The new warden of Hastings County has several priorities he'd like to address.
 
Tyendinaga Township Reeve Rick Phillips was elected to the position at Thursday's inaugural council meeting, defeating the only other candidate, Carlow-Mayo Township Reeve Bonnie Adams.
 
Reducing the number of ambulance responses for non-urgent calls is one of those issues, but he said there are other matters he also plans to deal with, including maintaining and getting provincial funding for long-term care facilities.
 
Phillips said he will also work with the provincial government and local businesses to provide Ontario Works clients with the skills required to match local employers' needs.
 
He was previously the warden of the county for four and a half years, from 2012 to 2016, and will hold the position for the next two years.