When asked by Mayor Deb Higgins, Coun. Don Mitchell didn’t hesitate to apologize Monday night.
“I apologize for the unparliamentary side comment that (I made based on) what I observed and concluded from Coun. Luhning’s comments,” he said.
Mitchell’s apology during Monday’s regular city council meeting came after he used offensive language during an address by Coun. Dawn Luhning regarding curbside recycling.
The debate began after Mitchell presented the minutes to council of the latest meeting of the Environment Advisory Committee held on Oct. 30. No approval of council was required on any of the items on the agenda. The committee approved a motion to allocate up to $4,500 to hire a consultant to “develop a business plan for the City of Moose Jaw’s curbside recycling program.”
Coun. Patrick Boyle asked for clarification as to why the committee was going to spend $4,500 on a business plan.
“I’m just confused. We haven’t decided what (the business plan) is, have we?” said Boyle. “So how can you develop a business plan for something that hasn’t been decided?”
Mitchell and city manager Garry McKay said there was a report completed on curbside recycling. Mitchell said it was done within the committee’s budget and included education and funding around the recycling options.
“There was not a business plan incorporated to deal with some of the hard numbers for comparison to assist in the decision making. So that was a deficiency,” said Mitchell.
McKay added the business plan would be confirmation of costs and a consultant would be hired because there wasn’t enough city staff to do the job. He said the final decision on whether to adopt curbside recycling has not been made yet.
Boyle said if council chooses a different path than what the business plan is, the money might not have been spent wisely. Luhning echoed Boyle’s comments.
She said the motion passed by the previous council stated no decision has been made by the environment committee regarding city recycling, but the motion to hire a consultant to get a business plan is proof the committee wants Moose Jaw to get recycling.
For more information, see an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
