Successful appeal or election to decide vacant council seat

The future of Tim Probe’s former seat on the RM of Sherwood council remains unclear.

While he was acquitted Thursday of municipal corruption and breach of trust charges, a previous, separate court ruling over a matter of conflict of interest had a judge order Probe be removed from council.

The seat has been vacant since.

But the RM’s Deputy Reeve Carl Husum said Probe is appealing that ruling.

“[The council seat] is vacant now and it will be until either his court case is decided or until the general election in October,” Husum outlined.

Probe told reporters outside court Thursday he intended to go back to council if he was allowed.

After he was found not guilty on both charges, he admitted the relationship between him and Reeve Jeff Poissant would never be one of a friendly nature, after Poissant testified he recorded a conversation the two had and accused Probe of trying to offer a vote-swap on two contentious RM issues.

If Probe was to successfully appeal the conflict of interest matter and return to council, Husum would have certain expectations of Probe and Poissant.

“I would expect both of them to be professional,” said Husum.

Until then, and potentially even after, he insisted there won’t be any changes to how the RM goes about governing and making decisions.

“It’s going to be business as usual for us. It’s one of those things where all you do is continue forward and do the best you can,” Husum said. “All we can continue to do is work towards making life better for all the residents and to make everything fair and equitable for people.”