Panter Newspaper Columns

John Panter Newspaper Columns

City of Kawartha Lakes
Municipal government coverage in the local papers...

The Red Rock Eye Opener

Yes Victoria - there was a referendum

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The Red Rock Eye Opener	Cyril Mulrey by John Panter
November 22, 2002 Beautiful downtown CoKL ... on Scugog's scenic shores? Let's Flush out the De-amalgamators $700,000 for Staff Training Taxation Task Force Editorial Councillor Profiles: Lloyd Robertson The Carden Alvar Unique habitat for... cattle Truax Newspaper Column an offer LTW can't refuse	Mulrey Promotes City Winetasting a great success
November 8, 2002 Local "Democratic Deficit" Councillors voice their frustration Parking Bylaw for cars and bicycles (and keep your horse on a short lead!) Editorial Councillor Profiles Sal Polito How safe is your apple tree? $370,000 playground upgrade Joint Service Arrangements What a novel idea! CoKL Clothing Available Bargain prices for City Staff Legion decides against Education Tax Exemption "Celebrate Canada" Loan in Arrears Well, they are paying for it!	Cyril Mulrey on secret mission
October 25, 2002 Mutiny in Manvers begets Taxpayers' Coalition Hodgson Considering Referendum "Rural Rambles" endorsed by committee Briefly Noted Editorial: Who are the "rats"? Councillor Profiles: Pat O'Reilly	Taxpayer Revolt Begins Councillor Mulrey Misses Meeting
October 11, 2002 McCormack Explains why urban taxes drop while rural taxes rise Come Again? Company proposes wireless internet access Director defends CAO's statement Hope for Rural Broadband Company proposes wireless internet access Nothing but the best $176,500 for new photocopiers Editorial Councillor profiles Gerald McGregor Entertaining the Agri-tourists Council invents "Rural Rambles" In brief...	Mulrey does his part for "Feast o' fall"
September 13, 2002 Urban Tax Grab Rural Taxes Up, Urban Taxes Down Charity Belongs at Home Council rejects "Hay West" The Last Sanctuary Fire dept. has nor jurisdiction over "places of worship" Editorial: Tax protest Councillor profiles: Dave Marsh Vision Implementation Plan Make way for CoKL 5-year plan	Mulrey: Council Shocked as Mulrey Considers Resignation
August 30, 2002 More than water boiling in Norland Trustees can't get answers form City "Community Vision" presented to Council "Vision" or "Marching orders"? Parade Route Mix-up Editorial Councillor profiles: Andy Luff My taxes are paying for ...What Torontonians blame Council for Amalgamation woes	Mulrey: City Councillor Missing
August 16, 2002 150 Taxpayers Ignored Council chops area rating Feds quietly change our riding name Petition asks Senate to keep "Victoria" Editorial: VOCO will succeed Councillor profiles: Sandra Jack	Mulrey: City Councillor Lost in Woods
August 2, 2002 Jigsaw Puzzle Are multiple assaults on rural dwellers just a coincidence? Four seemingly unrelated issues confronting City Council recently are really just pieces of the same jigsaw puzzle. The four issues, in no particular order, are: area rating, water restrictions, a Court case, and septic tank waste. What do they have in common? Well, if the "City" councillors have their way, rural living will become more and more expensive. Read on... Piece 1: Council starts to drop area rating Piece 2: Water restrictions include private wells Piece 3: Wells a land use? Piece 4: Statute could eliminate septic pumping The puzzle starts to come together Editorial Councillor Profiles: John Huke NetScoop by Anne Panter Shorts	Mulrey plans summer vacation
July 19, 2002 Budget Shell Game Hunt for amalgamation savings comes up empty What was said ... during the budget debate Farmers again to evaluate livestock damage Veterinarians weren't jumping for the job All Things (Re)Considered How, and when, can Council change its mind? No-frills tax bills Kingston bills produced in-house Councillor profiles: Sandra Barrett Editorial: The devil's in the details Summary budget not enough Letters to the Editor Mulrey: Eye Opener not part of CanWest Deal	Mulrey: Eye Opener not part of CanWest Deal
