COLLINS – Bold moves by Kamloops council in budget
(Image: CFJC Today)
KAMLOOPS COUNCIL WANTED TO BE BOLD. And at this week’s meeting of the Committee of the Whole, they took some very bold steps.
The committee supported a number of major issues, including a plan for more outreach workers, beautification structures, including some much-needed ones on the North Shore, more firefighters, improvements to highway off-ramps, and structural changes to allow more bike traffic in the city.
These changes will not be popular with everyone. They are part of a list of what are called supplemental budget items — kind of like a wish list. Don’t need them 100 per cent but would be nice to have.
Council has said, “We need to spend this money now instead of waiting.” And I applaud them for making those moves.
Doug Collins has had a wide background in the broadcast industry, having done virtually every type of news and sports broadcasting, including news anchor, sports play-by-play, and editorialist. His “One Man’s Opinion” aired on TV from 1973- 2013. He retired from his management roles in the station in October, 2018, but continues to write his column. In 2019, Doug was awarded the Freedom of the City.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Council should make absolutely sure money are properly spent, including a more fair and transparent public bidding process. As it stands a few contractors are getting extremely rich at the expense of the whole and projects do not get built with long term value as its most important parameter. Council has proven to be ill-equipped in ensuring staff dedication to fairness and value in my opinion.