These were the words of Public Works Director Steve Wall, trying to make the case of why we need to fund the non-essential $8m roundabout right now during a state of emergency. No mention of what a state of emergency does to the grant process and not even a mention of the clear reality that it would be public relations suicide if the state took away grant money specifically because it wasn't spent during a national emergency? Honestly, how little does city government think of the citizens of Camas?
Steve you said,
"they would like us to use that as quickly as possible".
Your job is to know that literal date and you in fact know that literal date. You seem to be a better person than an action like this represents. I've had interactions with you where you seem genuine, but I've seen you sit before council in this capacity too often. Later in this same meeting you say that the number for the total project cost is "7m to 8m which is consistent with the number we've had all along" you know that number was lower as recently as a couple weeks ago and it's risen steadily throughout the process as you've approached a vote. You know that without question, so why would you say the number was always 8m for a 2.2m dollar roundabout?
We need to stop letting the city think they can get away with sad attempts like this to manipulate the general public watching along. Council is as culpable in this as Steve because they never call out these statements.
Greg, Bonnie, Shannon, Steve, Don, Ellen and (often absent) Melissa - Why didn't even one of you say "how soon is as soon as possible Steve? Maybe this can wait until we have more clarity on the impacts of the virus on our community before moving forward with the project."
Is there a way to get this vote reversed?
I actually wonder what the council vote technically means? Is the vote itself as good as a signature on the contract, or is it a recommendation for our mayor to actually sign the contract and can he refuse to do so.
This would be a great time for a mayor that ran on the idea of transparency in communication to do an open, live Q&A chat on somewhere like YouTube, maybe even daily during these times. Takes no technical knowledge to do that and obviously he's at home with time as we all are.
I'm amazed that city council is even discussing this RAB issue with everything that is going on. The world is in crisis mode. How about we focus on staying safe and healthy. The last thing we need is a giant construction mess on top of everything else. So glad Mayor Barry came home when he did. Camas city council, seriously?