UPDATED with comments from Mayor Tyler Gandam
According to a June 24 press release from the City of Wetaskiwin, “Wetaskiwin City Council officially received notice at their regular June 24, 2019 Council meeting that Pamela Ganske resigned from her position as councillor—effective that morning—citing personal reasons.
“There will now be two openings for municipal councillors in the upcoming by-election which is now scheduled to take place September 11, 2019. The City recently received permission from the Minister of Municipal Affairs to extend the 90-day deadline to hold an election—as dictated by the Municipal Government Act—until September 2019.
“I would like to thank Pamela Ganske for all of her hard work as a councillor and for being an incredible ambassador for our community,” said Mayor Tyler Gandam. “I know that we will still work together to make Wetaskiwin a great place to live.”
The press release stated “Wetaskiwin City Council will continue to function effectively with no gaps in representation given that Wetaskiwin councillors are elected at-large.”
ORIGINAL STORY
City of Wetaskiwin will have a second vacant seat at their table after a city councilor tendered her resignation in writing June 24.
Councilor Pam Ganske confirmed June 24 to The Wetaskiwin Pipestone Flyer that she had tendered her resignation from council in writing to city manager Peter Tarnawsky that day.
Ganske said councilors were planning to ratify the resignation at the council meeting that evening.
She said that being employed by the Wetaskiwin Chamber of Commerce and also sitting at the council table making decisions that affect the city business community was taking a toll. “This is where I’m at,” said Ganske that day.
Ganske said it was a tough decision to make as her roughly two years on council was a great learning experience, and she learned more about the City of Wetaskiwin than she thought possible.
Ganske said she plans to continue being very involved in volunteer and community work in the city.
The City of Wetaskiwin already has one council vacancy after Patricia MacQuarrie tendered her resignation last spring. As the halfway point of MacQuarrie’s term had not been reached, a by-election was called for early summer, but the city successfully requested to have the by-election held later.
She said she had a few words for those who voted for her and supported her. “Just, thank you.”
City council decided June 24 that the by-election will be held Sept. 11.
