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Town to draw $50k from accumulated surplus for election challenge lawsuit

Mar 7, 2018 | 5:22 AM

Town council has approved the withdrawal from accumulated surplus amounts of up to $50,000 for the purpose of covering costs associated with the lawsuit regarding the election challenge.

The 2017 budget, which was adopted as the 2018 interim budget, has an annual legal cost allowance that is intended for multiple uses such as bylaw review, policy review and employment consultations and with the legal challenge currently in place it will deplete the allowance and more.

The legal costs are being equally shared between the Town and County, and it’s anticipated the whole thing will cost about $100,000 by the end of 2018.  

 “It’s disheartening” said Mayor Tammy Burke. 

Back in December, Rocky mayoral runner-up Sheila Mizera and County Division 6 runner-up Diana Spencer appeared in Red Deer court for a judicial review of voting irregularities which allegedly took place during the municipal elections for the Town of Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County last fall. While neither is challenging the results of the election, they do claim that some voters may have voted in both jurisdictions or in the wrong one.

In January, Madame Justice M.R. Bast had the matter put over for a one-day Special Chambers hearing that will take place November 8, 2018 in Red Deer.