Dear editor:
My response to the email “Rock the Roads” from councillor Morgan Nagel is as follows:
Even suggesting this plebiscite vote is undemocratic. Six out of seven councillors/mayor voted for this last month, and most campaigned for the project 12 months ago…that is democracy!
Just because there is a sole dissenter doesn’t mean it was undemocratic. We elect our council to represent us and every major decision doesn’t have to go to a plebiscite to qualify as a democratic decision.
The pool was undersized when it was built 20 years ago when Cochrane had 6,000 or so people, and now it is totally outdated and undersized.
Similarly, the existing four-sheet curling rink – built for 12,000 – was facing $1 million in Band-Aids (re-roofing) plus another $1 million in upgrades (kitchen, change & bathrooms).
The town decided to proceed with a modern, attractive six-sheet facility integrated into and complementing Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre through enhanced food service and summer utilization possibilities.
These projects must last 25 – 30 years and take into account the projected population increases – currently projected at 6 per cent per year. What does that work out to in 30 years?
I’m not one for public debt, but sometimes to build infrastructure that will be used for the foreseeable future it makes sense to take on some debt. Further it has been pointed out the cost increase is in the order of 5 per cent per year, so if we wait, it will cost more than the cost of borrowing.
It looks to me like someone is trying to make a name for themselves and doing a bit of grandstanding.
This is the way I see it.
Lloyd Manning
