It was rare to see such dissension in a council that is normally unanimous in its decisions.
Monday, July 4th 2005, 7:40AM
by The Landlord
One-by-one, in a Mexican wave of defiance, eastern ward councillors Ann Court, Tom Baker and Garry Weeds voted last Thursday against the Far North District Council's 2005-2006 Annual Plan and amendments to its 2004-2014 Long Term Council Community Plan.
"I'm not here to set rates that drive people out of their homes," councillor Court told her colleagues in front of a small audience of east coast ratepayers.
"We need to indicate through the LTCCP that we are aware of the hardship ratepayers are facing and that we are seriously looking at this issue and coming up with solutions," she said.
Councillor Baker said recent valuations had resulted in some coastal property-owners' rates bills rising by as much as 86 percent.
"This coming year, a lot of people are not in a situation to pay their rates," he said.
