The Rural Municipality of Sherwood says deputy reeve Tim Probe has been charged with breach of trust and municipal corruption.
“The RM of Sherwood will not be commenting on this matter because it is currently undergoing the court process,” the RM said in a statement released to media Wednesday.
“(The RM) will cooperate with law enforcement in regards to any information related.”
The RM says it wants “to assure ratepayers that this matter will not affect the operation of the RM of Sherwood.”
According to Regina police, the offences allegedly occurred on Feb. 2. Probe, 57, has been released on an undertaking to appear in provincial court on Nov. 9.
Saskatchewan Government Relations Minister Donna Harpauer is asking Probe to step down in light of the charges.
“The Minister of Government Relations believes it is not in the public interest to have Mr. Probe continue as a councillor while he is facing criminal charges” the government said in a statement.
“The province has the authority under section 402 of The Municipalities Act to dismiss Mr. Probe from the council of the Rural Municipality of Sherwood if he does not voluntarily step aside.”
However, a spokesperson for Probe says the deputy reeve has not yet decided whether he will give up his council seat.
The government says Harpauer will consider all available options if Probe doesn’t resign from office.
Saskatchewan's ombudsman has launched an investigation into the matter and intends to publicly release its findings.
In February 2015, the provincial government ordered the removal of former RM of Sherwood reeve Kevin Eberle after an inquiry found “serious conflicts of interest and violations of the public trust.”
It found Eberle stood to earn more than $57 million over a 13-year span from selling land he owned to developer Great Prairie Development Corporation. The inquiry also concluded Eberle had attempted to exert influence on decisions surrounding the proposed Wascana Village development.
“The inquiry findings reveal a number of serious breaches of the public trust by a municipal official and the Government of Saskatchewan has taken the necessary steps to restore this trust,” then-government relations Minister Jim Reiter said at the time.
Announced in May 2013, the proposed Wascana Village development included plans for a new residential community that could accommodate an estimated 14,000 people on 736 acres of land just southeast of Regina.
With files from CTV Regina's Dale Hunter
