council – Page 5 – Morinville News

Morinville businessman running for Council

Jul 24, 2013 1

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – Coach’s Corner owner Lawrence Giffin is the fifth resident to declare they will run for Council in the fall election. Giffin has lived in Morinville for the past four years and has been an active volunteer during that time, most notably with the Morinville Lions Club and through his work on a number of local fundraisers for breast cancer, autism and the Midstream Support Society’s Santa Store.

Giffin said he is a person who likes to make a difference and fells the only way to do that is to be part of the process. It is that belief, combined with some concerns about how things have been done, that prompted him to take a run at a Council seat… […]

Foss to run for mayor of Morinville

Jul 22, 2013 2

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – Long-time resident Carrie Foss has entered the race to be the next mayor of Morinvile. Foss, who has lived in the community for 14 years and spent seven of those years serving separately as Chamber and Lions Club president. She joins Deputy Mayor Lisa Holmes and Shotgun Sally’s proprietor Christa Naughton in vying for the mayoral seat.

Foss was initially going to run as councillor, but all but one of the people she talked to told her she should run for mayor. “I think a lot of it has to do with past experience in the community,” Foss said. “I was the Chamber president for four years and really fought tooth and nail for a lot of the businesses for a lot of the things that were going on… […]

Pattison to run again for Morinville Council seat

Jul 21, 2013 Comments Off

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – Councillor David Pattison has announced he will run in the October election to retain his seat on Council. Pattison, who works in planning and development in the private sector and has lived in Morinville for 22 years, was first elected to Council in 2010 with 812 votes, taking fifth slot out of a field of 10 candidates.

Pattison said he was prompted to run again by feedback from the public. “People have said run again. They like what I’ve done. They’ve liked what I said. They’ve liked the positions I’ve taken,” Pattison said… […]

Love of community prompts resident to run for Council

Jul 16, 2013 3

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – After living in the community for six years, 31-year-old Fort McMurray Native Rob Ladouceur said he is certain of two things: Morinville is where he wants to continue to raise his family, and Morinville is where he wants to make a difference. Ladouceur is the latest resident to step forward and announce he will run for a Council seat in the fall election.

“I’ve been interested in helping people for a long time,” Ladouceur said, adding his time working behind the scenes in provincial politics… […]

Council to appoint new mayor in August

Jul 11, 2013 5

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – The mayoral vacancy left by the passing of Morinville Mayor Paul Krauskopf will be filled later this summer. In a 3-2 decision Thursday afternoon, Council moved in favour of having Deputy Mayor Lisa Holmes continue in the acting mayor role until Council’s next regular meeting Aug. 27. Councillors Gordon Boddez and Sheldon Fingler opposed the motion by Councillor Nicole Boutestein, preferring instead to appoint a new mayor now.

Deputy Mayor Holmes called the special meeting for 5:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon to hear Council’s options… […]

Editorial: Is it time to elect a smaller Council?

Jul 8, 2013 13

It has been a tough 12 months for Morinville Town Council. In August of 2012, then Councillor Ben Van de Walle took ill and resigned from Council, opening the door to a by-election that placed Councillor Sheldon Fingler in the seventh seat by a 32-vote margin over a largely one-issue candidate… […]

Morinville News Poll: Election 2013 – Who Would Get Your Mayoral Vote?

Jun 12, 2013 1

Mayor Paul Krauskopf’s June 11 announcement that he will not seek re-election after 15 years of service to the community as an elected official hit many in the community hard Wednesday morning, and many of our readers had words of gratitude for his dedication to the community… […]

Council approves changes to Remuneration and Per Diem Policy

Apr 24, 2013 Comments Off

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – Council narrowly approved a new Council Remuneration and Per Diem Policy Apr. 23. The policy passed with a 3-2 vote of Council, Councillor’s Sheldon Fingler and David Pattison voting against the policy changes…. […]

Letter to the Editor: WE HAVE A BUDGET

Dec 12, 2012 4

Congratulations to:

1/ Town Administration for a lot of hard work and yes they tried to bring the budget process out in the open for the general public to view, ask questions and take part in the process…. […]

Morinville 2013 budget passes second reading

Nov 28, 2012 5

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – A leaner 2013 budget passed second reading Nov. 27. After more than two hours of discussion and debate that shaved $300,000 off the $14.6 million budget, Council voted unanimously for second reading. Council will have at least two weeks to ponder further cuts before giving the document third and final reading.

Council gave first reading to the 2013 budget Oct. 23. As laid down at first reading Budget 2013 consisted of an $11 million operating budget combined with a proposed $3.6 million in capital projects. At that time, Chief Financial Officer Andy Isbister said ratepayers… […]

Morinville mayor resigns

Nov 13, 2012 5

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – Lloyd Bertschi has resigned as mayor of Morinville. Bertschi, who has in his fourth term as mayor and had previously spent two terms as a councillor, submitted his resignation in writing to Morinville’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)Debbie Oyarzun Nov. 13. In the letter the former mayor cites out of town and out of province business commitments as the reason for his stepping down prior to the end of his term… […]

Handful of residents express opinions at budget open house

Nov 6, 2012 3

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – Council Chambers were opened Tuesday night for the first of two budget open house sessions this week. Six residents joined Town staff to look at outlines of projects, hear a presentation on how tax money is collected and spent, and express their viewpoint on the validity of projects by spending a handful of play money on projects they deemed worthy. The process will be repeated during another open house Thursday night, after which the dollars will be tabulated as input on how money should be spent… […]

Editorial: Winners and losers

Sep 25, 2012 3

Thursday’s municipal by-election has come and gone and a winner has been declared. A good man to be sure, one whose love of this community has been shown many times before his gargantuan campaign signs were erected, and whose love of community will continue to be shown in the months and years to come… […]

By-election polls open in Morinville

Sep 18, 2012 1

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – Morinville’s councillor by-election polls opened Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. The advance poll was set to run until 8 p.m. Tuesday evening.

Election day will be Thursday Sept. 20. Polls will be opened from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Morinville Community Cultural Centre… […]

Candidates make their pitch to business community

Sep 5, 2012 Comments Off

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – Five of six municipal by-election candidates made their pitch to Chamber of Commerce members at the group’s monthly luncheon Wednesday afternoon… […]

Tarnowsky appointed Sturgeon County CAO

May 22, 2012 Comments Off

By Stephen Dafoe

Sturgeon County – After several months of searching, recruiting and interviewing, Sturgeon County Council has ended up with a new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) who has been performing the job in an interim capacity since November of 2011. Council voted 4-3 in favour of appointing Peter Tarnowsky as CAO Tuesday morning. Mayor Don Rigney and Councillors David Kluthe and Don McGeachy, long opponents of his being hired, voted in opposition to Tarnawsky receiving the post… […]