As a long-time journalist, I am fascinated with what’s called ‘managing the message’. That’s when somebody with something to say doles out what they want you to know. Their version of the truth.
Let’s take recent events in Oakland-Wawanesa. Within 5 weeks, two councillors resigned and a new budget was approved, despite petitions and challenges from residents. Pretty big stuff.
And how did the municipality ‘manage’ this information? Council and staff have the most modern communications tools at their disposal, including a new $10,000 website integrating email and phones and a Facebook page launched last November. Our tax dollars at work.
However, the resignations of two councillors on March 25 were scarcely acknowledged.
There was no mention on the municipal Facebook page when one third of our elected councillors quit only months into their terms, blaming a lack of leadership, cooperation and taxation fairness.
Nor have their letters of resignation ever been made public by the municipality. Not included in published correspondence to council. Not posted to the website. Not entered into the public record during meetings or minutes. To council, the letters don’t exist.
Let’s Talk Budget
More recently, council called a special session to give final approval to the 2019 budget. The May 3 meeting was posted to the municipality’s website calendar on April 30, by which time it was too late for residents to register to make a presentation. Council requires five days’ notice.
One can guess council hoped to escape the scrutiny that came during the April 15 budget meeting, when residents asked for a fair tax solution to fund services and to delay budget approval until new councillors are elected in June. But a 200-name petition holds little sway in Oakland-Wawanesa.
I did make a public presentation on May 3, only because I found out in time to register. You can watch a video of most of that meeting on the municipal website.
While you can see my presentation, you can’t really hear me. Council and staff knew I was coming – five days’ notice – but neglected to place a microphone at my table.
What you can clearly hear is every council member defend why rural residents should pay 86% of shared service costs with the village, including a fire department based in Wawanesa that hires Brandon to respond to some calls because Brandon is geographically closer. My property is an example.
Wawanesa councillor Bob McDonald sees nothing wrong with charging me and my rural neighbours 86% for a fire department that more directly benefits villagers. “Where you choose to live, you knew there was no fire department locally so you must have took consideration of where you live,” McDonald said during my presentation. So there. It’s my own fault for living in a rural area. I must be penalized.
Make the Rural Pay
Since amalgamation, council has increased Oakland taxes 36% while reducing Wawanesa taxes 20%.
The head of council doesn’t like those numbers and suggested at the May 3 meeting that residents don’t understand the budget process. “It’s hard to help people who don’t want to help themselves,” said Dave Kreklewich, right before council unanimously approved the 2019 budget.
But you won’t find his comment in the video from May 3. Or council’s vote. Managing the message.
Regards,
-Glen