Editor:
The Rowan and Martin Laugh-In comedy show had a brief resurrection of their “Sock It To Me! Sock It To Me!” segment at the Dec. 17 Banff Council meeting when Banff taxpayers learned the Bear Street Refreshing price tag may increase approximately $3.1 million to a total of $9.5 million, up from an original amount of $6.4 million.
Of that increase, $671,000 is due to additional site assessments and soil clean-up, but there is $871,000 for “enhanced environmental sustainability” requirements, and $1.2 million for “design changes” for the Bear Street surface parking lot entrance.
The first is for work that proved more extensive than anticipated, which can happen.
But Banff council and administration are always referencing the three-to-four-year development period for this project, and only now are the taxpayers being told about the “anticipated (stormwater management) regulatory requirements from Parks Canada”?
And who’s idea is it to “create a public gathering and seating spot at the heart of the street"?
Is no-one listening to all the safety concerns regarding the surface parking lot entrance/exit plans?
Were either of these last two items part of the bid information on which tenders were submitted?
Many people were concerned about the ability of Banff to afford the original $6.4 million price-tag.
I wonder what the reaction will be now?
Les Young,
Banff
