Joel Hartung wishes to make it clear to all Steinbach tax payers a clear view on my platform as potential council candidates are attempting to twist his platform.
Hartung would 100% support the library expansion with substantial funding from Provincial and Federal Governments as he believes it is a regional Library and does not support the use of Steinbach tax payers money to finance 100% of the library expansion. Hartung comments that he uses the Library often with his wife and family and believes he is educated on the facts and figures.
A number of Library board members have commented to Hartung that there may be a number of private citizens and corporate dollars available to help as these people are very passionate about the library. I believe proper fund raising, and grants can make the library happen where it costs the tax payers less therefore respecting the majority’s desire to not finance 100% of the project over 10 years.
Libraries roles will change greatly in the next 3 – 10 years. I believe we can offer classroom space more efficiently as hard copy books are stored electronically in the near future. There are number of ways to improve our literacy rates. This is a social issue. Expanding the library at $275/sq/ft will not fix this problem.
Hartung believes true planning and vision is not proceeding and gambling on grants but having all “the ducks in a row” as to understand the total strain it will create on tax payers.
For this very reason Hartung made the comment that in the next four years we should have the plans “Shovel Ready” for a Multi Plex which believes if planned properly can service recreation & the arts. “We need to start fundraising, planning and working with neighboring communities. Studies and facts need to be analyzed. If we are shovel ready in 4 years, then the multi-use facility becomes a project that may happen in the next 8 years. Without being shovel ready, without proper fundraising, without recruiting businesses and corporate sponsorship dollars we are moving ahead blindly. Hartung does not support blind spending be it for a library expansion, a multi use facility or any other expenditure.
Hartung does not support any project where Steinbach Tax Payers are forced to pay for 100% of the project, financed over a long term. He does not believe the Library expansion was planned properly and would like to move forward with a true vision.
With the potential of loosing grant money due to construction delays on the new lagoon Hartung believes costs to Steinbach Tax payers continue to escalate and will further strain a community who due to spending is walking a fine line. Planning now to make projects happen in a financially responsible way is how he wishes councils in the future to perform.
You can contact Joel Hartung at 204-371-9151 or e-mail him at joel@votehartung.com
