At the July 19th, 2011 WL Council Meeting, the following Resolution was adopted:
Moved by Councillor Zacharias
Seconded by Councillor BourdonMoved by Councillor Zacharias
That pursuant to the report of the Executive Assistant dated July 12, 2011, Council approve travel for Mayor Kerry Cook to meet with Minister Pat Bell in Prince George on Monday, August 8, 2011
Since then - I have learned that CCBAC (Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition) paid Mayor Cook's travel expenses and City of Williams Lake taxpayers, on top, paid Ms. Cook an additional $120 for attendance at this meeting, as per Council Policy #193 which says:
“Council members shall receive $120.00 per day for attendance at conferences, conventions and meetings, including travel days, as authorized by Council Resolution"
Meanwhile - Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett, a former CCBAC Chair herself, attended this meeting and returned to her home in 100 Mile House in the same day and I'm informed that she did not charge to CCBAC travel expenses previously, when Ms. Barnett was the CCBAC Chair of the day
My Question - why is Kerry Cook, despite proclaiming herself as a fiscally responsible Mayor in the last civic election in the fall of 2008, trying to stick it to City of Williams Lake taxpayers?
For this CCBAC meeting in PG, why didn't she consider using videoconferencing (a free option I might add) or via telephone...? Especially considering that sawmill workers at both Tolko - Soda Creek and Lakeside were off work earlier this summer
Finally - Kerry Cook needs to come clean NOW and say how much, in total, this trip to PG for CCBAC business cost Williams Lake taxpayers, in total (CCBAC + City of WL) (note - CCBAC just received $3 million from Victoria - your tax dollars)
Update - A rough estimate puts Mayor Cook's CCBAC trip to Prince George consisting of $120 + CCBAC paying for mileage only (.52 cents per kilometre) (no word if Mayor Cook stayed overnight in PG as Donna Barnett returned to 100 Mile once the meeting concluded) totaling $375.84. A huge chunk of that money, almost the entire amount, could have been saved, if videoconferencing or teleconferencing was used instead
SBF
16 comments:
Get over yourself. You buddy Nelson racked up millions in debt, and you're demanding she "come clean" about $120? Get serious man.
Thanks for your comment...
I would point out however, that the debt you point to was (yes) initiated by Nelson, but could have been ultimately blocked by Cook (Fire Hall Debt). IN addition, Mackenzie Avenue was not, in my opinion, in a dire need of a complete upgrade. Yes - certain sections (ie - by the graveyard) needs work, but it could have waited a year or two more. Cook is ultimately responsible for the doubling of the City's debt over 3 years, as it all happened on her watch
That's a flat out lie. All she borrowed was for Mackenzie. Nelson did River Valley, paving Country Club Boulevard (tell me that was a priority!) and the fire hall plus some others. Nelson is responsible for way over half of the debt. And you should no better, for someone who claims to be so on top of city business.
Why do you lie?
Videoconferecing or teleconferencing is NOT an acceptable alternative to face-to-face in most meetings of any importance.
It sounds great but does not work. I've sat through many of these and always feel excluded, not part of the conversation and rarely considered when decisions are being made.
Any meeting of importance demands a personal presence to ensure complete participation and consideration.
Anyone who thinks differently has absolutely no clue about the importance of personal interaction and networking in ALL major decisions made at ALL levels of government.
Normally these trips are worth ever dime and more.
Maybe if we re-elect Nelson we can build another eyesore and environmental disaster on the lakeshore in the name of "jobs". Funny how you never see a picture of that pellet plant in his ads in the paper.
Do you think people are so stupid they can't add up their own numbers or can't remember back 5 years ago? What about that study Nelson did for a massive multicentre that went nowhere? How much did that ridiculous propaganda campaign to privatize our water cost?
If you follow the meetings as closely as you claim to, you'd know council expenses are DOWN to less than half of the last council's. You're a liar and you must be dreaming to think you have a shot of ever getting elected for anything.
Thank you all for your comments:
Anonymous at 4:03pm --
What I've quoted is not a LIE but based on City records...
So - at the end of December 2008 - the City had a long term debt level of $8,937,681
At the end of December 2010 - the City had a long term debt level of $19,387,852 left to pay
Of the projects you mention - Storm Sewer is "required" by the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, going back a number of years ago (believe 2003).
In addition, Mayor Cook could have put the entire Fire Hall project under review, immediately after being sworn in and would have likely been a vote winner, but she chose not to do so, in addition to borrowing for Mackenzie Avenue and Cameron St. Not a LIE but an inconvient truth
Jim - I appreciate your candor with respect to videoconferencing/teleconferencing but I personally have used teleconferencing for meetings and have found no difficulities. Those who choose to participate will do so, regardless of the medium used - whether face to face, or via video/telephone and those who don't participate, actively, won't for various reasons and those cases, there is not much you can do about it
Folks - I stand by this column and should running for office be a goal of mine then you can make the appropriate choice(s) at the appropriate time...
