By Chernor Alimamy Kamara The Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) has in a public hearing organized by the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) at the New City Hall, stated that they are set to increase the cost of electricity tariff in the Western Area. According to the Chief Finance Officer of EDSA, Mustapha Sannoh, they made an
I am pro-new City Hall. I worked for the CBJ in the ’90s and the mish-mash of city offices in various buildings hasn’t changed since then, except the facilities are 30 years more downtrodden. I’m not sure why it has taken this long to get this done, but it was needed long ago. When we improve our local and state public infrastructure (Centennial Hall renovation, new local libraries, APK, etc.) we all benefit, enliven our town, boost our economy with construction, and more fully represent ourselves as Alaska’s capital city. We need to invest in our community. The Assembly has had a public process, evaluated alternatives, and selected a good option that will accrue equity to the CBJ and stop wasting money on bad rented/leased properties. Let’s move forward and provide a consolidated and accessible facility for citizens who are seeking city services, and safe, decent, updated facilities for our valued staff and elected officials.
I mean that. Since my start as the chair of the Public Works and Facilities Committee I have led the process of solving the City Hall issue. I am responsible for the outcome that was brought to the whole Assembly, that we are now asking you to vote on. Our City Hall was built when Juneau’s population was less than 10,000. As our city’s civic service needs grew, so did the size of local government and the amount of office space required. Assembly after Assembly failed to secure a city-owned facility to permanently operate our municipality. That’s why we are in this situation now. Well, the buck stops here, with me. Please allow me to address some issues and concerns surrounding the city hall topic.