Okotoks town council needs to stop playing games and make a definitive decision on growth because residents deserve to know how their community will unfold.
It appears Okotoks town council may never make a decision on its future growth as every time it gets close to having to take a stand it proposes yet another stall tactic.
With a vote on whether or not to annex enough land for 30 years of growth set for Sept. 24 some councillors are again looking to avoid confrontation.
On Monday Coun. Laurie Hodson tabled a notice of motion to continue with studying water options and negotiate with the MD of Foothills on potential growth.
Is that not what the Town has been doing for several years?
There has been a multitude of studies, surveys, speakers, public meetings, open houses and debates on the merits of Okotoks’ population cap and water resources yet year after year a decision is postponed.
No more.
Okotokians have had enough of these countless studies, surveys and delays. They want a decision.
The Town spent more than $50,000 on the most recent survey alone and the costs of these speaker series, studies and meetings will add up to staggering numbers.
Hodson is now asking taxpayers to spend more simply because it appears council is unwilling to make a decision.
More worrisome is the fact the stall tactics may be more politically motivated than deciding what is best for Okotoks.
They would rather sit comfortably on the fence then face the potential consequences of their decision with the voters. No matter what they decide — grow or not to grow — council will upset a large part of the electorate.
They should face the criticism. That is why they were elected, to make tough, informed decisions and stand by those decisions.
However, when it comes to our future Okotoks council is proving inept because it is reluctant to make “The Decision.”
Over the past several years Okotoks residents have done everything they have been asked. Taxpayers have attended open houses, filled out surveys and paid for countless studies.
They are now asking themselves why go through all this if council will not take it to a vote or if they eliminate options like a Calgary pipeline anyway.
Enough is enough.
Council was elected to make difficult decisions and now it is time they made one.
