Merrickville-Wolford is working to strengthen a few of the positions that the municipality has at the top.
Over the last year, an organizational review has been carried out in the village to look at the way its services are delivered.
It identified that the Public Works Manager and Fire Chief positions should be separated, a move council has now voted in support for.
Merrickville-Wolford Mayor Michael Cameron says they learned that they need to spend $800 thousand a year for a ten-year period to bring their paved roads back to proper standard and they also identified that there are $9 million in deficiencies in their gravel roads that need to be addressed.
He says that’s why they feel hiring a candidate with a background in civil engineering will be the best move going forward.
“We have a low population and a low tax base so we are trying to put ourselves in a position that we can move forward in a positive way.”
Brad Cole will continue on, in a full-time capacity, as the municipality’s fire chief while the search is now on for a public works manager.
Cameron says they hope to have someone in that position by early November, in time to help with the 2025 budget process.