The Caretaker: Influencing Decision Makers

By Ken Saik

Steve Turphin promised to prevent anyone from ruining his deceased grandfather's protected Sebastian's Sanctuary, a wildlife habitat.

 

Walter Kohlborg, a very aggressive developer chose the protected Sebastian's Sanctuary for his next multibuilding high-end condo complex

 

How can shy Steve convince the city's decision makers to save the wildlife in his grandfather's park?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ken Saik
• Release date: Mar 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393218760

Ken Saik

              Ken Saik, retired social studies teacher with the Edmonton Public School Board, was once a member of the executive of the Alberta Teacher’s Association. During that time, he became a member of the Greater Edmonton Association, a local pressure group working to improve housing for the poor. He enrolled in their training on “engaging people for political action.” In his latest book, The Caretaker, Ken Saik uses the lessons he learned to arm Steve, the story’s protagonist, to stop Walter Kohlberg, a developer, from converting a public park into a housing development for the rich.

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www.author.kensaik.com

from Ken Saik

THANKS FOR ORDERING The Caretaker

I hope you enjoyed reading it.    

It would mean the world to me if you took two minutes to share your thoughts about this book as a review. Your feedback will help me provide the best quality books and help other readers, like you, discover great books. If you are too busy to note a few things about this book, I understand.

Is there anything you find memorable about any of the characters or what they did or saw?

You can leave a review on the retailer of your choice and/or send me an email with your honest feedback. My e-mail address is [e-mail]

Thanks for your interest,

Ken Saik

CHAPTER ONE

YOU SEE, THAT’S EXACTLY why we need housing developments around the park, says Walter Kohlborg, jabbing his finger at the daily paper sitting on the Aspen Grove’s development officer’s desk.

The news article, which catches the developer’s eye, is Elderly Lady Mugged by Teen, found on the third page of the daily paper.

No eyes on the park, no one to see when a crazy kid dares to attack an old woman. What do you expect? Put a few condos around the park and this kind of thing won’t happen.

The development officer slowly shakes his head. You’re scaling a steep mountain, Walter. He studies the opinionate businessmen. Kohlborg dresses to confuse. Walter’s sleeveless black leather vest with his company’s name, Hollis Homes, boldly displayed in gold over his heart holds the city employee’s attention. His open collar, short-sleeved white shirt suggests a casualness that surfaces only when people support him. Walter’s heavy hands and arms show he’s no stranger to physical exertion.

Don’t shake your head. This is a safety issue. Who can’t back that? Walter leans on to Harold Henderick’s desk prepared to debate him, or anyone who would care to challenge his position.

Listen. I like your plans—good population mix, gym, café, library, and day care center. Building this complex is certainly what the construction industry wants.

Walter sits back in the chair before Mr. Henderick’s desk. Not to mention the amount of tax money it will generate.

Ask to build in the Forest Heights or Gowan Meadows and Council will have no trouble approving it.

Harry. Location. Location. Location. I want on Sebastian’s Sanctuary.

According to Walter’s estimates, building in one of the outlying districts would result in forty percent less profit.

Walter, in the office it’s Mr. Henderick, remember? He adjusts his tie as if to remind the Aspen Grove citizen of proper protocol in his office.

Yeah, okay. Just put my proposal on the next council agenda.

There’ll be opposition.

Seeing Mr. Kohlborg take a deep breath, he adds, Strong opposition.

Leave that to me. I’m not afraid of a fight. Pointing his finger at the proposal on Mr. Henderick’s desk, he says, This is possible. Ten years ago, the city got a piece of the park for the rapid transit project. You know that. You were there then.

The heated political battle almost cost Mr. Henderick’s his job. The previous mayor, Terry Manaster, had to step in to work a compromise with the community and Colin Bnister in particular. Harold had objected to what he thought was Bnister’s excessive compensation deal. The deal for the land was much more than the value of the land that the investors lost. The mayor had accused Mr. Henderick of becoming emotionally involved.

The city’s newspaper reported the settlement as a win-win agreement. The city residents accepted the mayor’s proposal to use some of the parkland for the rapid transit line in return for a promise to never permit any further encroachment on the protected land. The exception was a large Tim Hortons restaurant. The franchise included in its area a shelter for transit passengers and an electric bulletin board supplying information about community events. The owners of the Tim Hortons restaurant, the past mayor’s cousins, promised to update and maintain the bulletin board outside their establishment.

