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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-10-18, Page 44 Times–Advocate Wednesday, October 18, 2006 A ocna =CNA Editorial Opinion n = MISIM 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 4 Published by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Metroland 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • 519-235-1331 Peter Winkler -General Manager, Southwestern Ontario Division EDITORIAL Moving forward Wether or not residents of Crediton and Centralia believe the decision South Huron council made Monday night to award three tenders for the $6.3 million sewer project, council at least showed some guts by making the decision themselves and not passing it off for the next council. As the current council term is over at the end of November, one of council's options Monday was to sim- ply defer the issue for the new council. This would have been a cop-out — this is an issue that has gone on for 10 years, but it was this council that officially decided to go ahead with the project, with much pressure from the Huron County Health Unit and the Ministry of the Environment, which would have forced the project to go ahead even if council opted not to. Passing the decision on to the new council would have been the easy thing to do and it would have been unfair to the new council — it's possible there could be a few new members of council in top spots and they will have a strong learning curve when they first join. Saddling them with a $6.3 million decision is something they could do without. It's possible the new council could rescind Monday night's decision and cancel the project, but that seems unlikely Like it or not, the project is going ahead and if there is any good news, it's that the estimated cost of the project, $6.3 million, turned out to be true. There were fears the tenders would come in way over budget, which would have made this process a whole lot uglier. Now there's a bit of a waiting game — the municipality has applied for a third and final time for a grant from the Canada -Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund. South Huron chief administrative officer Larry Brown said Monday the municipality could find out by December whether or not the project has been approved for a grant. This is something that Crediton and Centralia residents will be watching closely because it will have a major effect on their wallets — without a grant, the average property owner in the two villages will pay $20,401; with a two-thirds grant, that number drops to a more manageable average of $4,509. Even if council does get a COMRIF grant, however, the likeli- hood of it being a two-thirds grant isn't very high. Now that the contracts have been accepted and the project is going ahead, council needs to keep true to its pledge to the Crediton and Centralia residents that it will do everything possible to get a grant to ease their finan- cial burden. Stop being so stuffy Our friends to the south in the Forest City need to chill out and develop a sense of fun. I'm referring to the current debate in London over whether or not that city should take a page from Exeter's book and adopt a squirrel as its official mascot, only in London's case it would be a black squirrel. As was reported in last week's Times -Advocate, Ric Wallace, who sells and pro- motes white squirrel merchandise, came up with the idea and would like to see Exeter and London partner up on the idea. Some Londoners have supported the idea, but others think it's nuts (this will be my one and only squirrel pun). People have referred to the black squirrel in London as "a scourge," "a pest" and "nasty." Others have bemoaned the damage squir- rels do to property and trees. These people need to loosen up — it's just a squirrel for gosh sake. London has a well-deserved reputation as a boring city full of stuffed shirts. The fact some people don't want a black squirrel as their mascot is no surprise, but what's the alter- native? Maybe London's mascot should be some middle-aged guy in a business suit carrying a briefcase, because that's what I think of when I think of London. Or now that Toronto will be dumping its garbage in London, maybe the Forest City's mascot should be a garbage can. Or a vul- ture — the sky over the landfill site is full of them. In Exeter, most of us have a good-natured atti- tude towards the white squirrel. Sure, it's a silly mascot, but what mascot isn't silly? That's their purpose — to be fun and light -humoured. Of course, there are Exeterites who don't like the white squirrel, so Londoners aren't the only anti - squirrel people in the world. I do find it interesting that people are actually upset over the idea — the most benign subjects can anger the gentlest souls. But I'll grant this to Londoners against the squirrel idea — it is strange. What's so unique about black squirrels? I see them everywhere. They're not anything special or rare like Exeter's white squirrel. I never gave London's black squirrels a second thought until a few months ago when I was at a concert at Centennial Hall. The band, Wilco, hails from Chicago. Near the end of the show, singer Jeff Tweedy said, "I'd like to dedicate this next song to all the black squirrels in London." Of course, the song had nothing to do with squirrels. I guess Chicago doesn't have black squirrels and the band was intrigued by them. That seems odd to me. So I say to London: Look to Exeter and choose a squirrel as you're mascot. It's a fun idea. You'll still be boring, but maybe not as much. SCOTT NIXON AND ANOTHER THING About the Times -Advocate 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. 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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 Elaine Chipchase ext. 102 PRODUCTION 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 MargPertschy ext. 111 Heather Clarke ext. 206