City not living up to promises over pond

On March 7, quite the bit of folly was presented by the City of Saskatoon to the local residents concerning the Dundonald storm water pond.

The city does not admit that it failed to live up to the 2005 promises made during public engagement for this wet pond to drain the storm water for Hampton Village: That the shoreline would be cut low, the pond bottom would be gravelled, and the slopes would be very gentle.

Is it now safe to have dense foliage so close to a school or the kiddie spray park that could conceal a pedophile, for example?

I get why people ignore public meetings from the city. Too often city staff impose their own personal will on things.

They make statements that they are the city, but in fact, they are just temporarily employed to provide a service within the city that is funded by the residents.

Technically, we the citizens ARE the city.

I personally think there are a few highly paid city managers and employees who have lost touch with reality and the concerns of the average city resident.

Either they renew their thinking positively or perhaps we can find someone fresh who will be more understanding and diligent.

If the only way to get the city to do proper things and to keep it transparent is to firmly hold staff to account in every public way possible, then perhaps Jane Jacobs’ ghost can lend a hand.

Cary Tarasoff, Saskatoon