Sylvan Lake town councillor Jas Payne resigns after 13 years

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In an effort to find some normalcy in his life while he grieved, he decided to run for council again, knowing it wasn’t something he wanted to do.

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However, running for council was something he felt he needed to do.

“I knew from the very beginning that it probably wasn’t the right thing. To do that job, you need to have a passion and an energy for the job, and I think after a dozen years of doing it, I just ran out of the energy and the desire,” he said.

“I gave it a year, but the political climate in Alberta right now and around that horseshoe was less than I wanted. In the end, I don’t think anybody should ever do anything that doesn’t bring them joy. That’s how it was for me.”

Payne felt that exiting now would cause the least amount of disruption.

There has been plenty of drama throughout Sylvan Lake town council over the past year, which he said did not factor into his decision to resign.

He said he’s done his best to stay out of most of it and feels that he has great relationships with every councillor and the mayor.

“What more affected my decision was having the realization that I don’t want to be doing something that doesn’t give me that satisfaction anymore,” he added.

He said what he’s most proud of is being a part of a lot of growth that’s happened in Sylvan Lake, such as building a fire station, approving Pogadl Park, and the Nexsource Centre, which is the community’s only rink.

“There’s nothing left on my advocacy list that I’m leaving undone,” Payne added.

The Town of Sylvan Lake said in a statement on its website that the process of filling the role will begin as legislation requires that a by-election be held within 120 days.

The Town added that additional information about the process and timeline will be shared in the coming days.

Sylvan Lake Mayor Megan Hanson said that Payne has been an incredible positive force in the community.

“Having had the privilege of serving alongside him for the past 13 years, I have developed tremendous respect for him, his leadership, and his unwavering heart for our community. Throughout his time on council, he has helped shape the strategic direction of Sylvan Lake, played an important role in many significant community projects, and consistently led with his deep love for our residents and our community. His dedication and commitment have made a lasting difference,” Hanson said.

“I know this decision was not an easy one, and I want him to know that he has my full love and support. While I will miss working with him tremendously, I am confident that wherever his next steps lead, he will continue to be an incredible volunteer, advocate, and cheerleader for Sylvan Lake. On behalf of council and our community, I want to sincerely thank him for his years of service and wish him all the very best in this next chapter.”