What a mess.
There is no other way to describe the public consultation/feedback process on the proposed Chatham-Kent Community Hub project.
Council sat through 21 live deputations Oct. 21 and received another 24 via email in regard to the proposal to move municipal operations, the Chatham branch of the library, and the museum under one roof into the former Sears building.
Many of those speaking did so with passion, but some also dropped incorrect information in their pleas.
A common theme that should be concerning to everyone is many believed there was too little opportunity for public discourse on the matter and too little information was released from the municipality.
However, there were multiple opportunities to provide input and hear from public officials. Chatham-Kent officials held two open houses on the subject, and sought feedback online. The public meetings were attended by several hundred people. Feedback from in excess of 1,000 folks was received online.
Yet people said they did not know about these options.
Therein lies the problem. We believe there are too many people in positions of some authority in Chatham-Kent that have the misguided notion that everyone is plugged in online. Some believe a post on social media is all that is needed to deliver important information to the masses. Or a comment to visit letstalkchatham-kent will automatically send people to their computers or phones.
These individuals aren’t alone with this false belief. We’re seeing more and more that organizations and groups seeking public turnout to events will flash up information on a social media site and expect the doors to burst open.
Traditional information sources are still extremely important to a large percentage of the people of Chatham-Kent. Newspapers and radio stations, for example, are relied upon by many to deliver important news and information to them.
Another problem in terms of proliferation of information and quest for feedback is to take the meetings to outlying communities. Failing to do so only reinforces the false belief that we are “Chatham and Kent” rather than “Chatham-Kent.”
Help make it easier for our citizens to learn the facts, and to provide feedback. Information flow is vital to everyone involved.
