BTW, loved your words re: "St. Kitts Press release". Nice to see some trepidation around the table as well, save for Cllrs. Ballard and Gaertner. Maybe people are starting to get it. Better late than never on this one
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Nobody slid off their chairs in amazement last night when I put forward the motion for a report from staff about a possible location within the town's park system and a practical and economical plan to restore the Petch House.
It wasn't all that surprising because I gave notice of the motion a couple of weeks ago.
I did so because we have a $50Ks commitment from the Smart Centre developers to re-locate the building and do whatever else we can with what is left over.
If we don't do it we forfeit $50Ks. I expect it will cost that and more.And we did get $8Ks from an anonymous donor. With parks staff doing the work and a suitable use and location we may come out ahead.
Forfeiting $50Ks goes against the grain. Just getting rid of the structure could not be done without cost.
Our parks staff have many skills. They are perfectly capable, under direction. of doing the work themselves. Mr. Van Nostrand of Vandorf has already restored a twin of this building . He sourced the boards to re-place rotted material and re-located the building to a site in Lindsay.
I've seen it. It is beautiful.
If we have a place for this one , where it can be used and enjoyed and its asset value realised. I don't think that's a bad idea.
So I have asked Council to consider it. They agreed. I'm still getting used to my motions being given fair consideration . It's nice.
On the other hand. the St Kitts family music business is still getting $5Ks of your tax money to finance a concert promotion in the town park. You will still be paying an admission charge. Your park will still be fenced off for a week-end. There will be vendors in our park, not paying a permit fee to the town.
Likely filling the coffers of the St.Kitts family music business.
Councillor Abel did a fair amount of homework on the situation. Discovered the town is receiving no recognition on their publications. That was supposed to be what we were to get for the so-called platinum sponsorship. But Councillor Abel's new information wasn't able to change anything.
Seems Susan Walmer was in communication with the Chief Administrative Officer about the deal . Word on the street is Litigation Lizzie is also part and parcel of the entire boondoggle.
That would explain Gaertner,Gallo and Ballard support. Don't know what to tell you about the rest.
I received a cartoon in an e-mail this morning. It was a two -storey outhouse. Upstairs for politicians.Downstairs for taxpayers. I copied and pasted it. But the picture didn't come through.
I was very grateful for the homework that Councillor Abel did and for putting the issue on the agenda. I was not at all impressed by other councillors whose comments implied that he had no right to raise this for discussion. It was good to hear Councillor Thompson's support for the need to keep track of what happens to our money and whether we get back what was agreed upon.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to know that there are others, besides you, who are minding the store so that things are in order and not overlooked.
Some of the others seem to care less how money is frittered away.
I guess that's because it's not theirs!!
"not theirs"?
ReplyDeleteAre the councillors not taxpayers of this realm?
They are indeed but what fun to spend everybody's money and not just your own!!
ReplyDeleteWhy was Gallo so obsessed with whether the cameras were rolling or not when Councillor Abel raised his issue?
ReplyDeleteWhat is his problem????