JUST nine residents attended the Bridgetown-Greenbushes annual general meeting of electors on February 2.
Nine councillors were present, as well as the shire chief executive and the shire's accountant.
Ratepayer Marta Sandberg queried the shire on its $95,819 deficit net result.
"We didn't receive the recreation centre grant for royalties in 2011 however we will receive it for 2012," chief executive Tim Clynch said.
Ratepayer and former councillor Bert Reynolds raised questions about the council's position on buying local.
He said he was disturbed by the fact council had bought meat supplies for catering purposes from a Dardanup wholesaler rather than staying loyal to local providers.
Mr Clynch said the council staffer who bought from Dardanup meant well however had since been advised to adhere to the council's policy of buying local.
He said the staffer had gone to the wholesaler to get the best price for the council, however this was an oversight.
Cr Moore said letters of apology had been sent to Bridgetown's butchers and he reaffirmed the council's policy on staying and buying local.
Mr Reynolds raised the issue of flood mitigation and he tabled a motion for the chief executive to pursue flood mitigation grants.
"I thought we had done this," Cr Moore said.
"We did apply early last year however it was not successful.
“However in October or November we applied again.”
Mr Reynolds queried why the chief executive had not brought to council the grant application.
"Staff do not need to go to council for permission to seek grants," Mr Clynch said.
“We apply for many grants, far too many for me to know offhand how many we apply for in any one year.
“If they're successful and over $10,000 we then bring them to council to make a decision on whether to endorse them.”
Cr Moore advised Mr Reynolds that as a current grant application was in place that the motion should lapse.
One of Bridgetown's most decorated citizens Joanne Spaull raised ongoing concerns about the lack of footpaths in certain locations in light of the impact on the elderly and for those who travel by gophers.
Mrs Spaull said pedestrian footpaths were long overdue outside the Bridgetown Repertory Theatre and in other locations.
The lack of them made access to certain locations, including to the hospital, prohibitive by gopher.
Furthermore in wet conditions walking in the mud was dangerous for many elderly folk.
Mrs Spaull described having fallen from her gopher because of the lack of footpaths.
"Do I need to write Main Roads?" she said.
"We have run into difficulties with Main Roads.
“Council is looking at allocating in the budget for the footpaths next year assuming that Main Roads is in alignment so they aren't compromised or ripped up later.”
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