Friday, July 29, 2011
Clock repairs proving costly
There’s no cheap fix to Vernon’s clock tower. The device at 32nd Avenue and 31st Street hasn’t worked for about four years, and it could cost between $8,400 and $30,000 to get it back up and running. “It’s a tough decision,” said Coun. Shawn Lee of the price tag. “But something has to be done.” Installing an electronic unit will cost about $8,400 while a local resident says he could refurbish the current mechanism for $30,000. The city would pursue a heritage grant if the existing system is preserved. “It would be nice to keep the old mechanism from a heritage perspective or we could say we’re in the 21st century and go electronic,” said Lee. Lee has pushed for the clock to be fixed because he doesn’t believe the current situation reflects well on the city and it frustrates residents wanting the correct time. The clock was part of Vernon’s 1912 post office, which was demolished in 1959. It was installed in the tower, in front of the Greater Vernon Museum, in 1967. One city employee was responsible for maintaining the clock but he retired a few years ago and the city has not had specialized clock expertise since then.
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If you read this article closely, you see just how ridiculous this topic is.
"...hasn’t worked for about four years.."
To tell you the truth, I hadn't even noticed.
"...it could cost between $8,400 and $30,000 to get it back up and running..."
"...a local resident says he could refurbish the current mechanism for $30,000..."
If council does decide to fix the clock, I certainly hope they follow their purchasing policy when it comes to a project of this dollar value. Get quotations from qualified firms to do the work and not sole source it to the "guy who says he can fix it for $30,000".
“It’s a tough decision,” said Coun. Shawn Lee of the price tag.
I disagree. It's an easy decision. In these so called "tough economic times", this is a "want"...not a "need". It would be a colossal waste of money. Let's put this in perspective. $30,000 is the city portion of the annaul property taxes from 40 or 50 homes of a modest assessed value (~$300,000).
“But something has to be done.” Why? I haven't seen 100's of citizens demanding the clock be fixed.
"...The city would pursue a heritage grant if the existing system is preserved..."
Provincial or federal grant money is taxpayers money too. At some point all levels of government have to stop wasting money.
How about getting a corporate sponsor to foot the bill for the repair in exchange for naming rights. Let's think outside the box.
"...Lee has pushed for the clock to be fixed because he doesn’t believe the current situation reflects well on the city and it frustrates residents wanting the correct time..."
Does this situation reflect any worse on the city than some of the other horrendous decisions this council has made lately? Let's fix some pot holes instead.
Does anybody actually rely on this clock for the time? Walk around the corner and look at the electronic sign at Vantage One Credit Union if you don't have a watch of a cell phone. It tells you the time AND temperatre, in both farenheit and celcius to boot!!
Leave the clock as is and save the $30,000 for a "need", not a "want" of one councillor. Can you say "Pet Project". I knew you could.
As usual, I think The Morning Star editorial totally missed the mark.
Perhaps Councillor Lee is trying to increase his profile before the election. Goodness knows he's been pretty much invisible for the last 2 1/2 years.
Thank goodness the November election is only 3 1/2 months away.
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