Mariska Span-Smeelan and Nick Chodyka were sworn in as the two newest members of the Redwood Meadows town council Oct. 7, winning the recent byelection by acclimation.
With 34 years of experience in public safety, security and policing, former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Chodyka said his top priorities would be to work on lease negotiations, infrastructure development and emergency preparedness.
Prior to joining council, Chodyka became a member of the Redwood Meadows Emergency Preparedness Committee, whose purpose is to develop an emergency management plan for the community.
“The plan will hopefully be completed soon, as the committee has gotten a lot of work done.”
Chodyka said he was impressed with the community’s handling of the flood response after the June 2013 flood.
Redwood Meadows, a townsite located along the Elbow River, was built in the early 1980s on land leased from the neighbouring Tsuu T’ina First Nation.
In order to provide certainty for its 1,200 residents, Redwood Meadows town council continues to work with the Tsuu T’ina First Nation council on lease negotiations, with the intention of signing a new lease before the current agreement expires in 2049.
After the Redwood Meadows town council election last October 2013, as part of its new mandate, the council established the Lease, Infrastructure, and Emergency Preparedness committees to work on its top priorities.
Chodyka also sat on the Lease Committee, and said they have already laid good groundwork for future lease negotiations.
“Within my term as councillor, I want to achieve the goal of getting the lease agreement signed between the Tsuu T’ina First Nation and the community leaders in Redwood Meadows.”
He also hopes to help improve the community’s infrastructure.
“There are issues in regards to sewage and water pipes that need to be looked at and resolved,” he said, explaining that the infrastructure needs repairs and maintenance.
Chodyka, a Redwood Meadows resident since 2006, said he loves living in the community because he has met many good fellow residents.
Span-Smeelan said she too loves living in Redwood Meadows.
“It’s a great community to live in, and I want to make sure it remains a great place to raise your children,” she said. “It is a very family-friendly environment with a great sense of community.”
Span-Smeelan has a background in research administration at various universities with a focus on attaining and maintaining financial funding for those institutions.
A mother of three, ranging from three months to five years in age, she decided to spend her maternity leave volunteering for her community as a councillor.
“It is an opportunity to give back and help ensure Redwood Meadows remains a great community.”
She too is concerned with the status of the lease negotiation.
“My top concern is the lease, and I want to make sure that the lease is extended, and process is started.”
After attending her first council meeting Oct. 7, Span-Smeelan said she had a positive first impression of her fellow councillors.
“Council is really committed to Redwood Meadows and ensuring it remains a great community.”
The byelection was called because former councillors Darcy Curle and Kelsey Davis resigned.
Curle said he resigned due to increased time commitments required by his job as a news anchor on CHQR radio.
Davis was not available to comment by press time.
