He was a rookie going into the last election, but Dennis Moore can now be considered a council veteran and he allowed it to be revealed this past week that he is once again allowing his name to stand for a position on the Estevan city council during this coming October's general civic election.
When asked to comment on his first foray into local politics a few years ago, Moore said he began to realize what details had to be covered before any specific job could be done.
"We have things in the budget, like sidewalks and lighting that we know, for instance, have to be done, and we're falling short in some instances," said Moore, citing the need to tend to details as one of the impediments to getting things done more quickly. But tending to those details is imperative.
He said it's important for council to monitor contracted work to ensure that the work that is supposed to get done, is getting done and on schedule.
Moore said he would also like to see local legislation put in place to ensure that when new construction projects are completed, that the job includes enhancements such as finished driveways, paved exit and entrance aprons, cement or grass and trees ... whatever it takes to complete the project.
"The finishing touches are required too. We shouldn't be satisfied with hearing that something 'will come later,' and then it never gets done. Things like paving needn't come later. The finishing work is part of the project in my opinion."
Moore said that when shoddy work is done, some contractors then want to blame the City for something that's gone wrong. This is something that local residents and city officials need to be constantly aware of, especially during a booming construction period in the city's history.
"Every construction project requires proper inspection and if this city is going to be moving continually forward, those things need to be done and we need to stay ahead of it, not behind it," he said.
Moore said some major projects, like those being witnessed in the Hillside area, can be completed in a timely fashion with some good time management in place.
The now veteran councillor said it has been a pleasure working with the current council team.
"It has been a good group to be with if you want to make things move forward for sure. We don't always agree on the details, but we've managed to get it done at the end without jeopardizing any project or holding things up. I've enjoyed the experience," he said.
Moore said he was not daunted by the fact that new provincial legislation has set the terms for elected municipal officials at four years, instead of the traditional three years beginning with this fall's election.
