After 12 years as Councillor for the Grunthal area, Henry Funk has announced his name will not be on the ballot this October.

Funk has served Ward 6 for three terms. He says he is glad he could be involved in making the RM of Hanover a place where people and communities thrive.

Over the course of 12 years, Funk says council has completed some crucial infrastructure projects. This includes four lagoons, two water treatment plants and now a second fire hall. He adds a lot of drainage improvements have happened and there is better water management as the six wards in Hanover work together as one entity.

"I have enjoyed working with Reeve Stan Toews, with the council and with the CAO and staff," says Funk. "We might not have always agreed, but respectful discussion and consensus was always the objective and usually achieved."

Funk says Hanover has a large segment of community workers, whose work is indispensable in administering the recreation programs essential to youth. He says he has enjoyed working with the Grunthal Community Centre Board, which is a group of volunteers dedicating their time and energy to running the soccer, swimming and baseball programs in that community.

He says it has also been a pleasure working for the ratepayers.

Funk says being a Councillor certainly has its challenges. He says the number one thing he needed to learn was patience.

"I always thought decisions could be made faster but that came as a surprise," he admits. "But I learned that and things went well."

Funk says the decision to step down after 12 years was not an easy one. He changed his mind several times but eventually knew he needed to provide an answer, knowing there were other potential candidates interested in his decision.

"I think it will be a good decision," he says. "And I wish everyone well that is continuing to run after me in my ward."

Funk says with the extra time he will inherit after October 24th, he hopes to do more travelling.