served as DEM for eight to 10 years while working for the Town of Three Hills. He was also deputy DEM when he worked for the Town of Didsbury, before accepting his new job in Bowden.
"That would be great if you would assume those duties," Stuart said.
Skotheim commutes to his job in Bowden from his home in Didsbury but assured council that if an emergency were to arise in the town "I could get here in 20 minutes."
Skotheim said his plan is to have two deputies of emergency management. Ideally, he said, one would be a "professional" who works for Red Deer County. The other would be a Bowden resident.
He noted Rick Henderson is serving as a deputy DEM right now, but is retiring shortly and moving away from the community.
After council passed a motion appointing Skotheim as DEM, Coun. Carol Pion said jokingly, 'you can breathe now, Robb."
That sparked some laughter from other councillors.
