Well, it looks like Chatham-Kent council members are starting to feel the weight of public pressure in regard to the proposed downtown community hub.
At its Oct. 7 meeting, council supported a motion from Coun. Alysson Storey to allow deputations to speak on the matter at the Oct. 21 council meeting.
Back on Sept. 18, the municipality had issued a media release stating that no deputations would be allowed to speak on the hub at that meeting, adding it has already provided ample opportunities for we the people of CK to be heard, through three public information sessions, two online public surveys, three Stakeholder Engagement meetings (which most of us were not invited to!), as well as several one-on-one meetings with local advisory committees and boards.
Talk about a slap in the face to all of the residents in our community, many of whom have used those opportunities to state their opposition to this project, which would see the civic centre, Chatham library branch and the Chatham-Kent Museum all moved into the former Sears building.
At the upcoming meeting, council is expected to make a decision on whether or not to continue with the project.
According to the media release, that would mean moving forward with Phase 3, but would still not be a final decision on whether or not the project actually goes ahead. One can only assume this phase will bring with it yet more costs for a project which may never proceed.
Phase 3........