NIPAWIN — Two are running to fill the empty spot on Nipawin Council.
Gene Rusk, who's retired and Laurie Kratochvil, a receptionist and writer, are hoping to replace Ismael Aliguyon, who resigned in October.
A third person, Stacey Vik, submitted nomination forms, but withdrew when he found out that Nipawin’s fire department policy prohibits council members from serving on the fire department, wanting to remain as a firefighter.
Barry Elliott, who’s serving as the returning officer, said he overlooked the fire department policy when he met with Vik earlier and told him he was eligible to run, which he was under the Local Government Election Act.
“As returning officer, I take full responsibility, and extend my sincere apologies to Mr. Vik, for my oversight during our discussion,” he said, “I also extend my apologies to town council and the electors of the Town of Nipawin.”
The Local Government Election Act does prohibit town employees from serving on council, but a spokesperson from the government relations ministry said volunteer firefighters aren’t considered town employees and there nothing in the act that prevents them from being on council.
Elliott, who’s also Nipawin’s town administrator, said there has been some consideration around the council table to revisit the fire department policy council member prohibition.
“We expect it will be discussed very soon by the standing committee of council and ultimately by council,” he said. “This council has been very determined to review all of the town policies and bylaws on a regular basis and this is one of the policies that is up again for another review so it is going to be coming forward, we expect, very, very quickly.”
Voting will take place at the Evergreen Centre April 3 from 9 am to 8 pm. Advance voting will take place at the town office March 27 from 5 pm to 8 pm.
