Tuesday, February 8, 2011

This Week in Williams Lake

Coming up at WL Council tonight - two spending proposals which should concern taxpayers:

1) Mayor Cook to attend a Roundtable in PG for two days - March 3/4 - see the report here
2) Mayor Cook to attend a Local Gov't Leadership Academy - Feb 16-18 - see the report here

In addition to the above of about $2000, taxpayers in Williams Lake are looking at a hike in CRD taxes of $1,375 to help support District of Wells to come to Williams Lake to attend CRD Board meetings, this is not the time to spend foolishly but to spend where absolutely necessary.  The above spending proposals are not urgently necessary in my view

Also - a Recommendation from the General Governance Committee to walk away from assisting with the Sosua Sister City Project will certainly disappoint local organizer Glen Lahey who previously come before WL Council's "Committee of the Whole" pleading with Council, in addition to Sosua's Mayor, to coordinate a local Committee to seize on the opportunities offered from a relationship between Sosua and Williams Lake.  - see the report here

However, we know that the City of Quesnel has had their "Sister City" arrangement with Shiraoi, Japan for years now and Quesnel has benefitted from such a relationship and Williams Lake can as well with its relationships with Fusong, China and Sosua, Dominic Republic

While I have not talked personally with Glen Lehey - I can suspect that he will not be happy with Staff's recommendation.  If this Council proceeds with this recommendation, local non-profits and other community groups should wonder if a Council's word means anything in the moral sense, especially if one Council does one thing and the community supported that initiative widely and then the next Council kills it because it says it is not a community priority

SBF

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