By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — Craik’s former town administrator has pleaded guilty to a single count of fraud.

Jeffrey Todd Murray has admitted to defrauding the Town of Craik in the amount of $14,181.30, both by overpaying his own salary and by making unauthorized purchases with the town’s Visa card.

Crown prosecutor Rob Parker told the Leader that Murray faces either a suspended sentence or incarceration, with his sentencing hearing scheduled in March.

Murray previously stood accused of 33 counts of fraud, laid in March and May of last year, totalling more than $41,000.

Those charges have since been withdrawn, and the single charge represents a significantly smaller amount — roughly one-third of the former total.

Even so, Parker noted the significance of the plea entered Wednesday, as a public acknowledgement of guilt.

“Clearly, there was an admission on Mr. Murray’s part that he had defrauded the town,” he said.

Murray, 42, appeared in Moose Jaw provincial court on Wednesday morning, accompanied by his legal counsel and an unidentified grey-haired woman.

He remained seated as his lawyer, Gail Wartman, addressed Justice Margaret Gordon, updating the court on recent developments.

Murray, who served as Craik’s administrator from 2010 to 2014, was previously accused of defrauding the town “by deceit, falsehood or other fraudulent means” in the amount of $41,079.81.

In March 2016, he was charged on 31 separate counts of fraud, followed by two additional charges in May.

Craik RCMP laid the charges, alleging that Murray had defrauded the town by using its Royal Bank credit card to make personal purchases at restaurants, retail stores and motels, as well as online.

For the full story, please see the Jan. 30 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — A federal-provincial grant totalling more than $1.42 million is opening up new possibilities for Craik as the town continues to move towards restoring its potable water.

Besides the clear financial benefit, Mayor David Ashdown said it was a sign of confidence in the town’s future.

“I see this as a statement by both senior levels of government that Craik is a viable community,” said Ashdown. “It’s a community that’s worth investing in, from their perspective.”

Ralph Goodale, federal minister of public safety and emergency preparedness, and Donna Harpauer, provincial minister of government relations and minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs, announced the grant in Regina on Wednesday.

A total of 28 new projects in cities, towns and villages across the province will receive grants, through either the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF) or the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.

“Infrastructure is the foundation of the Canada we all want to build for tomorrow,” Goodale was quoted, saying the projects funded thusly would “protect the environment, keep our communities healthy and livable, and will create well-paying jobs for the middle class.”

For Craik’s grant, the federal government will contribute 50 per cent, or $950,659, while the province will contribute 25 per cent, or $475,329. The rest of the funding will come from the town’s water fund, bringing the total to more than $1.9 million.

The grant represents a significant financial boost and an encouraging sign as Craik seeks to end the boil water advisory that has been in place since August of 2010.

The town applied for CWWF funding late last year, though Mayor Ashdown was careful not to raise expectations beyond the realistic at the time, calling it “purely exploratory.”

Council passed a resolution in December to request a meeting with consulting engineers from KGS Group, the Regina-based firm that has been working with Craik to address its water situation.

Bearing in mind the possibility of CWWF funding, council also asked KGS to prepare “supplementary design information in the event additional funding becomes available.”

Now that funding is confirmed, Ashdown identified three main points of focus for council.

The town will explore alternate sources of water and also investigate the other treatment options outlined in KGS’s reports, previously believed to be beyond the town’s financial capacity.

Ashdown said council would also look at ways to improve, renew and renovate the delivery system that brings water to users.

For the full story, please see the Jan. 16 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

MOOSE JAW — Craik’s former town administrator will return to provincial court in January to face dozens of charges of fraud, representing more than $41,000 in alleged misspent funds.

The case against Jeffrey Todd Murray has been delayed for the sixth straight time — this time, at the crown’s request.

Regional crown prosecutor Brian Hendrickson told the Leader he requested the adjournment in Moose Jaw provincial court on Dec. 7.

Rob Parker, the crown prosecutor in charge of the case, was not available to attend court that day, Hendrickson said. The request was granted.

Five previous adjournments were requested by Murray’s lawyer, Gail Wartman, who sought additional time for disclosure, explaining that a large volume of documentation was involved in the charges.

To read more, please see the Dec. 19, 2016 print edition of The Davidson Leader.