RM of Sherwood reeve, 3 councillor seats filled on interim basis

The RM of Sherwood has restored council quorum after the province appointed a new reeve and three councillors following recent resignations.

The role of reeve and three councillor positions for the RM of Sherwood have been filled on an interim basis, according to the province.

Former Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) president Ray Orb will be filling the role of reeve, while Mitch Huber, Donna Strudwick and Judy Harwood have been appointed to the vacant council positions.

In a statement to CTV News on Tuesday, the province said strong consideration was made for candidates with prior experience in municipal government so the rural municipality could “quickly resume necessary business.”

“All [appointees] have rural governance experience in the province of Saskatchewan,” the province noted.

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Huber previously served as reeve of the RM of Edenwold, Strudwick previously served as an administrator for the RM of Edenwold, while Harwood previously served as reeve of the RM of Corman Park.

All four will serve as council members on an interim basis until elections are held this fall.

Speaking at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention on Monday, Minister of Government Relations Eric Schmalz spoke on the appointees, and why no one from the RM of Sherwood was appointed.

“What we need to do is to pivot to support that community, and in doing that, we look to people who have had municipal experience before, so that there’s not a long onboarding process,” he said. “We’ve appointed a very good team of people to help carry the RM of Sherwood into the coming months.”

“We want to be there as a provincial government at arm’s length, supporting the municipality until such time they can, they can hold an election.”

• RM of Sherwood Reeve, 3 councillors resign

In mid-March, the previous reeve of the RM of Sherwood, Susan Oakley-Paul, as well as three councillors, Grant Paul, John Wilke and Trent Reiger, resigned, leaving Divisions 2, 3, and 6 vacant.

At that time, the Ministry of Government relations had said it initiated a search for individuals to appoint and serve on council.

“Restoring quorum is essential so the municipality can legally conduct business and make decisions,” the ministry had said. “The appointed council ensures that routine daily operations can continue until quorum is restored through an election.”

-With files from Donovan Maess