Heflin Mayor Anna Berry has been installed as Commission Chairperson for the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission.

The board of directors of EARPDC held their annual meeting Nov. 5 at which time Mayor Berry was installed along with Jacksonville Mayor Johnny L. Smith, vice-chair; Etowah County Commissioner Perry W. Gwin as secretary and Calhoun County Commissioner James A. Dunn as treasurer.

In her comments upon being installed as chair, Berry stated, "The services provided by the planning commission are more vital in these economic times. I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as chairperson of the commission in the coming year and I look forward to working with the commission staff to better serve our membership."

The guest speaker for the annual meeting was former State Senator the Honorable Gerald Dial, who is the Executive Director of the Alabama Rural Action Commission.

Over 200 local officials, community leaders, educators and legislators attended the event.

The EARPDC was established by the municipal and county governments in a 10-county area and provides a range of regional services including planning, mapping, grant writing, senior services, older worker training, business and industry loans and public transportation programs.

The commission's board of directors consists of representatives from 63 municipal and county governments and representatives from the Chambers of Commerce and higher educational institutions within the region.

The commission serves Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Etowah, Randolph, Talladega and Tallapoosa counties.