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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-11-23, Page 7ral-Star • Wednesday, November 23, 2011 h nal Star --ISSUE X NED WEEKLY — EST. 1800 1 Star Publishing Nuckins St. rich ON NM 3X8 524-2614 .goderichsignalstar.com SUN MEDIA A Quebecor Media Comumw or Rea istiV Manager MUM MECO rs Leda & Subscripions BUTT Ong 'ER. Manager CZNY RELAND MCIVOR V Sa108 sObowesoat.com rtsaboweenet.pom bowesnt.com hadstiobowesnetcom deadline Friday at 2 pm opy RAILS ADVANCE: $42 ohm GST $39 plus GST S218 80 plus GST S395 60 Pius GST SI 25 Including GST s Mail Agreement )4683 UNDEUVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES : ON DEPAIMIIINT Ions St , Werth tit4 3XS deliveries ot delivery concerns 4 2614 EMAIL: ihnievabowtensttam signal Star stall not be Liable tot faikire (1 4o for typographical smog in publication silent of the cost of that portion of the le error marrow, The Godedch Signal -SW P right to reject or edit any advertriement 'h Signal -Star is a proud member of the Ca - 1111my Newspapers Association (CCNA) and community Newspapers Association (OCNA) )wledge the financial support of the ent ot Canada through the Can a dims vund (CPP) for our publithing trettv1ties. • ,ariacM Member of du Canadian Carrwnuraty naNewspaper Mancidinn end the °Mark) Cnnweunity Newspapers Mand*r editorial Donate and be part of the positive solution 0 ver the past several weeks, the pages of the Signal -Star have chronicled the generous donations of groups, services clubs, organizations, sports associations, businesses and• municipalities to the Goderich and Area Disaster Relief Fund. The support for the town and its residents has been nothing short ofoverwhelm- Ing and amazing. It is heart warming to know that people have such genu- ine affection for this commu- nity and its residents who have endured such life -alter- ing circumstances in the wake of the Aug. 21 tornado. The progress, at times, seems painstakingly slow and arduous but the reality of the situation is that it will take months and years before things are restored to some semblance of normalcy, or, at least, a new order. Over the weekend, the Fes- tival of lights celebration kicked off as usual, restoring a spirit and sense of the holiday • season on The Square. The • Santa Claus Parade, which fol- lowed the lighting ceremony in Courthouse Park, featured a record number of entries as over 80 floats, vehicles, bands and groups marched in front of Santa. The community is to be • commended for its Heart Light and spirit of community. But as the calendar,Inches toward the month of Decem.- • ber, a few key deadlines loom. Applications for funding through the Goderich and Area Disaster Relief Commit- tee must be submitted by Fri- day, November 25 at 4 p.m. The deadline was extended in response to concerns from residents and businesses about their inability to com- plete the required information on the application form to receive financial assistance. • It is so important that peo- ple file an application to assist with their recover over and above costs that their insur- ance would not cover. Those without insurance coverage or content insurance will be duly assisted through the program. It is so important for people who suffered any loss to file an application this week. This program will be funded by the generous donations to the relief fund that will be matched on a two-for-one basis by the provincial government. The deadline for donations is Thursday, Dec. 1 and every- one in town and the immedi- ate vicinity will have received an envelope outlining the donation procedure while encouraging neighbours to help neighbours. That's what the fundraising is all about; helping each other and helping our com- munity through a difficult time. •• People can find every rea- • son they need to be negative about the rebuilding and funding process if they want. Each of you can also find every reason possible to be a positive part of the rebuilding and funding process that helps your community and neighbours and friends. • It's time to he part of the solution and do what's right for the greater good of the community. Indulging in self- ish motives or negativity will • only undermine the process. Be a part of the community and its future. Invest in it generously, for your sake, the sake of all those who suffered losses and need a hand and for the future of Goderich. Be generous DS •••••••••110.011••••0101* 1 • - • ,..411PNON 1 '44r •41 11INIPP, • (Coral IttweN You Go AHEAD AND PUT A BUNCH DC TRAkLERS 0t4 THE SQUARE WHO D You THINK wERE, Got sib TO BE THE JUObES ? ctvito RICALY! G.keroild Developers swimming against the current in pond debate • or decades, the Town of •Goderich has been waiting for someone else to do some thing about storm water management in the industrial park. • For decades, nobody did any- thing except • complain. Now, there is a new owner for three large parcels of land along Huckins Street who will pay the all costs associated with a stormwater manage- ment (SWM) pond on die Sig- nal Star property, but they want their construction costs back in return. Engineers on both sides presented their cases to council last week, with the end result being another stalemate. The chicken In this situation is the upstream industrial park. Most of which was built before stormwater management was even in the engineering lexi- con. The egg is apparent lathe constantly flooded loading dock at the Deirborn building. • Recalling the words of public claims adjuster Steve Sobel from his October seminar in • Goderich - if you get two engi- neers in the same room at the same time, you're guaranteed to get two different opinions. liowever, the differing opin- ions at council were not on • what work needs to be done, but who benefits from it, and thus, who pays. The town made • an offer of $1 to assume ownership • of the portd after it is built, but has shown little interest in taldng on any associated costs of building. Before • you think this is • shameless low -ball- • ing, I should explain the figure of $1 is used in pri- vate/public land deals in order to have some transaction • amount on paper for what is essentially a tradeoff. •But what kind of a trade is it? The Rona development will certainly benefit most from the stormwater pond, no doubt about it..But if the town is will- ing to assume ownership of the pond once it's built, should they also assume some of the cost of building? History says they won't. Two years ago, the town made perfectly dear it had no obligations when Martha Street residents were being flooded by Mary Street development The developers should not expect anything different here. But, it may be worth asking yourself as a taxpayer in Goderich - Is this something worth paying for? Col Gerard ( mn Creces CONTINUED > PAGE 16