By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
CK Watchdogs have zeroed in on Chatham-Kent spending and they want local residents to push council for answers.
That was the message to around 45 people who attended a public meeting in Tilbury last week. Organized by the grassroots advocacy group, the session covered a wide range of issues, leading with costs of the C-K Hub project; water rates; rising taxes; the planned hiring of a deputy chief administrative officer, as well as overall displeasure with the way things are going.
Liz Vallee, one of the organizers, urged the crowd to lobby elected representatives for change.
“I don’t think we’ve held their feet to the fire,” the Chatham resident told the crowd. “This is dire. You may think you have lost your voice, I’m not so sure. Contact your councillors; meet them face to face; let them know. These people work for you.”
Her comment that “I know you’re not happy,” was met with nods of agreement from the mostly senior crowd.
The Watchdogs are comprised of Vallee, Sheila Martin, John Cryderman, Penelope Duchesne, Vicky Dolby, Steven Everitt and Rick Nicholls.
Although many grievances about the municipality were aired, spending on the hub framed the discussion. The meeting included a slideshow prepared by Martin, comparing the cost of revamping the old Sears building to create the hub, versus renovating the existing Chatham-Kent Civic Centre.
A slide labelled “Did You Know?” stated that costs to revamp the Sears building are estimated at $444 per square foot, based on costing from hub investor group. However, costs to fix up the civic centre are said to be $850 a square foot based on estimates from a local architectural firm.
A total of $25 million in funding for the project will come from reserves, plus a $17-million loan will be needed, it said.
In the works for over two years, the C-K Hub project, if approved, will see the former Sears building repurposed into a new Civic Centre, museum and library. The municipality’s plan states that the development can be completed for $53 million. After the Chatham Library and Civic Centre are sold, it’s estimated the development will only cost taxpayers $6 million.
However, the Watchdog representatives and folks attending the meeting strongly disagree, with several of them stating it will cost millions more, increasing the burden on taxpayers.
“We must scrap the plans for the Sears hub,” Martin told the gathering. “You’re going to spend $53 million we don’t have. Citizens are very upset, especially in the rural wards, and they deserve to be treated fairly.
“Not everyone is a numbers person,” Martin added. “We’re just trying to educate people.”
Nicholls, former Chatham-Kent–Leamington MPP, who emceed the event, told the gathering that Chatham-Kent needs to look after what it already has and forget about “shiny” new objects.
Tilbury community booster Cathy Cottingham also voiced her disapproval about the hub, stating the project is being pushed through in an “orchestrated” effort.
Everitt, a manufacturing engineer, said C-K’s economy is stagnating and there’s “not enough” industry to sustain municipal spending.
According to Everitt, there are 136 managers in the municipality and that’s too many.
“You’ve got managers managing managers,” he said, adding the mayor should step up and solve the problem. “It’s sad to see what is going on in Chatham-Kent.”
Eric Labadie, C-K’s communication manager, said there are actually 94 managers among the 2,300 people on staff with the municipality. He said this includes 59 managers, 26 directors and a nine-member executive management team.
Other residents at the Tilbury meeting echoed Everitt’s comments.
“We need a new mayor and new councillors, except for one or two,” said Dolby, a Wheatley resident. “Our voices are never heard. The mayor and council are totally out of touch…our deputations are ignored.”
North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville and Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy were the only C-K councillors who attended the session. When contacted by The Voice prior to the meeting, West Kent. Coun. Melissa Harrigan said she could not attend due to a prior commitment. The Voice was unable to reach Coun. Lauren Anderson.
Last week’s meeting in Tilbury was the second one put on by the CK Watchdogs. At the group’s first meeting at Deer Run golf course in Blenheim last November, 150 attended.
To date there are petitions circulating in Blenheim, Bothwell, Wallaceburg and Ridgetown asking the province to allow them to de-amalgamate from Chatham-Kent.
