Parkland County's Former Mayor Ponders Next Move

Parkland County, AB

After Parkland County council dismissed his Code of Conduct complaints, Rod Shaigec is considering his options to move forward.  One option is to bring more complaints before the council, but he feels those will thrown out quickly as well.

"It's an opportunity for me to bring to light to the public the manner in which this council is choosing to conduct themselves, particularly around renumeration and claiming per diems which they are clearly ineligible for. Expenses, which I would argue, they are ineligible to be reimbursed as well," Shaigec told the One. 

Another option is involving the provincial government by writing to Ric McIvor, the minister of municipal affairs. He thinks the government could amend regulations to help hold local council members more accountable. 

"One of the things that minister McIvor has said is his reluctance to do that, because it can be perceived to be a partisan decision by the minister or council or cabinet," Shaigec said. "But there's a simple solution to that."

Shaigec says he is more than willing to share his thoughts and ideas with the province to help improve the regulations. He believes the province should get involved and hold meaningful engagement on the topic. 

"With the two municipal organizations, the RMA and Alberta Municipalities, and other stakeholders as well. Open it up to the public and establish a process that works to the benefit of the residents of Alberta and all the municipalities in this province."

Shaigec may look to involve the minister and may also contact Parkland County's interim chief financial officer Jeff Dyck to go over more of his concerns. One thing is for certain, Shaigec believes he is doing his civic duty by holding the mayor and council accountable, and isn't going to go away quietly.