The
City of Red Deer
is not proposing a multimillion-dollar museum.
The
proposed project is a whole lot more than a museum and should probably be
even more than what is now being imagined.
City
Councillor Veer thinks consulting the public about a proposed $46-million
cultural centre is a waste of money.
Veer
has to know she’s just one person on council with one vote and consultation
is rather important, especially on controversial issues.
Council
as a whole made the right decision last week to spend $195,000 to gather
public input and provide information about the proposed multifaceted cultural
facility.
Consulting
the public does not just mean Veer’s public, those who she talks to, but the
thousands of other taxpayers in the city who might just think a cultural
centre, which would include a museum, would be a great idea.
Of
course all of us — including Veer — need more information before we can pass
fair judgment.
One
thing to keep in mind as this discussion continues is that a strong community
is not made from cement, pavement, bridge girders, water and (stinky) sewer
lines, or street lights.
A
strong community comes from within, from the people who live in it, where
diversity, mores and spirit are essential. Red Deer has these, but a centre where all
of us can share our growing cultural diversity would make this an even better
place to live.
Back when Veer was running for council almost two years ago, the idea of
building a new museum was election fuel.
She
says people told her that they did not want a new museum.
But the
project has changed since then, perhaps in part to make it more palatable,
but also by daring to dream of something better and bigger.
For an
example of what a museum can be, think about the RoyalTyrrellMuseum in Drumheller.
It’s world class, and a far cry from what many people think about when they
hear “museum.”
I have
come to the conclusion that while certain public projects seem a little scary
at the onset because of cost, when they are finally in place the community
embraces them. Look to the Collicutt Centre.
The key
is there must be council involvement every major step of the way, and besides
capital funding, there must also be sustained funding to operate it.
When the public input begins on the cultural centre, ask about how much it
will cost to run the facility.
Sustained
funding comes in part from a good tax base.
If
there’s a bump in the road the city faces today for all its capital projects,
whether it be new civic yards, bridges, police stations, City Hall space or a
cultural centre, it’s the essential need for new industrial development.
It brings the city big tax dollars relatively cheaply to help pay for all the
things we need and want.
The
city has to resolve its shortage of industrial land as soon as it possibly
can. Almost daily now major industrial developments are occurring around but
not within the city’s taxable limits.
Since
the city is already caught up in some very major capital projects over the
next several years, it was understandable that council recently decided to
delay physical planning of the cultural centre.
Keep in
mind, though, that the longer any major project is delayed, the more it will
likely cost.
Despite what Veer thinks, the city has a responsibility to consult taxpayers.
And those in elected office who don’t want to go there might want to reassess
their role as elected representatives.
Bring
on the public consultation.
Mary-AnnBarr is Advocate assistant city editor. She can be
reached by e-mail at barr@reddeeradvocate.com
or phone 314-4332.