Sunday, May 27, 2012

Ka-non Responded

I posted the Banner Editorial on the personal blog  by mistake.  One person responded to my  challenge. .
The editorial dealt with Council's decision to take a step forward to discover community ideas for use of the  asset from the sale of Aurora Hydro..... currently 33 million dollars. 
Official policy  is it will not be used without community consultation. It will  be used for a purpose we would never 
contemplate placing as a burden on the taxpayers.
The editorial position was it should be used for infrastructure.and repairs.
The opposite of the stated intent.
Ka-non took up that point  and used a few recent projects to establish it..
We are in the throes of making highly questionable decisions on high cost infrastructure
The editorial followed a news story in a previous edition. The Chief Financial Officer was quoted :
.
However, as Aurora treasurer Dan Elliott pointed out, building the facility is only part of the cost, as operating a large facility can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
While some of the money should be spent on a project with a lasting, visible legacy, such as a youth centre, most of it would be better spent on what many people take for granted: maintaining what already exists.
As noted in this year’s final budget report from Mr. Elliott: “The ongoing aging of infrastructure, together with the past deferrals of projects, continues to place pressure on the capital budget and reserve funds and on staff to deliver effective and satisfactory performance from our infrastructure inventory.”
 

Herein lies the crux of  a serious dilemma
Council's decision  to take a step forward and consult the community on a use for the Hydro fund  was well received.
The concept that any  project should enrich the community in a way  that could not be contemplated as a tax burden was not lost. 
The decision is ours to make and the time is right.
Direction to staff was clear.
A plan be prepared to obtain input from the community. People who live here. Pay taxes here and elect a council to represent them in  the decisions to be made.
Yet even before we take a single step, negative and critical reaction is reflected  publicly in a staff comment quoted in the editorial. 
I  have said before this  Council  has  no sense of  its authority.
A  Regional attitude pervades.
Council subservience reigns.
There is no sense of place.
We are not only neutered at the region  by having  one member, we are close to eunuchs in our own domain as well. .
         

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