By Stephen Dafoe
Council had a steady stream of presentation and decisions during their last meeting. Below are some highlights from the Sept. 10 Council meeting.
Morinville Wolves show their support
Basketball Coach Serge Froment was back in Council Chambers with another group of basketball players Sept. 10, this time to show their gratitude for a community grant they received June 25. The Morinville Youth Basketball Association was granted $2,500 to send the team to the Gonzaga University Tournament in Spokane, Washington this past summer. The tournament drew 90 teams this year, including 18 Morinville youth and six adult volunteers who went to the event.
Several members of the team expressed their gratitude to Council, offering an overview of the trip and how important the experience was to team building on and off the court.
The team presented Mayor Gordon Boddez and Council with a photo taken prior to their departure on the trip.
Urban agriculture
Morinville Community High School teacher Neil Korotash presented to Council Sept. 10 on his new Urban Agriculture program, a class that will teach students the values of not only growing fruits and vegetables off the farm, but also what to do with the produce when it is ready for harvest.
Korotash said he had 100 students signed up for the program as their first option this semester. He said there is room for 20 students per semester. Through the program, he is hoping to assist them in making healthy and sustainable food choices and to take pride in their community.
Currently the class is working on cold frames, edible planters, and hydroponics. Within the region, they will be involved in some field to table trips to farms and the Morinville Community Gardens.
Korotash said the school would be using the cultural centre every Tuesday for cooking classes. Additionally, the MCHS teacher said the students were eager to work with the Town to assist with spring planting.
Mayor Boddez said the program is another example of the innovation at MCHS and the continued integration between school and community.
Auditor appointed
Council voted unanimously in favour of appointing Hawkings Epp Dumont LPP as Municipal auditor for 2013 rather than for a three-year period. The Municipal government Act requires Council to appoint an auditor for the Town.
Hawkings Epp Dumont LPP was appointed Morinville’s auditor for a 5-year term from 2007 to 2011. The firm was appointed for an additional year at the end of that term.
Councillor Nicole Boutestein advocated for appointing them for the current year, but leaving the longer-term decision to the next duly elected Council. Mayor Gordon Boddez agreed with Boutestein and said continuous employment of an auditing firm was a pet peeve of his.
