Nobleford residents voice concerns about former CAO

Sunny South News File Photo

By Jaxon McGinn
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Sunny South News

Recently, some Town of Nobleford residents wanted their voices heard via a town council meeting Aug. 3.

According to a group of residents attending the meeting, there have been concerns in regards to former Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Kirk Hofman, allegedly writing his own contract, creating positions and appointing himself as land developer manager with the approval of the town.

During a public portion of the council meeting, one Nobleford resident asked council – “Don’t you believe it’s a conflict of interest having two positions within the Town of Nobleford?” Council responded by saying – “No, they don’t see a conflict of interest.”

Hofman has been working for the town for 15 years and has long ties to the Nobleford area. His great-grandparents had homesteaded in the area, and his grandparents lived in the southern Alberta community – and he has “enjoyed” working for the town he grew up in – according to previous reports.

“(At a) June 15 council meeting, Joe (Hutter) was officially appointed the CAO of Nobleford. I was no longer the CAO for Nobleford,” noted Hofman, during the meeting. “Part of the transition plan shows I will continue a number of projects for Nobleford until the end of the year.”

Hofman had signed the contract as “John Q. Citizen,” and the contract was dated June 2, 2021. Hutter had been appointed CAO at the end of the council meeting June 15, 2021.

Hofman pointed out, in his capacity appointed as the land manager, “I was doing that before.”

“I had a decision with council on an employment agreement after Dec. 31, 2021 – which I will be an employee for the Town of Nobleford,” Hofman added.

Later in the meeting and separate from the public portion of the council meeting, council discussed a few concerns brought forward from Nobleford residents. These concerns included the land development of the emergency response issues due to the limited access to Highway 519, increased traffic and the absence of traffic studies. The infrastructure, in regards to the land development, concerns water, increased traffic on roads not designed for heavy traffic, schools and safety.

Regular council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month, beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, visit the Town of Nobleford website.

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