July 5, 2002 Editorial: A little respect, please Council rejects dump proposal City Councillors know best Business incubator approved, despite petition Who's minding the store? CoKL CAO MIA Council sends budget back Bureaucrats to recommend which costs to cut You're not in our files, you must be dead Councillor profiles: Lloyd Ashmore	Cyril Mulrey proposes a duel
June 21, 2002 Editorial "We'll let you smoke at home... for now". $3 Million Goof Province "accidentally" overpaid CoKL 100 Businesses say "Dump incubator!" Petition from Fenelon & Bobcaygeon businesses Once in a Blue Moon? Who did that in the back of the CoKL truck? Sick and Broke Municipalities pay fines to Province if drinking water is unsafe Say it Art, "Eye Opener" Mayor justifies staff making recommendations to Council KRCA Backs down, TSW? - Not yet Council allows Bobcaygeon Shores development Early Years CoKL has a Chile Care Department? When a Tree Falls in the woods, does anyone get squished? Dead trees in Fenelon ballpark Try it, you'll like it Health Unit now writes restaurant reviews? Without further interruption! Budget review to proceed, but 2001 audit incomplete,	Councillor profiles: Cyril Mulrey
June 7, 2002 Wasn't that a Party! Special Events Bylaw Meeting Black River-Matheson Amalgamation rescinded Give 'em an inch Staff advise what to "support" Councillor profiles	Mulrey Joins a Think Tank
From City Hall by John Panter	Cyril Mulrey by John Panter
May 3, 2002 Take that!, elected Council. On a clear day you can see to 2012 $500 down; $21 thousand to go House of cards starts to collapse	Lights! Camera! Action!
April 19, 2002 Cemetery Board scores a win Farm support Clean-up of the books $130 million	Rain barrels
April 4, 2002 Casino Cash City pays for outside lawyers A modest proposal Hey buddy, can you spare $48 bucks?	Parking Meters & Fire Trucks
March 22, 2002 Incubator Babies	Mulrey's Expense Accounts
March 8, 2002 Blurred vision Players and benchwarmers Buffer zones Expense Accounts	Mulrey's Unfortunate Accident
February 22, 2002 $70 million up in smoke? $3 million computer system Smart Growth (Again) Just Asking	Mulrey's Convention Report
February 8, 2002 Showing the Flag Puppet Theatre Did You Know? The Gold-Plated Vision	Mulrey Needs a Ride
January 25, 2002 City Advertising News Flash! Councillor Barrett Speaks... Visitors to Council, Beware! Time Change And finally...	Mulrey's Stunning Proposal
January 11, 2002 Will they never learn? Burn-out? Smart Growth, staff report Illegal meetings No applause	Mulrey stays out of jail
December 14, 2001 My, how the chickens come home to roost Pesticides If they won't help themselves... Province off the hook again Smart Growth, Again Correction Council Meeting Dec. 10th	Marley visits Mulrey
November 16, 2001 Lower taxes? Preposterous! Oh say, can you see? Hold on to your wallets (w)red tag day? And finally	The Mulrey Soirée
November 2, 2001 The Dump Gag Law Farewell	Mulrey is set up
October 19, 2001 Not a Speakers' Forum Tax Due Dates Riverfest (again) Libraries to play second fiddle	Mulrey's Magical Fall Colour Tour
October 5, 2001 A free press? Local papers question voters' honesty Charity Marsh suggests issuing charitable donation receipts for municipal taxpayers' funding of RMH Salt $360,000 for storage buildings What report? Staff answer to Hardy report Don't bother reading the fine print; it's not there. Reserve rebate not itemized on tax bills God Bless the Child Council votes down "Early Years Program" With friends like these... Barrett supports non-area-rating of Lindsay's police building	Mulrey is depressed
September 21, 2001 It's about time Belinda Wilson's deputations Disrespect untimely reports, business incubation centre The emerging tax picture net tax changes More stuff from City Hall Communications policy "Oh boy. Another one" Closed doors	Mulrey Borrows McGregor's Truck
