Dear Editor,
The current councillors of the Enmore/Hope NDC inherited an unruly and difficult situation in Enmore, thanks mainly to previous Councils.
The Office staff of the Council report for work half-an-hour late every day. National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) workers have to wait until the office is opened before they can get their tools to commence their work. The net effect is that sufficient work is not done by the office staff and the NDIA workers are actually at their worksite for three hours, instead of four. On top of that the NDIA workers spend one hour sharpening their tools and another half-hour bunching and “talking name”.
The foreman of these NDIA workers is reluctant to give directions to his men resulting in only 25% of work being achieved daily. Any attempt by Council to discipline these errant workers is stoutly resisted by the NDIA Co-ordinator.
The Council is faced with severe encumbrance of roadways by vehicle workshops, blatant dumping of garbage by residents and persons from other areas dumping garbage in the NDC. The Police at the Enmore Station are aware of this but do not intervene, even on the encumbrance issue.
The Council also has to address nepotism practised by some previous councillors. One ex-councillor has taken over reserves at two locations in Enmore and his stockpiles of lumber are touching the roadways and are hazards to pedestrian. One resident is continuing construction despite being ordered to “cease work”. This resident flashes his “means” for all who can be tempted. The Council does not enjoy the support of the Environmental Health officials.
The hands of the Council are tied because “hire-and-fire” authority rests with the Region and this emboldens the workers, including office staff, to defy Council. The matter has reached a stage where some councillors are talking of resigning.
The current Council is paddling against the tide.
God help Enmore!
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address supplied)
