How do we know when there is an election in St Albert?
First city council rushes like a steamroller to pass a plan — in this case DARP— without any realistic financial costing involved. Not considering what the downtown needs at this time, but what council would like to see in our future to make us the best city. Thus city council proving themselves as visionaries. Will we have another Servus Credit Union Place fiasco?
Secondly and perhaps more intriguing, we loan expensive, beautiful pieces of first nations art for an event in May to remain until September. Now a retiring council member recommends that they are purchased at a possible cost of $260,000 because of a strong response from six people, including one person who already owns a piece of this artist’s work, to adorn St. Albert Place. Yes, they are beautiful, but at this time can we as a population afford them? May I suggest that this could be a wonderful gesture from our retiring councillor. If she helped to get them donated, perhaps she could purchase one piece and the six other people who would like to see them kept here could donate the rest? For some might it be a tax write-off.
This could be the Watamaniuk Works project, leaving us a lasting memory of Coun. Carol Watamaniuk's tireless artistic endeavours in St Albert. A tasteful plaque bearing the names of the donors could be put in place. Who knows, if money is a little tight for the artistic patronage community, there are one or two local building developers who might be happy to contribute. Perhaps there is some federal first nations grant money that could be found to pick up the shortfall.
After all, Watamaniuk herself said we would be spending money that we weren't planning on spending. Surely in this time of restraint my recommendation makes sense to my fellow citizens. How many of us would like to have beautiful pieces of original art in our homes but know that we cannot afford them?
Yes, election fever is definitely in the air. Do not be caught up in this contagion come October.
Elizabeth Allchin, St. Albert
