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I have moved websites. Please visit www.timwilson.org. See you there.

Green Hall needs a new name

Well the Green Hall isn't green anymore. Council has allocated
$150,000 to remove asbestos, reclad the building and make some
alterations inside. The project is currently underway.

With an active strong committee the hall has a chance of thriving
again. I hope the community embrace the facility and enjoy it.

With the asbestos out of the way the facility will be easier and
cheaper to maintain.

Farmers Market

We have been at Devonport's Farmers Market this morning.

As fuel prices increase into the future I predict more frequent
selling from farmers directly to consumers.

I would like to see a local farmer grow some spuds just for locals.
Unsure of the best way to initiate this. Any ideas?

New Arrival

We have a new son Thomas. He was born around 10 days ago. Eight
children now for the Wilsons. A full and happy life.

Rates 09-10

Well the budget is set.

My General Rate has increased over 40%. The Annual Assessed value increased by close to 70%.

Have a look at the graph. Over 50% of rateable properties saw either a decrease in their General Rate or an increase up to 5%. The rest have seen higher increases (including me). This is the first valuation in 5 years for my property and Valuer General's department feel my place has increased dramatically in value.

The Annual Accessed Value (AAV) is what Council uses to work out your rates. This is either 4% of the capital value of your property or the rent you could reasonably assume to receive through renting your property for 12 months.

Your rates are not directly related to the services you receive. Some people argue that they don't use the streetscape so they shouldn't have to pay for it. Well I could argue that I do not use the bridge near their home but I still pay for it. We all subsidize each other. Everybody's General Rates are put into a central fund and then distributed to different departments such as Parks and Gardens, Youth, Tourism and Bridge Maintenance.

A few facts and figures:

- Our new waste disposal contract will increase by $88.000
- Council is budgeting for a $70,000 surplus, Council's is determined to run surplus budgets each year.
- Rate revenue is forecast to be $3,395,577
- Council has dropped $1.28 million in loans (due to water and sewerage offload)
- Council has picked up a $1 million loan for streetscapes. Share the burden with future ratepayers.
- Predicted cash reserves are $1.35 million
- Council to spend $1.1 million on a new road into Lorinna
- Average Annual Assessed Value of properties in Kentish is $10,687.52

Sean Ford recently said of Kentish Rates in a recent Advocate article "KENTISH ($1084.84): Used to charge so little it was unsustainable, but that has clearly changed. Lots of rural roads and bridges and a low population. Probably acceptable, but would not want to go any higher compared to the cities and looks a bit
next to Circular Head"

I will comment on this soon...

Recycle Bins

Well they are hitting the streets this morning. Please use them and
save us a bucketload of money as well as slowing down the landfill
expansion.

Please note there will be no pickup service until September.

Budget

Tonight we hope to wrap up the 09/10 budget including setting the rates. If there is a time when we can cop some corporate flak it is rates time.

Valuations have recently been undertaken in the municipality with some properties more than doubling in value. Rates in all but one municipality in Tasmania are based on this valuation amount. This however does not automatically mean a doubling in everyone's rates. We as a council can control the increases.

So tonight we decide. It is in Council's strategic plan that we run a surplus so I expect this is what we will do. I will certainly go into bat to achieve one.

Big projects before Council include 2 streetscapes, the Botts Road extension and bridge maintenance. What can be funded and what cannot will be decided tonight.

As per usual some will be happy, some will be unhappy and some won't care either way!

We can lower rates significantly if residents are content with significantly less services. Should council's just be rates, roads and rubbish? What about social and economic functions eg youth workers, tourism.....?

Recycling

Say goodbye to the recycling bags. Say hello to a 240L mobile recycling bin. Pickups will be fortnightly on a Friday starting in mid September. Expect a bin to arrive at the end of this month.

The bins are designed to be co-mingled which means you can throw paper, cardboard, plastics and tins in them. No need to sort items.

Kentish is one of 7 councils taking part in this recycling project.

It is costing us around $50,000 per year. Hopefully we will save a lot of money as well due to less materials going to landfill at Dulverton. Heres hoping.................................

Council Meetings

Council meeting tonight. I rarely enjoy them. I like meeting up with the other councillors but I don't like the formalness of the meetings. I become "Councillor WIlson". Here's me thinking I was Tim. There is a need for a formalness however it is not something I warm to.

There are 9 councillors each with one vote (including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor). Five votes are needed to pass a motion (an unfortunate term). Most motions pass unanimously. I would think 90% would go through this way. We disagree at times and the votes will be split though we rarely have 5/4 split.

It is important to leave these disagreements "at the table" and not see them fester.

Most Council meeting are held in Sheffield though we also meet at Beulah, Wilmot and Railton.

Council has a closed session that we have after a tea break. This is not open to the public. In this time we speak about confidential matters such as employment and contracts.

You are welcome to attend Council meetings and we have a question time of 15 minutes. So speak up but please ask a question. Some people try and use the time to bag out the Council. Better to bag us out in a letter I think!

