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ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD
Morris McLeod says input from Fort Liard residents will be important during his term.

"I got elected to work for the people," he said.

McLeod was elected as the hamlet's mayor on Dec. 12. He received 66 votes compared to the 47 garnered by JoAnne Deneron, the other candidate. McLeod, who just finished serving his fourth consecutive term on the hamlet council, said originally he didn't want to be mayor.

Long-standing issues

It took two months of consideration and the requests of a number of residents to make him reconsider. McLeod said the more he thought about it, the more he thought maybe he could help solve some of the long-standing issues in the hamlet.

Improving the conditions of Fort Liard's roads was McLeod's primary election promise. McLeod said a lot of residents brought the issue forward as a concern.

McLeod said he will work to find funding to repair the roads and to reopen Mission Lane. The road was closed after it was flooded during the 2010 river break-up.

People were upset when the hamlet originally closed the road and are concerned that since then only the main road connects the group of houses at the south-west end of the hamlet to the rest of the community, said McLeod.

He would also like to have a walking path installed along Birch Road. The road is always busy with students walking places during lunchtime and after school.

"One of these days someone is going to get hurt," he said.

McLeod said since the election more residents have been approaching him with issues they'd like to see addressed. Many people are concerned about the number of loose dogs in the hamlet and would like to have that dealt with, he said.

McLeod will be sworn in as mayor during a ceremony in mid-January. The hamlet's council, which was acclaimed, will include incumbents Barbara McLeod and Ken Nowoselski as well as JoAnne Deneron, Irene McLeod and Reed Smith. McLeod was also acclaimed to the council. Becoming mayor has left an empty seat that McLeod said may be filled through a byelection.

Work together

McLeod said he is looking forward to his term as mayor.

"Hopefully I can try my best to do what people want," he said.

McLeod said he also hopes the hamlet and various organizations in the community can work together to do what is best for the people of Fort Liard.

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