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Osmond resigns

Westlock County’s Division 5 seat is now open after the resignation of first-term councillor Darrell Osmond.
Darrell Osmond
Westlock County’s Div. 5 seat is open following the June 25 resignation of Coun. Darrell Osmond.

Westlock County’s Division 5 seat is now open after the resignation of first-term councillor Darrell Osmond.

Osmond submitted his letter of resignation to council before the county’s June 25 meeting and it was announced to the public at the first opportunity.

“This was a difficult decision for Darrell,” said reeve Lou Hall after the meeting. “However, he resigned because of work commitments that didn’t allow him to keep his commitment to the county. We will miss his straight to the point attitude and his sense of humour. He was a team player.”

Osmond could not be reached for comment prior to deadline, but was unable to attend more than a handful of scheduled meetings over the last several months due to work obligations.

CAO Leo Ludwig told council that under the Municipal Government Act, a municipal council consisting of six or more members, being more than 18 months away from the next election, is obligated to hold a byelection.

“There will be a byelection to fill the vacancy in that division,” he said. “Unless council sets an earlier date, election day for a byelection, when a vacancy occurs, as it has, is 90 days after the vacancy occurs.”

Ludwig added he would be bringing a report to the July 16 council meeting for council to consider an election and nomination day.

Coun. Dennis Primeau questioned whether a byelection was necessary, or if there is any way it could be held off. Ludwig responded the MGA was very clear and that a byelection was required by the legislation.

“We do not meet any of the exceptions, so we must hold a byelection,” Ludwig said.

Primeau also said he would like to see the seven-member council reduced to five, but recognized that was a discussion for another day.

Osmond made his way onto council after defeating incumbent councillor Don Savage, who also served as reeve, by one vote, 110 to 109, in the 2017 municipal election after a spoiled ballot was found to be valid upon the subsequent recount.

Reeve Hall said she hopes to see a variety of residents put their names forward for the vacant seat.

“At this time, I would encourage county residents to consider running for council. It is definitely an experience to deal with the many situations that present themselves in a municipal environment,” she said.

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