Released on February 14, 2007
Government Relations Minister Harry Van Mulligen has responded to the resignations of three councillors in the Rural Municipality (RM) of Sherwood No. 159 by appointing an interim reeve and council, as well as an interim official RM administrator. As a result, the three remaining councillors will also cease to hold office.
The interim appointments will be in effect until a voters’ list can be compiled and a by-election can be held to put an elected reeve and council in place. This is expected to occur within a few months.
In January the Court of Queen’s Bench ordered the removal of the RM of Sherwood’s reeve. The remaining members of council were unable to agree on a date for a by-election for a new reeve. Last week, three council members submitted their resignations, resulting in a loss of quorum. Also, in January, the RM’s administrator resigned to seek employment elsewhere.
Because municipalities are the legal responsibility of the province, the provincial government was compelled to act to restore appropriate governance.
Van Mulligen appointed Merrilee Rasmussen to act as reeve and council for the RM. He also appointed Ron Hilton to the position of official administrator. The appointments are effective immediately.
“Given the circumstances, the provincial government must intervene,” Van Mulligen said. “I believe that Ms. Rasmussen and Mr. Hilton will be able to bring order and structure to the RM and conduct the necessary business of the RM. Both of these individuals bring a wealth of knowledge, leadership and experience to the roles they will fill.”
Merrilee Rasmussen is a private practising lawyer in Saskatchewan. She is a former Legislative Counsel and Law Clerk to the Saskatchewan Legislature. Rasmussen also served as the constitutional advisor to the province in the 1992 negotiations that led to the Charlottetown Accord. She was also directly involved with the government and the municipal sector in 2005 to draft new municipal legislation – The Municipalities Act.
Ron Hilton is a civil engineer who has 22 years in local government leadership, serving as City Commissioner in Swift Current, interim City Manager in Humboldt and Town Manager in Olds, Alberta. He has also been the Administrator of the Saskatchewan City Mayors’ Caucus.
“Voters will be given an opportunity to make the decisions about who they want to run their RM,” Van Mulligen said. “I support a fully transparent and fair election for all Saskatchewan residents, including those in the RM of Sherwood. I am hopeful that a by-election will resolve the situation in the municipality.”
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For more information, contact:
Tyler McMurchy
Government Relations
Regina Phone: 306-787-5193
Email: tyler.mcmurchy@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-537-7051