Accountable to taxpayers
When I heard that City of Powell River Council was entertaining the idea of changing our city slogan from “Pearl on the Sunshine Coast” to “Coastal by Nature,” I decided it was time to attend a council meeting to ask why. Unfortunately, I was too late because the majority of council had already decided to go ahead with this change [“City contemplates change to brand,” March 11].
There was an online poll and out of 343 responses 70 per cent voted for the change. Not one person I talked to knew anything about this or that this poll even existed. I know that the younger generation might find this hard to believe but there are still a lot of taxpayers out there who don’t own a computer. Do they not have a say?
I was given the opportunity to express my views and was told this all transpired because the economic development department and Tourism Powell River thought this name change would attract more visitors to our fair city.
What about the cost? No one could put a dollar value on the cost of this change. Council said it would phase this in over time as vehicles and supplies need replacing.
Is this really at the top of council’s priority list? Are there not more important issues that need attention, like the roads in this city? I believe this expense is as irresponsible as a homeowner going out and buying a 55-inch flat screen TV when the roof on his house is leaking. Where is council’s responsibility to consider the best interest of the city?
Only Councillor Jim Palm thought the vote should not be taken until more information was made public. Councillors Maggie Hathaway, Rob Southcott, Russell Brewer, CaroleAnn Leishman and Karen Skadsheim were all in favour of the change.
One thing I now realize is that more citizens need to start showing up at council meetings to see what is really going on. We can’t just sit back and become complacent. This is just one of the things that will happen when no one questions how our tax dollars are being spent. We need to keep council accountable to the taxpayers of this city.
Don Edwards
Mackenzie Avenue
