Name:     Ed Koberstein	Profession:   Lacombe County Councilman
Relationship:	Country:     Canada
This is Councillor Koberstein's first term in Office. Ed, and his wife Pryna, have been residents of Lacombe for thirty-four (34) years. They have two grown children, Vance and Denise, who now live in Lethbridge and Calgary. Prior to moving to Lacombe, Ed lived in the Barrhead area and graduated from the Barrhead High School. He also received his Certificate in Local Government Management and the Seniors Executive Program Diploma from the University of Alberta. Councilor Koberstein presently serves as: Member, Assessment Review Board Member, Disaster Services Committee Member, Police Commission Member, Police Negotiating Committee Member, Subdivision and Development Appeal Board Member, Inter-municipal Committee Member, Chamber of Commerce Liaison Committee (Alternate) COUNCILLOR ED KOBERSTEIN Ed retired in July 2000 as County Commissioner (Chief Administrative Officer) with the Lacombe County. With thirty-five (35) years of experience in senior management with Local Municipal Government, Ed has gained a wealth of knowledge in Municipal Government, the Town of Lacombe and Lacombe County. This experience includes: Municipal Administration, Budgets and Financial Control, Land Use and Developments , Municipal General Plans- Land Use By-laws - Statutory and Non-Statutory Plans - Development Agreements with world scale industry , Protective Services, Recreation Services, Waste Management, Manager of Lacombe Regional Solid Waste Authority, Senior Housing, Lacombe Foundation, Health Services , Ambulance Authority Ed has extensive experience working with Councils; Provincial Government departments and personnel; All aspects of municipal legislation; and Serving the public. Though-out his 34 years in Lacombe, Ed has been an active church member, was a member of the Kinsmen Club of Lacombe for 15 years, served on minor sports executives, assisted the Dolphin Swim Club, and served on various volunteer initiatives Town gives $50K to housing plan The Town of Lacombe will give $50,000 to a $3.6-million project that would see a 24-unit affordable housing structure built and possibly ready for use in Lacombe by October... By Lyle Aspinall Globe Editor Tuesday January 11, 2005 Lacombe Globe — The Town of Lacombe will give $50,000 to a $3.6-million project that would see a 24-unit affordable housing structure built and possibly ready for use in Lacombe by October. The grant was part of the Town’s 2005 budget passed last month. It will be given to Lacombe Foundation, which plans to build the structure on behalf of the Lacombe Community Housing Initiative (LCHI), in the Terrace Heights subdivision. Exactly how the $50,000 will be allotted isn’t yet known. "The intention is cash, but there may be something we can do ourselves," said the Town’s chief administrative officer Robert Jenkins. "But even if it is, we have to put a value on it and pay ourselves." Mark Archibald, chief administrative officer of Lacombe Foundation, was pleased to learn of the Town grant. "That’s great," he said. "We’re delighted the Town is standing behind us and helping us get this going." But the project isn’t official just yet. Lacombe Foundation applied for an Affordable Housing Partnerships Initiative grant from Alberta Seniors, which would be shared equally by the federal and provincial governments if given. A major factor in that application was having the local municipality’s support, which the Town of Lacombe agreed to in principle last March after seeing a 47-page report from LCHI that said more than 880 households in town may have difficulty paying rent. Archibald said Lacombe Foundation hasn’t yet heard from the provincial government on the status of the grant application, but he did say that, if all goes to plan, the Foundation would start construction in July and have it finished by October. Although town council agreed to the funding unanimously, Coun. Ed Koberstein said it raised a larger concern that must be addressed more fully in the future: what role does a municipality play in social issues? Mayor Judy Gordon said it was a valid point and promised that council would have a full discussion on it this year. Lacombe County (Excerpted from "Serving Martha & Henry: Rural Municipal Government in Alberta 1983-1998", published by the AAMD&C in 1998) Lacombe County is a growing rural municipality located in Central Alberta along the main north-south transportation corridor which runs through the Province. Formerly known as the County of Lacombe No. 14, the County adopted its new, shorter name in 1995. The County was among the first in a series of municipalities to apply for this kind of name change, setting a trend in the dawn of a new era of rural municipal government. As the County has adapted to the changes in local government over the past fifteen years, its success has been facilitated by the leadership shown by Council and Administration and by a thriving local economy. Council and Administration … The County has also benefited greatly from the hard work of a committed administrative team. Roy Robbins, who had been with the County since 1965, led the administration from 1972 through his retirement in 1994. Mr. Robbins had a long and distinguished career in municipal government, including 29 years of service with Lacombe County, and was widely respected both in the County and across the Province. Upon his retirement, another long serving and respected employee, Edwin Koberstein, was chosen as the new County Commissioner, a position he continues to hold. Mr. Koberstein previously served as the Secretary-Treasurer of the County from 1974 through 1994. Terry Hager was appointed to take over the position of Secretary-Treasurer, which was later renamed Assistant County Commissioner. Filling the important position of Public Works Supervisor is Garth McCulloch who has served the County in this capacity since May 2, 1988. The County thanks all of its past and present councillors and employees for their years of service and for their dedication to the well-being of the community.` The LaCombe Globe New council determined By Lisa Joy Globe Editor Tuesday October 16, 2007 ... Councillors that didn’t seek another term this time around were Jim Dixon, Debbie Olsen and Ed Koberstein. Mayor Judy Gordon was back in by acclamation.  ... Local churches voiced their opposition at a public hearing Oct. 27 in council chambers that would see the redesignation of places of worship sites to fall into the same uses as bus garages. Ron Gish, chairman of St. Andrews United Church told council redesignating the land churches are on is “unfair and not very accurate. “In my mind this doesn’t fit churches,” he added. Gish said instead of lumping churches with bus garages, council should consider making a separate bylaw for churches. “That’s entirely a possibility,” said Mayor Judy Gordon. Former town councillor Ed Koberstein, representing Trinity Lutheran Church told council he’d like to see them create special zoning for churches. Joyce Fitzgerald from St. Stephens Catholic Church said the rezoning could restrict who they sell to in the future. Gordon told the church groups the proposed redesignation of church lands wasn’t intended to hurt them. “This bylaw is to protect our current churches.” Council will consider the concerns expressed by the church groups. -editor@lacombelgobe.com