Colin Bnister, one of two investors who owned the high-rise across the street from the park, lost a segment of his parking lot. To make up for the parking space loss, the city agreed to build an underground parking lot for the owners. Harold had objected to the deal. The cost of the parkade, which the city agreed to pay for, was much more than the value of the land that the investors lost.

Harold had curtailed his objection to the walls of the mayor’s office. Then he found out about the companion deal the apartment owners had negotiated. The mayor agreed to accept an expansion to the high-rise, an expansion that was to be built over the parking lot. Harold was so angry that he left the mayor’s office without asking why the mayor signed the extra agreement. He leaked the information to the media. Later, he learned that Colin Bnister agreed to the mayor’s condition to convert the three lower floors of his building for low-income and elderly residents. The upper-floor expansion was designed for renters interested in more luxurious accommodations.

Relationships within the city administration and politicians didn’t improve until Bruce Roberts replaced the old mayor. Harold still resented Colin for bypassing him as development officer to get his expansion approved.

Before Walter left, Harold had promised to recommend Walter’s proposal as worthy of consideration.

CHAPTER TWO

AT THE SOUND OF THE Country Nest high-rise elevator door opening, Jessie Hamilton and Roberta Phipps—Bobby to her friends—stop talking. Phyllis Artous slowly steps out with Alice Kestler in tow. Jessie and Bobby, both five-year civil service retirees, nod approval. They still dress up as if they are still going to work.

There’d been doubt Phyllis would be able to convince Alice to join them for their usual morning tea. She had skipped out yesterday, still too traumatized from the mugging the day before.

As Phyllis and Alice inch their way to the roundtable where Jessie and Bobby wait, it becomes clear that there’s a problem. Alice follows a step behind her friend, reluctant it seems. Phyllis’s arm leads her slow-moving friend as if nudging her to the women at the table. They both wear navy unbuttoned sweaters that Phyllis had knitted for them two years ago.

Could be sore from the impact of hitting the sidewalk, assume the two waiting women.

Neither wants to acknowledge Phyllis’s guess that Alice felt too embarrassed to meet with them yesterday. As Phyllis and Alice near the six-chair table, Bobby slowly rises and pulls out a chair for each of her friends. Jessie grabs her cane and works her way to the apartment’s Welcome Center counter. She plugs the kettle in, stuffs two tea bags in the palm of her hand and with her index finger hooks two teacups. By the time she returns to the table, Phyllis and Alice are making themselves comfortable.

Glad you could join us today, says Bobby. She takes the two cups that Jessie sets down and hands one to Alice and one to Phyllis.

Alice smiles and adjusts her glasses. The bridge is noticeably bent from her fall, but the glasses still rest on her nose. Alice glances at Harvey Matoff and Jack Pandolten playing checkers at the card table by the window. Neither of the third-floor bachelors turns toward her, but she suspects their ears are focused on her. She looks away thinking they will be staring at her.

Reaching across the table, Jessie lightly touches Alice’s elbow, waits until Alice looks up, and says, We really missed you yesterday.

You all just want to hear what happened, straight from the horse’s mouth. Her voice is low.

No. That’s not true, Bobby lies. The comfort from her words disappears in a flash.

Of course, we do, says Jessie sitting down. If I ever meet that jerk, I’ll give him a piece of my mind. The more I know what happened, the better I can dish it out to him.

But you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, adds Phyllis. She flashes a scolding look at Jessie.

It’s okay, mumbles Alice. The policewoman—a-ah, what’s her name? Alice pauses, shakes her head. Whatever. Anyway, she said I shouldn’t be afraid to talk about it. Talking reduces the stress.

You okay, no broken bones? asks Bobby, leaning closer to her friend.

Alice shakes her head. Phyllis tells them that the police brought Alice to the hospital to be checked and then called her to came down. After Alice’s examination, she drove Alice home.

Silence settles over the table until Phyllis deliberately redirects the lady’s attention by inquiring about Bobby’s grandson. The call Bobby received last night leads her into reporting that Clint had applied to help with reconstruction in New Orleans. His application was accepted. Food and lodging for his three-week stay will be supplied, but he has to pay for his flight there. He pledged to work fifty hours with Habitat.

He asked if I’d sponsor him. I promised him a buck an hour, and Jessica offered fifty cents an hour.

Put me down for the same, says Phyllis. Fifty cents.

Glancing at the men playing checkers by the window, Alice echoes Phyllis’s offer.

The kettle whistles. Jessie gets up and pours water in the empty cups at the table. Bobby