Council is currently looking at differential rating. We have a session on it tonight. It means different land uses could be rated differently. So industry might get a different rate to residential.

Some councils do it some don’t. Up until now we have had one rate for all. Lasts years erratic rates for some sectors made us realise that the “one size fits all” way of doing rates has it’s deficiencies.

I guess tonight will bring some clarity on a way ahead.

A curse of a thing now. Council is working on removing it when we can.

Railton Green Hall is now clear
Sheffield Youth Centre will have the asbestos roof replaced
Railton Squash Courts will have the asbestos roof replaced

We will keep plugging away with asbestos removal.

Our GM resigned in March this year. Latrobe’s General Manager Gerald Monson has been holding the fort in the meantime.

Kentish and Latrobe Councils have agreed to share Gerald’s services for  12 months starting in July. It will be a 50/50 arrangement. Council will re-assess then.

Kentish and Latrobe have a formal resource sharing alliance.  Having Gerald working for both Councils (I hope) will get resource sharing happening more easily. He comes with years of experience in local government and from my observation plenty of energy.

Some years ago Latrobe and Kentish set up a Joint Authority. It failed. It was painful and for some has left a sour taste. I would oppose any return to the prior arrangement.

Waratah/Wynyard and Circular Head already share a GM. We are not the first. I note that Circular Head Council want to see the arrangement continue. Waratah/Wynyard will vote on it soon.

Resource sharing, amalgamations and Local Government reforms will be a big topic of discussion over the next 2 years. We will see how the next 12 months goes.

A friend of mine became an Australian citizen yesterday and I got a chance to get involved.
The presiding officer in this case was myself. The Mayor kindly allowed me to oversee the ceremony.

Mahendra and I are pictured.

When I am no longer a councillor it will be events like these that will come quickly to mind. Really positive times.

People often ask “What do you know”? On Council you can sometimes know far more than you even want to. Fact is stranger than fiction so it is said.

There are various things swirling through my mind at the moment:

- how is our Acting GM going? It will take a while to settle in. A 8 week trial is not long enough.
- Mural Fest seems to follow a similar trend. Desperate need for volunteers in the lead up then a hugely successful event. Many think it is great but don’t offer any help.
- What implications will the new minority government have for Kentish? Will Tim Morris be the next Local Government minister? If so what implications will that have for us?
- We need to make sure we keep residents in the loop about the murals. People voted strongly to see the murals removed from the planning scheme. This will sit with the Tasmanian Planning Commission. See what they think.
- We need to start the budget process soon. Keep rates down around Local Government Index levels. Cut internal costs to achieve this.
- Thinking about the implications of dropping elected member positions from 9 to 8.
- Want to get a solution to ongoing problems at O’Neills Creek camping area and nearby caravan park. Something we can all live with.
- Annoyed that water and sewerage charges in Kentish are much higher than neighbouring municipalities. Not fair and needs to be changed.

Kentish is a small municipality but still complex. Lots to think about. Usually enjoy my role though.

There is an empty gallery space at the Kentish Visitor Information Centre at the moment.

Unsure what it should be used for. It is a large cirular room. Very central spot with access to thousands of visitors per year.

What suggestions do you have?

The streetscape work continues in Railton. The grids are down awaiting more spiral topiaries.

I like the contrasting pavement colours.

Council has removed a fair bit of asbestos from buildings in Railton. The Green Hall has been done. Council votes tonight on removing asbestos from the Rainbow Playgroup building. Council is in the process of removing asbestos from the squash courts as well.

Railton has some notable critics of Council. Not just this Council but numerous previous ones as well. Criticism is fine with me. Some is true. I like it when people criticize and then offer some solutions. Those who criticize and are negative contribute very little to Kentish.

I would like to see a councillor elected from Railton township. Who is keen?

Have you discovered some road in need of repair? Use this link to tell Council:

http://www.kentish.tas.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=402

Let us know please.

Every month we receive a briefing report from staff. A great document that gives us a broad understanding of what is happening around Kentish. Lots of facts and figures.

I have just ploughed through it. Pretty tired and heading off to bed.

Want to be a Councillor? Make sure you can give lots of time and thought to the role. If not do everyone a favour and don’t stand next time.

The walking path is now complete. It now connects with footpath in Main St.

Helen and I ride each week and use the walking track to stay off the road. I really enjoy using it.

A great little project.