The Village of Morrin will operate without a council and instead with a provincial government contractor along with its current Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Annette Plachner.
The information was sent to the ECA Review in a Dec. 4 press release.
According to Municipal Affairs Press Secretary Justin Marshall, “Right now, two of the three Village of Morrin councillors have resigned leaving council with no quorum, and therefore the village is unable to conduct business or hold regular council meetings.
“Minister Allard has appointed Harold Johnsrude as a contracted official administrator to assume the powers and duties of the Village of Morrin council.
“He will be working closely with the village’s chief administrative officer to ensure that village operations continue.
Mr. Johnsrude has extensive knowledge and experience in local government, and will work to ensure the community remains healthy and sustainable into the future.
“Mr. Johnsrude has been appointed until December 17, 2021 or until council quorum has been restored.”
Johnsrude is owner/operator of Harold Johnsrude Consulting, a well-known consultancy out of Didsbury that’s taken on tricky, even controversial, assignments in the world of local government, including a 2012 report into the workings of the Town of High Prairie and a 2013 report into the workings of the Town of Coronation.
Read the ECA Review story of the Coronation report online here: https://ecareview.com/town-governed-improperly-and-irregularly-37-recommendations-need-attention/
The ECA Review also asked Municipal Affairs about the role of remaining councillor, Mayor M’Liss Edwards, how future council meetings would be conducted and other issues but did not hear back by deadline.
Stu Salkeld, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
