A second seat on Black Diamond town council is up for grabs in this summer's by-election following the resignation of a long-standing town councillor.
A second seat on Black Diamond town council is up for grabs in this summer's by-election following the resignation of a long-standing town councillor.
Michel Jackson submitted his resignation to the Town of Black Diamond on May 26 due to ongoing health issues after serving on council for 12 years.
The announcement came one day before former Mayor Sharlene Brown resigned her position May 27 after being hired as the Town's chief administrative officer.
Details surrounding the by-election will be discussed at the June 1 council meeting in the Town's municipal building.
“It's been a slice,” said Jackson on Monday. “I enjoyed getting things done in town and having something to do with steering the Town in the direction with the rest of council.”
Jackson's departure is a result of an unknown health condition that is impacting his neurological system.
It started about six months ago when he woke up with his arm tingling and had no feeling in his hand. He's since been struggling to concentrate and is losing his peripheral vision.
“The neurologist doesn't know what the problem is,” he said. “It's going to effect my quality of life in the sense that I'm not going to be as active as I used to be.”
Jackson was initially elected to council in 2004 and was re-elected three times.
He has not attended a council meeting since January and in March council authorized his absence until April 30.
Council passed a similar resolution on April 20 to authorize a further absence until June 1 to prevent him from being disqualified under the Municipal Government Act, said Verna Staples, Black Diamond's legislative services manager.
She said the resolution is general practice when a councillor needs to be absent for personal reasons.
Looking back on the past 12 years on council, Jackson said he got to know many people and sat on each of the Town's numerous committees, as well as the Calgary Regional Partnership and Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association.
Among his highlights was opening the Dianne Kreh Memorial Park in the Riverwood subdivision in 2013, which was dedicated to the former Town employee of 32 years.
Jackson said he first ran for council to be part of the decision-making team for his community.
“After 30 years in the army I've had a great life and running on council was a way of giving back,” he said. “It feels good (to be elected four times). You know you weren't doing the door knocking for nothing.”
The former councillor plays a prominent role in the Royal Canadian Legion Turner Valley Branch #78 as the service officer for the past 16 years.
He assists members in getting benefits from Veterans Affairs, appealing decisions by Veterans Affairs and getting assistance with seniors benefits.
“Sometimes you win and other times you don't,” he said. “When you win them it feels good.”
