Mayor Holmes has recently been extremely vocal and highly visible about a couple of issues. This letter will address only that of Automated Traffic Enforcement.
She was quoted in the Edmonton Journal, 630 CHED and Global News over the fact that “photo radar was a bit of a cash cow, honey pot situation.” Unfortunately, this is not new news, as most residents of Morinville have been aware of this for some time now.
Seems to me that it was another councillor who first used the “honey pot” term and the term “cash cow” was highly frowned upon by Mayor Holmes who kept stressing, both in council and in local papers that it was all about safety, not revenue. At least that was until the 2014 plebiscite, during which Mayor Holmes was once again extremely vocal and highly visible claiming to all and sundry about how much our property taxes would have to go up if the plebiscite indeed voted out photo radar. She has tried to stay away from this whole issue as much as possible, deflecting any complaints received regarding the operation of the program.
Oh wait a minute, there is an election coming isn’t there? Will the Automated Traffic Enforcement Program become a large issue at the next municipal election? Does this explain our mayor’s focus on recent positive changes made to the photo radar program and policy?
Let’s be clear on this point, the changes made are indeed positive and deal with many of the complaints and issues regarding location and direction of this “tool.” Previously, for example, approx. 90% of photo radar time was spent in only three different spots on the edge of town.
We would like to personally thank Coun. Stephen Dafoe who spent a LOT of his personal time to meet with residents about how this program was being operated. He drafted an awesome concept of what he thought would be a good policy and the only one who made any substantial amendments to the policy presented. Kudos must be given to the other councillors who joined in the discussions and were eventually willing to admit that there actually were some problems.
Mayor Holmes would do well to remember this “Truth Bomb” – there is no “I” in team. Next time, rather than attempting to usurp others’ ideas as your own, give credit where credit is due.
I would like to publicly thank Coun. Dafoe and others for their hard work on the Automated Traffic Enforcement policy.
Linda Lyons and Cliff Haryett, Morinville
