Resignation letters for the now-former reeve and three councillors are included in the agenda package for the RM of Sherwood's upcoming meeting on April 20. (980 CJME file photo)

Council agenda sheds light on RM of Sherwood resignations

By Geoff Smith Apr 20, 2026 | 6:09 AM

Letters of resignation from the former reeve of the RM of Sherwood and three members of council provide several reasons for each of the four former members’ resignations last month.

The letters are included in the April 20 council meeting agenda package.

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“Due to medical issues, I feel it is best that I steр away from my duties at this time,” Susan Oakley-Paul, who served as reeve, wrote on March 16, adding that her final day would be that same date.

Grant Paul, one of the three councillors who stepped down, cited the “direction the RM council is going,” noting, “I cannot have my name affiliated with the RM anymore.”

His resignation letter is dated March 16, effective the following day.

On March 18, John Wilke tendered his immediate resignation. His handwritten letter stated, “my RM email would not work on Friday evening March 13/2026 so I could not study item #4 for the special meeting held on March 16.”

Trent Reiger gave no reason for his decision to step down from council.

“I am proud of the work accomplished and remain confident in the Municipality’s continued success. I look forward to seeing the RM of Sherwood continue to prosper and grown in the years ahead,” he wrote. “Thank you again for the opportunity to serve.”

The resignations forced the appointment of a new deputy reeve, in order to maintain the required signing authority for the municipality.

The provincial government has since appointed an interim reeve and three councillors to serve until a byelection in November. Former Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) president, Ray Orb, has been named to the reeve position.

Data centre development agreement on agenda

The newly-constituted council will be asked to approve a development agreement with Bell Canada for the proposed data centre just southeast of Regina city limits.

It will set out a list of responsibilities that Bell will be held to related to things like wider roads; landscaping and screening; water, wastewater, and stormwater, drainage; lighting and visual impacts; noise, vibration, and mechanical equipment; emergency services; and construction management.

If approved and signed, building permits would still be required for construction.

Several landowners have requested to appear as delegations, looking for specific conditions and limits related to noise, lighting, drainage, groundwater, roads and environmental and health assessments.

Doug McKell, who is identified as a representative for adjacent and area landowners, said the group wants to confirm, for the record, what conditions have been included as binding.

“We are not opposed to development,” he wrote. “We are asking for the accountability framework that any reasonable Development Agreement for an industrial campus of this scale should contain.”