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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-07-26, Page 44 Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday, July 26, 2006 =CNA TIMES ADVOCATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 We acknowledge the Financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs. Canada Jim Beckett — Publisher Deb Lord — Production Manager Scott Nixon — Editor tirt Published by MDiroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Metroland Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIAL Keep pressing for cash Iast Friday's meeting between Fair Funding for Small Communities of JOntario (FFSCO) and Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara and Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell is a good start in an effort to increase funds for small municipalities. FFSCO recently formed out of the initiative of South Bruce and includes local representa- tives such as South Huron Coun. Ken Oke and resident Dianne Faubert. With a recent meet- ing in Exeter, the group, which represents sev- eral small municipalities from across Ontario, is seeking more provincial and federal funding for small municipalities for multi-million dol- lar projects such as sewers and water; pro- jects that, quite frankly neither the municipal- ities nor their ratepayers can afford. One need only look to the approximately $20,000 bills Crediton and Centralia ratepayers will be on the hook for if the sewer project goes ahead without any grant money. Put bluntly, the province and/or feds should pony up some money for this project. South Bruce director of public works Mark Sture told the Times -Advocate he is optimistic after Friday's meeting with Sorbara and Mitchell in Goderich and he described Sorbara as receptive to FFSCO's concerns. The FFSCO also wants to meet with several other ministers this summer. It's possible nothing will come out of this group, but the FFSCO is taking the right steps. Small municipalities have been under -funded for too long and, with their infrastructures crumbling, the lack of funding is catching up to them and something needs to be done. It's one thing for individual municipalities such as South Huron or Bluewater to complain they're not receiving grants for expensive projects — they can easily be ignored. But when many unhappy municipalities band together, the upper levels of government can only ignore them for so long before they have to offer some help. The FFSCO needs to keep lobbying until small municipalities get some satisfaction. About the Times -Advocate Editorial Opinion T 1, -Fee I,,,ra,-1 1„ - (-•�,, , l ,.,. A +;,+r c.,., We need the ethanol plant Negotiations over the next while will be crucial in determining whether or not a $150 million ethanol plant comes to Hensall. Yes, despite the publicity, optimism and excite- ment surrounding the announcement of the huge new plant, it may not happen. As audi- ence members learned at a public meet- ing last week in Hensall, the project won't go ahead unless the Hensall water situa- tion is figured out. As things stand now, there isn't enough water in the village to serve the plant, which, according to figures talked about last week, requires more water than the rest of the village. Here's where the proposed new Lake Huron water pipeline comes in. Exeter needs Lake Huron water and wants to go ahead with a new pipeline that would cost about $14 million. Grant money is still pending and numbers aren't final, but if Hensall joins the pro- ject, there will be water for the new plant. Without the water, there's no plant, according to Bliss Baker, the vice-president of corporate affairs for the company bringing the plant to Hensall, GreenField Ethanol. It goes without saying that the municipality of Bluewater needs to ensure this project goes ahead. A $150 million ethanol plant that will bring jobs, scores of offshooting economic advan- tages and tax revenue to the area can't be turned away. Not seizing this opportunity and doing everything possible to make the plant a done deal would be a monumental mistake. On the other hand, GreenField needs to pony up the necessary cash to bring the pipeline to the plant; the company can't expect to waltz into Huron County and expect everything to be handed to them. Publicly, they say they want to pay their fair share. Bluewater needs to make sure SCOTT NIXON AND ANOTHER THING this happens, but it also needs to keep mind Hensall, the municipality, local farm- ers and Huron County need this project. Things are looking up for Hensall. While the state of the village's downtown core has been bemoaned for years, iceculture is unveiling its major expansion this November — a permanent ice sculpture exhibition that should bring tourists from all over to the area. Along with the new jobs and economic advantages cre- ated by the ethanol plant, Hensall's future should be bright. So let's get that water project going. in Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Holidays. Contact Us By Phone or Fax Classified ad & subscription sales (519) 235-1331 24-hour automated attendant (519) 235-1336 Fax number for all departments (519) 235-0766 Subscription Rates One year rate for addresses in Canada: $40+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $72+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada: $140 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $11 for 20 words, 20c for each additional word+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announcements, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $15 + GST for up to 50 words, All ads must be pre -paid. The classified ad deadline is Monday at 10 a.m. Display Advertising To place a display ad, (519) 235-1331 weekdays 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. or evenings (519) 235-1336 (leave mes- sage) or toll-free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Fri. 2 p m. E-mail Us Web site: www.southhuron.com TA e-mail addresses consist of the person's first initial and last name followed by @southhuron.com. For example, Jim Beckett's e-mail address is <jbeck- ett@southhuron.com> Our general e-mail address is ads@southhuron.com. The Times -Advocate Team Publisher Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 EDITOR Scott Nixon ext. 105 REPORTERS Pat Bolen ext. 113 Nina Van Lieshout ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Kim Hern ext. 102 COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 103/114 Heather Bilcke ext. 103 Kelly Gackstetter ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Marg Pertschy ext. 111 Heather Clarke ext. 206