From left, Past Warden Gordon Patterson (Lavant, Dalhousie and North Sherbrooke), 2026 Warden Richard Kidd (Beckwith Reeve), and Past Wardens John Fenik (Perth) and Bill Dobson (Montague).
Beckwith Reeve Richard Kidd has been acclaimed as Warden of Lanark County and will assume the chair for his 4th turn, more times than anyone else in the County’s 200 year history.
myFM news sat down with Richard to find out his goals for his one-year term. Ambulance service is one of his top items as expenses for this crucial service is rising at the rate of roughly 7% per year. A completed consultant’s report is providing a lot of data on how the service is operating and where costs are going as Richard states.
He notes that early data from a new dispatch model is revealing how much time ambulances spend doing lower-priority hospital transfers versus life-saving calls.
The new dispatch triage system has already shortened response times and Richard would like to take a closer look at continued improvement.
He’d also like to take advantage of completed planning reports to provide better direction in development.
Richard will preside over a County Council made up of representatives from 9 municipalities which meet every other Wednesday at the County’s offices in Perth.
Council meetings are open to the public and can be viewed online. Find out how at LanarkCounty.ca, where you can also listen to our complete conversation with the Warden.
Story by Brian Turner