LAC LA BICHE - Lac La Biche Mayor Paul Reutov was $8,124 in arrears on his property taxes when council made the motion directing administration to take the matter to the courts if he did not resign.
According to Lac La Biche County administration, the amount owed was equal to the 2024 taxes plus the penalties for late payment. Property taxes were due on July 2, 2024.
“In the event the Chief Elected Official does not resign in accordance with section 175 (1) of the Municipal Government Act by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2025, Council directs Administration to proceed with filing an application to a judge of the Court of King’s Bench for an order declaring the person to be disqualified from Council,” states the motion, which was passed 8 to 0 by council on Feb. 25.
In the weeks since the unpaid taxes were brought to light, Reutov has not resigned and continues to act as Mayor of Lac La Biche County. According to the Municipal Government Act, an elected official is disqualified if their taxes are not paid.
“As soon as this was brought to my attention, I paid it immediately,” said Reutov, when speaking with Lakeland This Week previously.
The tax certificate was provided to Lakeland This Week by Holly Omlechuk, the Lac La Biche ratepayer who initially brought the matter to council’s attention in February. Omelchuk is retired but previously worked as a tax clerk and senior administrator for several municipalities.
In an interview on March 18, Omelchuk said she was observing a Municipal Planning Commission meeting “and there was a developer there, which I knew was the mayor, that was behind on his taxes. I knew from my previous experience in the municipal world that everybody has to be up to date, and taxes can't be in arrears through the MGA [Municipal Government Act],” said Omelchuk.
During the public input session of the Lac La Biche council meeting on March 4, Omelchuk made a presentation to council responding to Reutov’s statement. Reutov had called the arrears a distraction, and claimed he asked for but never received an orientation when he was elected mayor in 2021.
“The legislation establishing qualifications for nomination to a city council addresses the potential for conflict of interest and the risk of public perception of undue influence and unequal application of the law. This ensures councillors are not in a conflict of interest with the municipality they are elected to serve. This is not a distraction,” said Omelchuk.
Omelchuk provided council with copies of their expense reports from 2021.
According to the expense reports, Reutov received a total of $491 in fees and mileage for two days of attendance at “council orientation.” Other members of council also claimed expenses for the orientations, which according to the reports were held on Oct. 27, Oct. 28, and Nov. 4, 2021.
“Based on the expense reports I would suggest that orientation was offered as required by the MGA,” said Omelchuk.
In an interview on March 19, Reutov said the dates listed as council orientation were not about the MGA.
“There was strategic planning, economic development updates, things like that. There was never orientations done for council,” said Reutov.
Lakeland This Week asked Deputy Mayor Jason Stedman if he recalled what topics were covered in the orientation, which according to the expense reports he also attended.
He said there is no way to be able to recall all the information given during orientation.
“It is a staggering amount in a short period of time. It’s impossible to take it all in, which is why refreshers are a good idea,” said Stedman.
