Dear Editor
The taxpayers of the Resort Village of Cochin, tired of the lack of transparency, submitted a petition for a management audit in accordance with the Municipalities Act on Aug. 27, 2015.
The auditor contacted taxpayers in November and December to receive their input into their concerns.
Mayor and council stated in the announcements page on the Village of Cochin website (www.cochin.ca/announcements.com) that they would "... not review any new requests for building permits or bylaw issues,” that they would charge the audit costs back to taxpayers, that they were involved in other legal issues (without estimated costs to taxpayer) and that a letter would be sent to taxpayers when the audit was finished. Wow!
The audit was mailed to the Village of Cochin mayor and council Jan. 8.
According to the Municipalities Act, mayor and council must publicize a notice of the receipt of the audit and make it available to residents of Cochin. As of yet, no word has come from them.
Without any oversight or transparency requirements from the provincial government, some municipal residents are left to live in fear of the next harmful decision made by local governments or motions that endanger safety and decrease property values. Perhaps it is time to change from a "hands off" approach to an accountability framework so that Saskatchewan communities can heal, enhance self-determination, reduce helplessness and have control over even simple things like water.
K.J. Trippe De Roche
Cochin
