Sometimes it’s good to ruffle some feathers

WITH the departure from the DCC of the manager Ruth Stokes I suspect they have lost one of their best assets. She was obviously an honest, straighttalking, tellithowitis manager who ruffled a few feathers within the council staff and contractors for their ‘‘poor performances’’. And so she should. That was part of her role as manager and what she was being paid to do.

Some of the staff employed by councils would not know what ‘‘hard work’’ was if it slapped them in the face! Many are clueless as to what their job entails.

If the DCC employed staff who were proficient and weren’t afraid of hard work, perhaps they wouldn’t have to spend thousands of dollars of ratepayers’ money on consultants.

I’d hazard a guess that Mrs Stokes left the council to get some relief from banging her head against the wall! Whatever her ‘‘personal projects’’ may be I wish her every success in her endeavours. B.A. Todd

Luggate

Drivers — slow down!

MORE sad news — the death of another pedestrian not long after serious injury to a cyclist. Our inner city is a complete and utter disaster. How can we let this happen?

How can we stop this madness?

Just slow down, cut out the aggression behind the wheel and stop running red lights.

Please extend some courtesy to the nonmotorised road users and let us all get home safely.

What’s the rush? Ulla Reymann

Sunshine

Money for old poles

AURORA/DELTA is eventually recognising years of ignored network maintenance in Central Otago. And they suggest line charges will increase to pay for this.

Central Otago users have been hit for years with high line charges and surely this has been put aside to allow for maintenance. Or where has all that money gone?

Perhaps Dunedin City Council can answer that? Bill Gordon

Alexandra

Rubbish alternatives

IT certainly appears as if the Waitaki District Council and Waste Management are not going to reply concerning my letter showing the effect of the significant increased cost of rubbish collection to superannuitants, both hoping, of course, that the general public will soon forget about it if such is ignored. Well, this is not going to happen.

The new costs from Waste Management state that the retired, among others, have to come up with a lump sum of at least $169 per half year for the 140litre bin (equivalent to three yellow bags) and this with only a fortnightly collection. I know of three elderly ladies who have never written out a cheque in their lives and, along with many others, would find obtaining that amount a complete impossibility.

However, there is a definite solution which does not require a lump sum and could even be cheaper than that present cost of yellow bags due to be phased out in February 2018.

Awamoa Bins and Skips charge $11 for emptying a 140litre bin. However, a person can choose whether the bin is collected each week, or every fortnight, at threeweekly intervals, or every month. If monthly collection is chosen, the cost would be less than $4 weekly. In addition there is no need for any lump sum.

The driver can be paid when the rubbish is collected, or an account can be set up with the firm. Just about any form of payment would be accepted.

It is now over to you what method you choose. Ian L.C. Morgan

Oamaru ...................................

BIBLE READING: Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. — Psalm 119:111.