Steve
You're cherry picking city records. if you did your research properly and applied some logic instead of an agenda, you would know that the current council borrowed the 3.5 million dollars in Mackenzie money in early 2010. That was the only time the current council has increased the long term debt. So it is impossible that this council doubled the debt. Rather than look at convenient dates, look at which council borrowed the money. It probably wouldn't show up on the City's books until payments start, which could be months AFTER the council approves the borrowing. Go to city hall and do your own research like I did. This council has borrowed less than 4 million. And that is just a fact, is inconvenient to the story you are trying to tell. Prove me wrong Steve. Find where this council borrowed more than 4 million. It sure was not 11 million as you are trying to claim.
The other person is right, you are a liar or at the very least you cherry pick facts to make people you don't like look bad.
Steve wont, what he will do, like what hes done when someone presses him for the truth, and which is why he will never make it in any form of politics, will shut down and switch topics instead of dealing with the misinformation he continues to spew to those who are already backing his muisguided and sociopathic agenda. Good luck Steve, it will be interesting to see if you get elected because maybe youll have your eyes open to the real world instead of being able to just things after the fact and be truly accountable for your decisions.....would be novel.
And once again im right. Weak Steveo....weak.
I'm still waiting to see his answer about Country Club Boulevard. And how Scott's council racked up huge council expenses. He knows he can't defend those things.
So now he's busy finding his next lie. Next he'll tell us paving major roads and fixing pools and collecting garbage is reckless wasteful spending. But he won't tell you that Scott angered every First Nations chief in the area and wasted taxpayer money on newspaper ads attacking judges instead of actually doing something about crime.
Sorry Steve, I have to disagree on the videoconferencing and teleconferencing.
Sure you claim to have done them before but have you participated in a call in a large government setting with multiple callers from multiple communities, and a large in person crowd?
I have on many occasions in my former life and I can tell you without a doubt that those that call in are at a serious disadvantage during the call, and especially before and after the call when alot of the "real" business takes place.
Anyone who thinks the chatter before and after meetings and the networking that happens in person isn't the most important part of any meeting is a fool.
It's unfotunate but that's the way it works both in government and in business.
Anonymous at 8:50am...
I don't think collecting garbage is wasteful spending however I DO know that some residents' have argued that they would have liked to be consulted before the City started curbside garbage/recycling collection as each homeowner is paying for their garbage/recycling container
As for the pool - we do know that replacement of the Sam Ketchum Pool will be in the range of $20 million or more, according to City Staff. So the question becomes - replace the pool, patch it or don't do anything. As for roads - generally I support this but only conditions are right to do so
As for Mr. Nelson angering First Nations - thank you for "educating" me about this as I was unaware that they were angered. Certainly - we do know that Mr. Cobb has angered the First Nations community over his views on Prosperity Mines
Finally - I hope that you will be an active participant in the upcoming local gov't election, as much as you comment here
Steve
Anonymous at 8:50am...
I'm sorry that you don't think Country Club Blvd was not good use of local taxpayers' dollars but there was a community vote on it (yes - it was counter-petition and maybe not the most appropriate way to get public consent)but that particular project was approved by the Rick Gibson City Council.
I must say as well that residents asked this Council for a full referendum on the Mackenzie Ave project at $3,000,000 and it was this Council who said "No"
Steve
@ Jim, I thought the exact same thing. Your physical presence is important when poilitically advocating for yourself...OH, I mean for your city/province/country...........
That being said, maybe that is excatly what is wrong with our political system, is too many "good 'ol boys/girls club" who dont embrace technology. How much money would be saved if each political leader used technology instead of tax dollars. You wouldnt be at a disadvantage if EVERYONE did it.
Steve.....If you are new construction, you have to pay up front for both garbage/recycle bins $175.00 each (I beleive)
You can not ad it to your taxes......but magically, if you have registared false alarms, they can add that to your taxes....hmmm.
I live on Country Club, and I pay LARGE taxes, and I do so because the neighbourhood is beautiful.......But, only because the home owners make it that way. There is two park spaces on Country club, that ARE NOT maintained at all by the city, and I have seen the street swept once. So if there is decent pavement to drive on, then thank you for my HUGE taxes.
When it comes to crime, I think everyone has made mistakes, and if one actually took the time to look what the "violent crime" consisted of, one would be suprised.
I know that Mayor cook doesnt have a clue about the dynamic of "the criminal," and has no idea who/what/when/where. She actually asked me where the crime was being localized...because clearly it was not on Oliver st. for about 8 months. I had heard Rathor on the radio, explaining that the crime was localized by Marie Sharp. Mayor Cook did not know this, and I have no idea how Rathor and myself knew and she didnt, and her being the council member in charge of the crime portfolio....didnt. This is insane to me.
Crime is down 17% nation wide, and the community has safe gaurded there properties. Mayor and council has done nothing, in my opinion to the decrease the rate of crime. Crime in our community is a mental health/family/community issue, and thus far Scott Nelson is the only canidate that has mentioned that he would work with the health authority to combate this crime infested town. that is why he has my vote. That is a real solution!
NOTdoingBusinessTILLshesOUT
Where did you get your degrees in the following:
1. criminology
2. economics
3. business
4. engineering
If none of those papers hang on your wall, maaaaayybee you arent in a position to comment on things as complex as crime, and neither is Mr. Nelson. All he is good at is parrotting rhetoric.
Whoops, i was informed i forgot sociology. Slipped my mind.
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