Agendas are available on the Kentish Council website at www.kentish.tas,gov.au

K.E.E.N.E.R

Kentish Energy Efficiency Network Embracing Renewables (KEENER) is a new group in Kentish. If I wasn't on Council I would get more involved in this group.

Renewable energies and energy efficiency are areas that interest me. The interest has grown over the past 2 years. We recently had solar hot water installed and last week we had our house insulated completely throughout. Next is solar panels.

I recently attended a KEENER meeting at Redwater Creek Societies headquarters on Spring St in Sheffield. The topic for the night was how to make your home more energy efficient. I loved it and found it spot on for where we are up to at the moment.

I recorded the presentation and also have the powerpoint display that went with it.

The recording can be downloaded here.

The Powerpoint presentation can be downloaded here.

Check out the KEENER website here.

If you are interested in alternative energy then consider a visit to their next meeting.

Come October

I have decided to stand for Council again.

The past 2 years have had it's ups and downs. I know it has changed me in some ways. I have a thicker skin and are a bit tougher than I was before. I am more comfortable with the reality of not being able to please everybody.

My wife Helen has been a great support. I am lucky to have her. The children would prefer me not to stand again. I could be home reading stories more often.

I feel pretty settled as a Councillor now. I love the mental challenge. I am so lucky to have had this chance.

Men's Shed in Sheffield

There are times as a councillor that I am really chuffed. I feel like I am actually achieving something. Council agreed to fund $10,000 towards the building of a Mens Shed in Sheffield. I helped to persuade them to do so. It all happened in a rush just before a Council meeting. I was really pleased when the Councillors voted to support the group. I am stoked.

On Saturday we had the official turning of the sod by The Hon. Dick Adams. Cement Australia is going to provide the (you guessed it) cement. The shed will be located on the Redwater Creek site down on Spring Street. Mrs Bannon from Railton generously donated blacksmithing gear. I can see the project taking shape.

Get behind the Mens Shed!

Water and Sewerage

Henry St is being cut up at the moment. A new water main is going in. Sheffield has poor sewerage infrastructure. It is very costly year in and year out. The new water and sewerage body will have plenty of work to do in our area.

As you may have heard water and sewerage will not be our direct responsibility from July 1. Cradle Mountain Water will be taking control of our drinking water and sewerage systems. Kentish Council will be one of the few Councils who will benefit from this. For us the Sheffield Sewerage System is a liability. The Railton plant is better. Councils will receive a dividend from the new water corporation however this dividend will be a few years in coming. Councils are also expected to fund a concession rebate for residents for their water and sewerage. This will cost us about $60,000. That is equivalent to a 2% increase in rates.

So what it means is that your rate notice amount will be lower however you will get a separate water and sewerage bill if applicable. You can expect a 30% increase in this bill over 3 years. Water fees in Tasmania are the cheapest in the nation. They need to increase to cover the cost of fixing crumbling infrastructure (such as the pipes in Henry Street).

Bits and pieces

Underground power lines in Sheffield Main St

Hydro are dragging their feet on this one. We wanted it done directly after Mural Fest. No luck. It looks like July now.

Streetscapes
Kentish Council has 2 streetscapes underway at the moment. One in Railton and one in Sheffield. Council lacks the funds to be able to work on both concurrently. My view is that we run one year in Sheffield and then one in Railton. Both will take longer to complete but neither town needs to wait numerous years before anything happens. Sheffield shopowners want to see the next 2 stages in Sheffield complete before work commences at Railton. Council will need to decide. I can't see how one town is not going to be disappointed some time soon. My preference is to start work on the eastern side of Foster St in Railton and get the footpath and guttering done. Railton needs a real boost in the main st. The economic development of Railton needs to be a Council priority.

Elections
They are set for October. Four Council seats are up for grabs. Please only apply if you have plenty of time to spare. Council needs people who can work with others, will speak up and be active. If you want to get on council to be someone then I suggest you rethink.

Optus
Council votes tomorrow night on whether to allow the installation of a telecommunication tower on Tarleton St in Sheffield. If it goes through Council the project will bring Optus mobile services to the area. Telstra will have mobile phone competition. I will support the establishment of this tower.

Economic Development Officer
Council will have an Economic Development Officer for the first time. This is a very important position. I have been nagging for one for 12 months. Tourism has served the area well but we need to think broader. Economic Development is larger than just tourism. We need to have a settlement strategy. We have some vacant land in town that should be filled up. What new industries may be suited to the area? Less dependence on Federal and State grants should be a goal of Council.

State Government
The State Government is in deep financial trouble. I have asked our Financial Manager what exposure this may bring on Council. Waiting on an answer for this one. I think it is reasonable to assume that many grants will dry up. We will be on our own. Hence our need to see increased investment in the area.

Comments please.

Water

Details are becoming clearer. Water will move out of Council's direct control from July 1. We can expect about a 10% increase in prices in the first 12 months. The current quota system for residential properties will stay in place for the first 12 months. So for townies you will still get the 300,000 litre quota for the 09/10 year.

