Concerns expressed over Tehkummah’s ability to run economical and efficient administration
To the Expositor:
What a great job the Michael’s Bay Historical Society is doing. Soon, Tehkummah may have a top-class tourist attraction.
In contrast is South Baymouth. Despite being the through route of 160,000 people each year, our brand new docks are only 25 percent utilized, the recently renovated tourist office sits empty, the parking area is pothole marked and covered in loose gravel; the beach has had its play structure removed and organic detritus is piled up along the waterfront; the new kitchen structure in John Budd park appears months from completion and the park still has a “closed” sign up; the widely publicized Bowerman Nature Trails are overgrown and disintegrating.
Once again Tehkummah ratepayers find themselves without a clerk/administrator. They ignore their own by-law (2018-21 Procedure By-Law) with regard to posting minutes and agendas and don’t respond to correspondence. They have received something like $360,000 to do these projects but have yet to make any effort to keep ratepayers informed of the progress.
With regard to the Bowerman Nature Trail, they have repeatedly rejected offers of assistance by people with experience in these endeavors. Instead, the deputy/clerk (apparently acting as clerk/Administrator) plans to instruct the “contractors” what to do. I’m not sure what their experience is in designing, maintaining and managing nature trails, but with the councilors rejecting an appeal from the Friends of Manitoulin Turtle group to install an enclosure to protect eggs of the snapping turtles under the Species-at-Risk Program, one has to wonder how committed to nature conservation they will be.
Perhaps it’s time to question whether a municipality with a population of just 450 (only half of which actually reside in Tehkummah) and an extremely low population density, is capable of running an economically efficient, professional administration in the 21st century.
Sincerely
David Samuels
South Baymouth
