Municipal Affairs confirmed last week that Kneehill County will undergo a preliminary review after a petition was submitted in September requesting a municipal inspection.
A cabinet communications official says there are a number of steps to go through before a formal inspection can begin. A preliminary review into the concerns of the petitioners will take place, including a review of municipal documents, as well as interviews with members of council, the chief administrative officer, and the petitioners. Municipal Affairs is in the process of scheduling this review.
“The purpose of the preliminary review process is to determine the underlying reason for the petition and to ensure an appropriate response is taken. The results of the preliminary review will help inform what further steps should be taken, including the possibility of formal inspection,” they said.
They expect to have the preliminary review completed with a decision on whether to proceed with a formal inspection in early 2019.
Over 1,100 ratepayers in the county signed a petition in mid-September requesting Municipal Affairs to inspect Kneehill County over concerns of how county council and administration handled a number of recent projects, including the budget for the Churchill Water Service Area Project, the county’s rural fire strategy, and the hiring of a county peace officer, among other things.