We as a family are looking at ways of cutting our water use. A tough task for us. We have installed a low flush toilet and have also installed a small rain tank for garden use.

The Taste of the North West

Sheffield was bursting at the seams this last weekend. It was buzzing.
With Muralfest and the Taste of the North West on in the park there
were people everywhere.

March and April are big event months in Sheffield. I am glad I live
here.

Mergers

Relax. Council Amalgamations are off the cards. Mergers are now in.

Reading a local government magazine recently I noticed the shift. No mention of council amalgamations anymore with mergers being the replacement word.

So would a merger be a good thing for Kentish? What benefits would it bring ratepayers? Would your rates go down?

This is such a big topic and I am sure I will write more about it as the months unfold. A comment or two for now:

If we are forced to merge then the population of the new municipality would increase but the number of councillors would remain the same. It would most likely be harder to get the ear of a councillor.

If a council shows they have money in the bank, assets that are not in decline and councillors are working well together why should they be forced to merge?

The push for any mergers will probably come from the State Government. I am sure they would prefer to deal with a handful of councils and not 29.

Anyway I have many more thoughts on mergers or amalgamations or whatever other word of choice. More to come on this one.

MuralFest 2009

Yes it has started today. Come and have a look.

Elections

It has only been recently that ratepayers have elected their Mayor and
Deputy Mayor.

I would prefer a return to the old situation where they are elected by
the councillors.

Councillors know who is up to the job through the countless hours we
spend around a table debating every topic under the sun. We know who
is fit for the job through experience.

I encourage you to get informed before elections swing around again.
Find out who is doing what. Throw us out if you find we have achieved
very little. Get capable people elected and not just popular ones.

SteamFest 2009

I was amazed with the huge crowds at SteamFest this year. Around
10,000 I read. We went both Sunday and Monday.

The photo is of the children having a tug-o-war with a steam engine.

I was very impressed by SteamFest this year. A small committee
achieved so much. A premier event for Sheffield.

Ignore personalities and treat topics on merit

Council can be pretty intense. I have found it that way since coming
back from overseas.

I was really annoyed by a fellow councillor the other night. I had
quite a short fuse. I snapped at them out of frustration. Losing
control of myself is not something I am proud of.

When you come to Council you have to put aside what is happening at
home and at work and focus on working through the agenda.

If a councillor is worth their weight they will put aside their
opinions of people and focus on the topic. When councillors dismiss an
idea or suggestion by someone just because they do not like them then
this is a poor result. This happens.

New General Manager

Council has decided on a new General Manager. Stay tuned for the
announcement....

Pompey- a grim end.

A photo from my recent trip.

Pompey was decimated by the explosion of a nearby volcano in 79AD.

This poor fellow can be seen in his last moments. A very grim end for
thousands of people around the Bay of Naples.

Pompeii is a much larger than I imagined. Around a third of the city
is still to be excavated. The city is very well preserved due to the
ash from the volcano covering the city and protecting it from the
elements. It protected the city but not the citizens.

Steam Roller

This photo was taken from my car as I had to reverse to make room for
a steam roller making it's way up Main St in Sheffield. It is here as
part of Steamfest 2009. The town is packed at the moment with
Steamfest and the National Rowing Championships at Lake Barrington.
Great for business.

New Light Poles

New light poles are currently being installed as part of the street
makeover in Sheffield. They do look great. Old style. Who will light
them each night?

Very soon the powerlines will be placed underground and then the power
poles will be removed. What a difference this will make.

Holidays

I am just back from a trip overseas with my son that has been a couple
of years in the making. Yes Italy was our first destination. I will
have some new entries related to Council soon.

Mayor's Blog

The Mayor of Kentish Don Thwaites now has his own blog. Check it out here.

Old Office Building

I was walking up High Street today and saw the old Council office
being dismantled. Rest In Peace I say. I am happy to see it gone. It
was an embarressment. The walls were so thin you could hear pepple
talking next door. The building reminded me of my science classroom at
High school.

The new building is a good compromise in my opinion. Big enough and a
relatively quick transition into the building. It cost $1 million. A
lot of money yes but there is no way Council could have built the same
size building from the ground up for that money.

General Manager Resigns

Our General Manager Mark Crouch has resigned effective early February. I have been able to work well with Mark over the past 15 months. He has earned his way at Kentish working long hours for the Council.

Mark has been very frank and tells it how he sees it. We have disagreed on some things (it happens doesn't it). That said I sincerely wish Mark well in his future employment and changes. I hope we get someone with his work ethic.

Council is currently advertising for a replacement General Manager. We are in a state of flux while we wait for our engineer to return and we deal with the coming retirement of our FInance Manager. Tricky times.

Railton Topiary

The western side of Foster St in Railton is going through some changes. Spiral topiary has been installed. Given that topiary is the theme of Railton it make sense that it has a major presence in the main street. This is now being developed. The nature strips will also go and be replaced by a coloured concrete.

I am hoping that the improved streetscape will help lift the profile of Railton with tourists and bring some much needed business development in the town.