To the Editor: 聽
Election time is almost here. I wonder if we could get a 75 per cent voter turn out? Or higher ?
We have multiple choices 聽in our city elections this year. Some things to think about before you mark your ballot.
It was just a couple years ago, about this time, that our present council saw fit to give themselves a raise, not only from that day forward, but retroactive for the first of the year. That raise was to double their per diems. That, my friends is a 100-per-cent increase.
Reasons given? 鈥淲ell, councils in other cities about our size are making more than we are鈥�! Is that聽really using the 鈥榗ommon sense鈥� approach鈥�?
I remember a few years back, when I was still on rural council, I was talking to a councillor聽at a RM convention, he told me their reeve wanted to raise their per diems by $25. He used the same excuse, that 鈥淥ther councils pay more鈥� Their council voted it down. (Now, I think, this was the common sense approach.) Just because somebody else gets more, that鈥檚 no reason we should.
Another point coming from our 鈥淔riendly City鈥� is doubling the water hookup rates for our rural 鈥渇riends鈥�, from $5,000聽to $10,000, another 100-per-cent increase. Why? 鈥淏ecause they can鈥�! Then they wonder why so many rural folk go to Regina or聽Estevan to shop. Kinda like our proposed federal carbon tax 鈥� just another 鈥榯ax grab鈥�!
So when it comes time to mark your ballot, think on these things, but exercise your right and privilege, and get out and vote.
One last note 鈥� I would like to commend the repair crew that patched the spot on Fifth Street between Coteau and Souris Avenues.
It鈥檚 not in the driving lane, but it looks nice and level with the street pavement. This proves it can be done. These guys took聽a little pride in their work, not like on rumble road!
Ron 聽Lutz, Weyburn
