Does Cascade Need a $60,000 Marketing Mgr?

 

Cascade Chamber Director Hailey Rausch has appeared at the last two council meetings promoting a new position she would like created, which will be funded partially by city money, though it is difficult to say exactly how much.

It is almost as difficult to say what the person in this new position will be doing to earn the $60,000 they plan to pay him/her. In her comments to council, Rausch has outlined the duties as: 1) organizing volunteers, 2) promotion and 3) marketing.  In short, amorphous and undefined and slippery work. Until she is able to be specific about what activities are going to be organized (More street fairs? Pool parties?) and what is being promoted and marketed, citizens should object to council giving $60,000 that could be used for infrastructure to a salary we will never be able to assess the results of. We know we got potholes. We know we got old water mains. The photo at the left is the alley north of New City Park, in the same condition many in town are.

The city council has gradually given up dealing with all but essential infrastructure—sidewalk and alley repair. It should have a regular, on-going program of replacing water lines, some of which were installed 100 years ago. Some of the street disrepair around town is unbelievable. Though repairing the potholes in the New City Park parking lot is on the agenda. So ask yourself if an up-market gazebo of limestone and iron and a new marketing manager at the chamber is more important basic infrastructure.