Proposed service cut would hurt WAMBO

wambo

WAMBO’s chairperson says a proposed service cut by Chatham-Kent staff would negatively affect Wallaceburg’s signature event.

As part of their draft budget to council, administration is proposing to eliminate public works support for various
community special events. A staff report states this work includes installing banners, lights and traffic barriers, at no cost to event organizers across Chatham-Kent. Staff says this would result in a $66,655 savings.

Bill Wolsing, chair of the Wallaceburg Antique Motor and Boat Outing (WAMBO), said this proposed cut would hurt the event.

“It would directly affect WAMBO if that was to be passed,” he said. “They are a big part of helping us make WAMBO a success. To lose that would be pulling the mat from under us. It’s something that we desperately need to keep this show going.”

Wolsing added: “They say that not just WAMBO, but Wallaceburg in itself would save $10,000 of free labour if they were to pass this motion to not put up the road blocks and the banners and things like that. WAMBO needs those people to help us make this event a success because they supply the trucks for the garbage and stuff that is accumulated over the weekend, the roadblocks, they clean the streets.”

A staff report states this service “does not help the public works mandate to maintain roads, lights, water and waste water systems and pulls away public works resources from their main mandate.

“The event organizers should plan to have funds to pay for the full cost of their event including the installation of banners, lights, signs, barriers,” the report states.

Wolsing said he let administration know about his concerns with this potential cut during the open house for the 2016 budget, held on Tuesday at the Wallaceburg Municipal Centre.

“When I was at the meeting I stated my case and my point to the council and the members of the Municipality… they were all there to answer questions,” he said. “My questions were answered quite thoroughly. Their intent is just to present this. It isn’t something that is in stone, it’s something they are looking at.”

Wolsing said WAMBO spends a lot of money each year.

“People don’t realize it costs in the neighbourhood of $30,000 to run the show every year,” he said. “So we need to spend money for overtime for protection like security teams for 24 hour security during the weekend. The police, we pay for things like insurance policies, our ice and there is a lot of upkeep to maintain our equipment.”

Wolsing added he hopes staff and council will consider tourism when making these decisions concerning public works.

“They spoke about attracting business and maybe some investors towards Wallaceburg or Chatham-Kent as a whole and our waterways are here for us… let’s utilize them, Wolsing said.

“The river levels are up. I mentioned about dock attendants for instance for people coming in visiting this town on their boats to spend the weekend and spend money here. Possibly there are some people that could be investors. Our Canadian dollar right now is low and as you know Wallaceburg thrived on that aspect 20 years with the tool and die industry. We have some buildings here that can be utilized for that. Let’s attract investment to this town. We have the tools, let’s use them.”

Wolsing added: “When they cut the dock attendants for instance, I think it was 10-12 years ago now, the boaters were here on their own. There was no one to hand them a pamphlet of where to eat or where to shop or a key for the washrooms at the docks ground. We have the power supply, everything works and everything is still intact. Let’s use it. We should just use it to our advantage as much as possible.”

Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley said he met with Wolsing at the budget presentation and C-K staff to discuss the proposed public works cuts.

“During the question period I addressed a question to the budget chair that local events, where public works helps out are not a direct cost because events such as WAMBO, Christmas parades etc. bring people into our communities where they visit, spend money in local stores, restaurants and gas stations… so there is a payback to those public works expenditures in terms of increased tourism.”

Wesley said public works and the budget chair committed to providing exact details to council on what work for special events will still be provided.

“What work will be charged for and what work will no longer be provided,” Wesley said. “The budget contained none of these details and it is these details that will be debated during the council budget deliberations. I want it very clear to all volunteers and all of council what will be done by public works and what will not be.”

Wesley added: “I will be looking to continue assistance to special events because there is a very positive payback to local communities and C-K for doing so.”

The final public consultation meeting will be held for the 2016 budget on Thursday in Chatham.

Deliberations will be held January 26, 27, 28 and February 2, 3, 4 at the Civic Centre in Chatham.

WAMBO 28 is slated to take place August 12, 13 and 14 in downtown Wallaceburg.

3 COMMENTS

  1. So, just what services are they planning to cut for CHATHAM events?
    What is good for the goose is good for the gander, right?
    WHAT! NOTHING, you say!!

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