While people are out voting today in the federal election, Rocky View Stop Our Sanctions (SOS) is encouraging Rocky View residents to sign a petition aimed at forcing a municipal review.

A station has been established at the Bearspaw Historical Society's Barn from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at their Historic Schoolhouse from 5 to 8 p.m. Both are adjacent to each other at 253253 Bearspaw Rd., across from the Bearspaw Lifestyle Centre. It is just down the road from one of the federal polling stations.

Residents can also sign at Bottrel General Store, Township Road 284, just west of Hwy 22; The Feed Store, 41070 Cook Rd. north side of Hwy 567, just east of Hwy. 22, behind Cochrane Rentals; The Heart in Bragg Creek, 12 Balsam Avenue; and The Horse Store in Calgary, 2612 Kensington Rd NW. Those going to The Horse Store are asked to phone to 403-270-7700 to confirm availability. 

Volunteers are also available to make other arrangements to get your signature, says Janet Ballantyne, one of the organizers of the petition.

As of now, 2,500 people have signed the petition that needs to be submitted to the Alberta Municipal Affairs minister by Nov. 15. Ballantyne says they are hoping to collect all the required signatures by Nov. 10.

The petition requests an inspection of the decision-making practices and conduct of the 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 Rocky View 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."

Rocky View SOS has also raised $17,290 so far towards the legal costs being faced by the three councillors who are fighting heavy sanction placed against them by the county council. The target is $100,000. 

County councillors Kevin Hanson, Crystal Kissel and Samanntha Wright are being disciplined for breaching the council's code of conduct. It limits their actions as councillors in the three divisions they represent.

The action sparked the petition by RVC SOS.