To Mayor and Council:
In my previous editorial I spoke to the serious financial loss for citizens whose home borders an abandoned house. On August 15, 2018, I emailed council and administration to file a complaint against the property at 1511 Hastings St.
I said I would compliment those that have helped and expose those that have done little to nothing [referring to City Hall and administration]. In that spirit this is about our mayor and council.
I begin with our mayor, Fraser Tolmie, who has never responded to an email. But I believe he’s too busy whining about part-time mayors getting paid more than him. Maybe they do more part time than he does full time? This is the mayor that thinks taxpayers are his piggy bank.
Heather Eby, no contact.
Scott McCann replied once.
Crystal Froese replied once but failed to call back.
Scott Warren replied twice, once to tell me Chief Montgomery and I resolved something but didn’t. Secondly, he thinks he understands our frustration with the Derelict/Nuisance property next door.
Both Dawn Luhning and Brian Swanson have been there since the beginning and I truly appreciate their understanding and support.
Council Meeting September 24, 2018
GIVING NOTICE –September 24, 2018 council meeting,
Councillor Swanson rose to give notice that at the regular meeting of City Council to be held September 24, 2018, he intends to introduce the following motion:
Moved by Councillor Swanson, seconded by Councillor Luhning
THAT any letter or email from a citizen or citizens of Moose Jaw received at City Hall addressed to the Mayor and Council be placed on the following City Council meeting agenda for consideration of Committee of the Whole unless the author or authors of the communication request otherwise.
Councillor Swanson requested a recorded vote on the motion.
PRESENT: Mayor Tolmie, Councillor Luhning, Councillor Froese, Councillor Warren, Councillor Swanson and Councillor McMann.
Regular Council Minutes, September 24, 2018
FOR: Councillor Luhning Councillor McMann Councillor Swanson Councillor Froese
AGAINST: Mayor Tolmie Councillor Warren
Passed by a majority of council, than the motion was reconsidered:
MOTIONS: Regular Council Minutes, October 9, 2018
Councillor Froese – Reconsideration of a Motion – Letter and Emails from Citizens
Motion to Reconsider a Previous Motion
Moved by Councillor Froese, seconded by Councillor Warren
Re: Letter and Emails from Citizens
Councillor Swanson requested a recorded vote on the motion.
PRESENT: Mayor Tolmie, Councillor Luhning, Councillor Froese, Councillor Warren, Councillor Swanson and Councillor McMann.
Regular Council Minutes, October 9, 2018
FOR: Councillor Luhning Councillor McMann Councillor Swanson
AGAINST: Mayor Tolmie Councillor Warren Councillor Froese
Defeated.
Citizen’s voices silenced, Mayor Tolmie, Councillor Warren and Councillor Froese.
I couldn’t have found the words to say it better, but this motion speaks to how the citizens [of Moose Jaw] are regarded, by 2 councillors and the mayor.
Yet the city of Estevan considers their citizens important enough to include letters on the council agenda:
“Letters to Estevan City Council on new issues must be received by 4:30pm on the Wednesday prior to meeting dates. Letters received after that date will be placed on the next agenda.
If you wish to speak with Council, you need to say so in your letter. Your name will be placed on the agenda and you will be notified prior to the meeting as to the time you will appear.
Your letter in its entirety will be included in the Council agenda, the Council agenda is a public document which is posted.”
How much do you want to bet citizens in Estevan can make an inquiry or complaint by email? They can, I checked with the mayor of Estevan.
What does this say about our mayor and some on council, and the clerk’s office that insist you must go in front of council to have your issues raised.
By the way Jim Puffalt, the city manager of our city, was the city manager in Estevan, yet he’s silent.
-- Carter Currie
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
