Mr. Mayor,
Thanks so much for your remarkably swift response to my comment sent through the St. Albert public library campaign. Ten minute turn around time on a reply, that's impressive.
While I appreciate you and other members of council lead very busy personal and work lives, taking time for a personal reply on a Saturday evening is admirable.
I would like to thank, as well, Coun. Bob Russell for bringing this important issue to my attention. I was actually unaware of this campaign until reading his comments on the subject, as outlined in the Gazette of Nov. 14th. Comments that, quite frankly, left me suitably gob-smacked as I tried to make sense of what I was reading from an elected official.
While I am sure there is a certain amount of repetition to the issues council deals with and the volume of correspondence can be daunting, I've always been under the silly impression that hearing opinion on matters concerning the dispensation of public funds is desirable. All too often, I believe, a tide of apathy, indifference or good old-fashioned whirlwind life can get in the way of we, the citizens, expressing our views to our government.
If I may borrow a line from Coun. Russell, "We have other things to do. We are busy people." This was clearly the kick in the pants this citizen needed on a Saturday evening.
Thanks very much for the clinic on public engagement, Coun. Russell. Nothing like a reminder, now and again, what a wonderful thing democracy can be.
Memo to self … remember this lesson at the next municipal election.
John Hanson, St. Albert
