There’s a new warden in Grey County, and it’s Duncan McKinlay.
The Deputy Mayor of The Blue Mountains was acclaimed at a meeting of County Council on Tuesday night and his one-year term begins right away.
Southgate Mayor Brian Milne was also nominated for the position, but he declined the nomination and allowed McKinlay to assume the post unopposed.
Milne ran against Owen Sound City County Councillor Arlene Wright for the Warden’s chair two years ago — but was defeated in a secret ballot.
Last year, McKinlay was nominated but did not run and Wright was acclaimed to a second term.
McKinlay lives in Ravenna and is the first warden from The Blue Mountains since Rod Knott in 2001.
He was first elected to council in the former Collingwood Township in 1980, when he served for five years.
McKinlay returned to council in 1994 and became deputy-mayor of the amalgamated municipality of the Blue Mountains in 2003, which is when he joined county council.
McKinlay has most recently served on the county’s governance and transportation committees and has been the chair of the planning committee.
He was a child and youth worker at a residential treatment farm near Heathcote for 19 years, leaving that position only recently.
The married father of three and grandfather of four is still a part-time farmer.
McKinlay says he’s not bringing any specific agendas to the warden’s job.
He says there has been a lot of planning going on over the last few years, and now is the time to put some of those plans into action.
High on the priority list are the county’s new strategic plan, economic development, affordable housing and a joint services review with the nine municipalities of Grey.
Nine former Grey County wardens attended Tuesday’s election and swearing-in — including Wright, Chatsworth Mayor Bob Pringle and West Grey Mayor Kevin Eccles, all of whom are still active county councillors.
The others were Lois Urstadt of the former Sarawak Township, Gerald Shortt of the former St. Vincent Township, Jim Milliner of the former Proton Township, Howard Greig of Chatsworth and the former Sullivan Township, Al Bye of the former Derby Township, and Rod Knott.