September 7, 2001 Fudge It! the budget "debate" Public input? 15 deputations ignored	Mulrey's Half-brother, Jake
August 24, 2001 I can get it for you wholesale "urgent business": a new city slogan "Catch the Kawartha spirit" Ross Again $7 million to RMH from 2002 budget (but we can't afford $1000 for a local soup kitchen) Hamburger Helper further Fenelon Falls fiasco Ticket Agents? municipal service centres selling tickets to a private function Ambulance public / private ambulance service Digitalis Trudeau salute at the Fenelon Fair Free Press "City" correspondent? 2001 Budget where are Kitchen's savings? Executive Decree? Fenelon Falls parking limit	Mulrey Has a Plan
August 10, 2001 It's only money Smart Growth Referenda Continue	Mulrey Plans a Filibuster
Promoter, July 27, 2001 Secret Meetings get new name Good Party, no guests Tax-paying made easy Regular (not secret) meeting Hugh Thomas???Transition Board financial statements, audited vs unaudited "Smart" Growth Consultants, again More Stuff From City Hall - July 23rd meeting(s) Government by consultant - "Community Vision" (for $97,000) Put down the money and back off slowly - Hydro proceeds Area Rating and finally: Fenelon Falls Cemetery Board	Mulrey Attends a "Rave"
July 13, 2001 Your money - Council not passing accounts Just when you think you're gaining... -secret meetings ...you lose - limiting debate Consultants -on social housing More Stuff From City Hall - July 9th meeting(s) More on consultants -Hemson report Spunk Little Caesar - playing for staff & Council barbeque Penny Wise- rural road maintenance	Mulrey Knows Ornithology (and Latin)
June 29, 2001 Business Incubation Centre Budget Committee Tree-cutting bylaw Bill 46 -Reporting requirements More Stuff From City Hall - June 25th meeting(s) John Panter City Logo Secret meetings	Mulrey Prepares for Taxpayers' Anger
June 15, 2001 Bill 46 -Reporting Requirements Congratulations -Deferrral of snowplough purchase Smart Growth? -Provincial Smart Growth Programme City Logo -City Logo contest Take That! Promoter -City Advertising policy	Mulrey Decries Secrecy
June 1, 2001 STD's sweep city Rural Ruts VOCO Goes to Queen's Park	Mulrey Joins the Cavalry
May 18, 2001 Well Done - Corporate memberships to swimming pools Two in a row? - Budgeting our tax dollars But then again... - institutionalized community service / volunteerism More Stuff From City Hall Secret meetings Area Rating You've outdone yourself this time - our Mayor doubts his constituents can read? and Finally - the vote against democracy	Mulrey Sings a Song
Promoter, May 4, 2001 May 4, 2001 Economic Development Dept. Rogers Communications Tower vs Fox Hound Pen "Special" Meetings More Stuff From City Hall	Mulrey Heads for Trouble
April 20, 2001 DoorWays SuperBuild Fund Tax Holiday Simcoe Conservation Nutrient Management and finally.. More stuff from City Hall Youth at Risk Depot Closures Superbuild Applications Tree-cutting Bylaw Paper sludge Accounts Unusual meetings	Mulrey Recommends a Racetrack
April 6, 2001 Chilled waters run cheap: corporate recreation memberships Ambulance service More stuff from City Hall Woodville water Syncretic Art Superbuild Fund Balsam Lake condos	Mulrey Defends a Perq
March 23, 2001 Diminished Service Levels KRCA Privatized jails Barbershop quartet If at first you don't succeed Kitchen's commission More stuff from City Hall John Panter Library Board	Mulrey Dies (Almost)
March 9, 2001 Heads up, Farmers River Festival / Rivergate KRCA Libraries ...and finally How words come back to haunt	Mulrey Attends a Convention
February 23, 2001 Bonuses Hospitality Suite Accounts Civility ??????
February 9, 2001 Our new name Provincial funding Interim CAO remuneration More stuff... (Feb 5 meeting)
January 26, 2001	Mulrey Praises the City
January 12, 2001 Transition Board: the Final Frontier City of Kawartha Lakes: inaugural Council meeting

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