TimCartmell

The final rounds of discussion/debate of next year's budget are taking place and according to the Journal's Keith Gerein the final vote split along ideological lines. The four "no" votes came from the the four most conservative councillors; Sarah Hamilton, Jennifer Rice, Karen Principe and Tim Cartmell. The councillors on the winning side of the debate expressed irritation at the dissenters especially Jennifer Rice and mayoral candidate Tim Cartmell. who noted that even though next year’s hike was lowered to 6.1 per cent, this council's cumulative record still amounts to a nearly 22 per cent increase over four years.

It probably is not far fetched to think that the budget debate may be a preview of some councillor's platforms for next year's election.

In 2018, the High Solids Anaerobic Digestion Facility (HSADF) which is the part of Edmonton's Waste Management Centre was built to process organics. At the time it was built and opened the HSADF cost taxpayers about $45 million. A special report presented to the city’s utility committee on Tuesday found the HSADF facility is not financially or operationally viable and other options must be considered.

Years ago someone coined the term GIGO which is an acronym that stands for Garbage In = Garbage Out. Tuesday's report to the city’s utility committee on the High Solids Anaerobic Digestion Facility (HSADF) which the part of the acronym akin to Garbage In. Tim Cartmell, who chairs the utility committee expressed his frustration with the lack of information on net-present value number, capital costs number, operating costs and analysis on the system. In short, it is the part of the acronym akin to Garbage Out.

I admit that I'm a little skeptical about elected officials who talk about things that many people say just make "common sense". I appreciate what Tim Cartmell shared in the article below and hope Mayor Sohi and other council members would exhibit similar "common sense".

This story is very disturbing and makes me question for how many more things does the end justify the means and are done in secret? I think Edmonton voters should be concerned that only Councillors Sarah Hamilton, Tim Cartmell, Jennifer Rice and Karen Principe opposed the secret deal. What does this say about the integrity of the other Councillors?