Fifteen to 20 years ago the Town of Innisfail was managed and staffed by competent hard-working team players, all striving toward a common goal, to make the town a great community to live and work in, a town that was prosperous by spending tax money wisely.
Communication played a key role. It was comparable to a blue-chip company, an entity that is financially sound, that provides good growth through good management practices -- an entity where individuals and businesses want to invest time and resources.
Over the past few years one could say the Town of Innisfail has fallen under a dictatorship. The residents are being ruled, through the use of various mechanisms, to ensure town management and town council's power remains strong.
Some of the mechanisms are: nepotism, lack of communication and individual decision-making. Egos have come into play. “Kingdoms” are being built. Competent people, not fitting the “game plan” are leaving or are being asked to leave. The number of town employees has increased despite services decreasing. People are working towards their own goals, not a common goal. The Town of Innisfail is becoming an entity that is losing its appeal and opportunity.
The path that the Town of Innisfail is currently on can be corrected. The first step is for town management and town council to recognize that there is a problem. A solution to the problem can be found through strong communication, listening and teamwork by all sectors of the community. All employees, volunteers and residents should be working toward a common goal, to make the Town of Innisfail a financially sound, prosperous community which people want to live in and work in and invest in again.
Helen Adair
Innisfail
