A petition launched by a group called Stop Our Sanctions (SOS) is calling for the inspection of the management, administration and operations of Rocky View County (RVC) by Alberta Municipal Affairs.

Addressed to Municipal Affairs minister Kaycee Madu, the petition was launched Sept. 16 during the first of a series of information nights being held by county councillors Kevin Hanson, Crystal Kissel and Samanntha Wright. The three have been sanctioned for breaching the council's code of conduct. It limits their actions as councillors in the three divisions they represent.

Janet Ballantyne, one of the people launching the petition, says some RVC residents have expressed dissatisfaction for some time over the decision-making process of the county. 

"The sanctions were really the tipping point in concern of inappropriate decision-making," says Ballantyne. "This so clearly violates the Municipal Government Act which says sanctions cannot impede a councillor from doing their job."

"The fact that they literally cannot even send an email to anyone on staff impedes them from doing their job. The fact that Crystal (Kissel) cannot sit on the inter-municipal committee with Cochrane prevents her from representing her residents, who clearly care about what happens in Cochrane."

She says there needs to be the ability for council members to agree to disagree.

"As Samanntha (Wright) said, six will always beat three but the six should at least have to listen to the three before they make their decision. By not listening to them, residents' concerns aren't being raised the way they should."

The petition requests an inspection of the decision-making practices and conduct of RVC council and the advice and conduct of RVC's chief administrative officer. It also wants Municipal Affairs to examine what SOS calls a "toxic environment" within council and administration that is having ill-effects in representing the welfare and interest of county residents.

The signatures of 20 per cent of eligible residents, about 8,000 people, need to be collected for the petition to be successful in forcing the municipal review. The Bearspaw hall was packed for the information night and about 100 signatures were collected to kick off their drive. They have a 60-day window to collect the required signatures.

RVC Reeve Greg Boehlke says he doesn't believe the review is necessary.

"It would be up to Municipal Affairs, but there's absolutely no reason to think that there's a problem in Rocky View," says Boehlke. "I think it would be an absolute waste of time but should Municipal Affairs decide to come down we would be completely on board in helping them out with any information they need and go from there."

In June, the three councillors, two of which represent residents living near Cochrane, were censured and sanctioned, for violations of the council code of conduct. They have no access to all staff, including the CAO, except during twice-monthly council meetings, have been removed from all county boards and committees and cannot represent their divisions at county conferences, meetings, events and activities. Their wages have also been reduced by 30 per cent.

The sanctions largely centre upon actions taken by the three councillors in seeking a CAO hiring policy. When RVC council refused the introduction of the motion, they jointly made their concerns public by writing an opinion piece that was among the measures deemed in violation of code of conduct.

The three have taken legal action and their case isn't scheduled to be heard until late January.

The second information meeting was held last night at the Elbow Valley Community Hall, in the heart Division 3.

Tonight, a meeting is being held for Division 9 at Weedon Hall, 42299 Weedon Trail, located on the corner of Hwy. 22 and 567 just north of Cochrane. 

The Thursday night (Sept. 19) meeting is at the Pinebrook Golf Course, 166 Pinebrook Way, 36 km southwest of Cochrane.

SOS is also fundraising to help cover the legal costs faced by the three councillors in their fight, which already total nearly $30,000.

Reeve Boehlke says he's unable to comment extensively on the legal action being taken by the three councillors because it's going before the court.

"They've decided the best way is to sue the county and I guess that's their prerogative. They have that right. As far as my thoughts on it, I have plenty but I shouldn't say them."