Dear Editor,
The long debated pool seems to be an issue that town and country councils cannot get resolved. After attending a joint council meeting this past week; witnessing firsthand some of the unprofessional and frankly inappropriate, unproductive comments from some of the councillors I am truly disappointed that some of our elected representatives are more interested in creating conflict and delaying an important project for our entire community. I have hope though, there seem to be some councillors that are working to find compromise and get this project moving, thank you to these individuals. I believe that there are members of this joint council venture who are working in bad faith, they are unwilling to compromise and listen to any reason other than their own. It is their job to do the exact opposite because they have been trusted to run the community for everyone and ensure the future prosperity of all.
So what are some things that I believe should be considered in this exasperating debate:
• The pool is a facility that the people voted to support in both the town and county. The county held a vote to make a contribution of five million dollars. So make the contribution because amalgamation or not, your people still want a pool. Help get it built, keep the process moving in a timely manner.
• Amalgamation seems to be lumped in with the pool project. Is the pool not its own issue? I believe amalgamation should be a welcome point of debate particularly if the process reveals that it will better serve the people and if it will not then I believe the process will show that as well. Isn’t that what the councils both want? To serve the people in the best and most effective manner? Regardless of the amalgamation study the pool should proceed.
• Businesses will suffer revenue losses as people drive to other communities to use their facilities, because they will shop there while their children are using the pool.
• The ones who are suffering the most from the pool closure and the delays to new construction are our CHILDREN, the most important and vulnerable people in society.
• No one has said this pool is impossible or unfeasible to operate to my knowledge so get at it; build a pool, work together as a team and show this community your effectiveness in governing.
Shame on our councillors who are being argumentative and uncompromising; being an elected representative is about being the voice of reason, compromise and hope. Watching the endless eye-rolling and listening to the snide remarks at this meeting was embarrassing. I want my children to swim in their community but it seems that they will be grown before the pool ever gets built, if it gets built. Some of my best memories as a child here are swimming at the local pool; I am pained to think that this communities elected officials are more willing to bicker and play politics than put the future of our children first.
So my elected officials if you are offended by my comments then prove me wrong, build a pool, start now, don’t waste another day with meaningless and hostile debate. Show this community that you can work together and build a great facility and run it in a true partnership.
Mallory Enders Kjelland
