Pothole problem a provincial predicament

For the first time I feel compelled to respond to a “Letter to the Editor” that recently appeared in this publication.

Gordon Arnold of Kentville chose to attack the dedicated members of the New Minas Village Commission over the issue of potholes on Commercial Street.

He said, and I quote, “once again, political blunders being made by incompetent, overpaid and under-worked village and municipal political figureheads who just can’t get their decisions and priorities in order.”

I’m curious as to which decision he’s referring to because we certainly didn’t make a decision not to upgrade and maintain Commercial Street to the level it should be.

We didn’t because we don’t have the authority.

If Mr. Arnold had done his homework before he called dedicated village commissioners “incompetent”, he would have discovered the village commission isn’t responsible in any way, shape or form for Commercial Street, it is a provincial highway that we have absolutely no control over.

Mr. Arnold suggested sending the village a bill if his car is damaged, send it to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

Might I also point out that at a time when towns are dissolving and municipalities are struggling financially New Minas has no debt, one of the lowest water rates in the province and a recreation department that’s the envy of many municipalities, all things that we are responsible for, not bad for a bunch of incompetents.

Let me finish by saying, please do your homework before you publicly disparage conscientious people by calling them incompetent.

Dave Chaulk, Chair, New Minas Village Commission