Watching events unfold in Muskoka Lakes these days is a bit like driving by the scene of a horrible car accident. You feel pity for those involved, but can’t help stopping, staring and wondering what in the world happened to cause the terrible mess.

Anyone familiar with the state of the municipality’s affairs lately would agree that something has gone horribly wrong.

Council just last week turned down a bid for another large capital project, the Duke House parking lot in Port Carling. Like the municipality’s would-be fire halls, low bids for the project were substantially higher than the township budgeted.

Also last week, council heard that the township did not even receive any proposals for the Bala Streetscape project, another large municipal endeavour that was to be undertaken this year.

If these sorts of events don’t set off alarm bells for ratepayers, they should.

The township, a once progressive municipality with an envious reputation for promptly responding to residents’ concerns, now can’t seem to accomplish even the simplest of tasks, such as properly advertising an RFP.

What is going on?

Council has had at least two in-camera sessions to deal with personnel matters; one – an emergency meeting – was called as recently as Monday.

What is happening behind those closed doors?

The municipality, it would appear, is so mired with internal squabbling that it has effectively cancelled the first year of its own strategic plan.

How did this happen?

We can’t help but point the finger at council, who surrendered so much of its authority to staff, particularly when it comes to the township’s budget. The result has been grave errors and the whole township being in a state of emergency.

Where does it go from here?

Will council continue to journey to the halfway point with its remaining goals and objectives, or will it take the necessary step to intervene in these personnel matters and get the township back on track?

There is hope this can be turned around. That job is left largely to Mayor Susan Pryke. She needs to be steady at the helm, clean up this mess and steer clear of future obstacles before the township takes more blows to its reputation. Ratepayers will only watch for so long before they, too, start to rattle cages, demand answers and call for accountability.

JL