Public shows little interest
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Dec 01/00) - Public apathy was the big story at Wednesday night's budget committee meeting.
One person showed up to hear council debate issues ranging from cutting special grants to privatization.
The lone audience member fell asleep midway through the meeting.
During Wednesday night's special grants discussions, one councillor suggested the lack of public knowledge on budget details should be taken into account on some issues.
The budget proposes to slash special grants from $100,000 to $50,000.
"People are not aware of the implications (of the special grants cut)," said McDonal.
"If we pass this now, at the time (the public) goes for special grants there will be a backlash."
Privatization
Privatization was the topic that wouldn't go away throughout the three hour meeting. At one point an exasperated Coun. Kevin O'Reilly, a staunch opponent of the idea, threw up his hands and said if council wanted to talk about privatization then they should draw up a policy.
"This council has no policy on the issue, what guidelines do we have?" he said.
"If councillors want to look at it we need to develop some sort of context," said O'Reilly.
Public safety spending also came under fire from one councillor.
Adminstration proposed the purchase of a new $150,000 modular ambulance with a 24 year life-span, allowing the city to get rid of a 13-year-old reserve ambulance.
Coun. Dave Ramsay questioned this purchase. He thought the $150,000 ambulance would only be used as a reserve.
"We shouldn't be spending $150,000 on a reserve ambulance," said Ramsay, "we should delay the purchase."
City senior administrator Max Hall said the ambulance would be used as a front-line vehicle.
"If that reserve ambulance broke down on a call there'd be some problems," said Hall.
A proposed $30,000 Chevy Impala for bylaw enforcement also raised eyebrows around the council chamber.
The debate was two- fold with some councillors arguing the necessity of the new vehicle and others questioning administration's new policy of changing vehicles after they reach 125,000 km.
Coun. Alan Woytuik said administration should consider the technology in new cars and raise the bar on kilometres.
"Administration should research technological advancements in new cars," said Woytuik.
Coun. Dave McCann quizzed administration on the actual cost of the car which came to $27,000.
"Administration should stop cushioning their budget figures," said McCann referring to $3,000 difference between the projected cost of the Impala and the actual cost.
