Mayor crushed 8-1 as she votes against new sign
THE saga over long time councillor David Pahlke having his name removed from an information plaque at Cobb and Co Heritage Park in Rosewood has been put to rest thanks to a motion pushed forward by Cr Russell Milligan.
Cr Milligan argued that Pahlke’s name, or for that matter any councillor’s name, on a current plaque should not be deleted if a new sign was needed to replace an old one.
Only the mayor fought against the motion, but her vote was swamped 8-1.
The carried motion says that when council replaces existing signage it is done on a “like for like” basis other than correcting a typographical error.
Cr Milligan also successfully moved that the motion be backdated to January 1, 2023, which will mean council will now have to remove the Rosewood sign and add David Pahlke’s name to it.
I was far from a one term wonder; I was successful in eight elections and served this area for 28 years.
Ipswich Council’s long-time community services manager, Ben Pole, was questioned on why council officers had taken it upon themselves to remove Pahlke’s name.
Mr Pole’s reasoning was they were following what they believed were the current signage protocols.
In seconding the motion Cr Sheila Ireland said she had been approached by many Rosewood residents who were upset that the former councillors name had been removed.
The mayor, however, countered this by saying she believed it was inappropriate and vain for councillors to put their names on information signs.
She also said had recently spoken to Rosewood citizens who said a councillor’s name shouldn’t be on a public sign and when she visited the Rising Sun Hotel on ANZAC Day they were very vocal about the issue.
The mayor showed her frustration at the motion getting unanimous support from the councillors shaking her head and muttering to herself when it was carried.
Former councillor Pahlke said he wanted to thank the eight councillors who supported the motion that will see his name remain on these historical signs.
“Some of these go back to the late 1990s,” he said. “I was far from a one term wonder; I was successful in eight elections and served this area for 28 years.
“I must say eight votes to one saddens me though.
“It is concerning to see that there is one person who is not in touch with my community and its history.”
