The Times Advocate, 2007-12-26, Page 44
Times—Advocate
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
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Editorial Opinion
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 casts.
Canada Jim Beckett — Publisher
Deb Lord — Production Manager
Scott Nixon — Editor
CN A
2007
BLUE
RIBBON
Si ft The Times -Advocate is owned by
Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Metroland 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850
Media Group Ltd. Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • 519-235-1331
Doug Rowe -General Manager, Southwestern Ontario Division
EDITORIAL
Looking ahead
AaA s we say goodbye to 2007 in this week's
Times -Advocate, it's only natural to look
head to 2008 and wonder what awaits
the area.
While there were a couple of negatives on the busi-
ness scene (layoffs at CanGro, the impending closure of
Dunline and more empty storefronts on Main Street
than we would like), there are positives that should be
stressed at this time of the season.
As reported last week, a Honda dealership is slated
to come to Exeter. This is good news for several rea-
sons. For one, it shows a major car company has
confidence in South Huron and is willing to invest in
a new dealership. Secondly, the dealership will
employ 20 people, which is always a good thing.
Thirdly, a new dealership offers local car buyers
another option and it adds some healthy competition
among the already -existing dealerships here. And
lastly, Richard Wilson, whose wife Penny will be the
owner of the Exeter Honda dealership, predicted
other dealers will open up shop in Exeter once
Honda opens.
That sounds like a win-win situation for South
Huron car buyers and the local economy. A new car
dealership coming here is no small potatoes.
Another positive development to look forward to in
Exeter in 2008 is the construction of a three-storey,
49 -unit seniors' apartment beside the Fire Hall.
Seniors' housing was something identified as sorely
lacking in the area and this new project, to be con-
structed and owned by McCann Redi-Mix, will hope-
fully kick-start more such developments in the area.
Housing dedicated to seniors helps keep them in
the area instead of seeking housing elsewhere, such
as London. We need to keep our residents here.
The new seniors' building also opens up the hous-
ing market in the area — as seniors sell their homes
to move into a seniors' apartment complex, it means
more homes will be on the market, giving those in
the market additional choices. There is a lack of
housing in Exeter and the seniors' apartment is the
first step in addressing that problem.
And lastly, here's hoping the Exeter Business
Association (EBA) finds the vision it is looking for.
Attendance was strong at a recent meeting for the
EBA at South Huron Rec Centre, during which mem-
bers learned about different ways they can attract
people to Exeter. Momentum is clearly building and
innovative ideas are needed to ensure the local busi-
ness community remains strong and vibrant.
entures party
Party time
— Little
Adventures
Preschool
held its
annual
Christmas
party at
South Huron
Rec Centre
last week,
featuring
songs and a
special visit
from Santa.
Above from
left are Tyler
MacLean,
Connor
McGrath
and Kayla
Orr, while
below from
left are
Abbey
Ansems,
Shaelin
McCann,
Aleaha
Reymer and
Charlie
Burton. (pho-
tos/Scott
Nixon)
Tough choices for municipalities
It's never been easy being a municipal councillor and
the job isn't getting easier as councils face multiple
problems of quickly aging infrastructure while at the
same time the costs of repair are going through the
roof.
Rural areas are looking at shrinking popula-
tions for tax revenue while the ratepayers that
are left demand higher levels of service with
lower tax bills.
And at the end of the day, municipalities are
trying to meet more provincial and federal reg-
ulations in everything from accessibility, water
quality, emergency management and landfill
regulation with less ability to pay for the regu-
lations.
There have been serious looks on faces
around the council table in Bluewater recently
as a series of estimates for various projects
have been given to the council.
Whether it is the estimated $80,000 for a
landfill study to determine the future waste manage-
ment needs of the municipality or $2 million for a
water tower in Bayfield with a total estimated cost of
$9 million to extend water service across the river,
Bluewater is facing the question that every municipali-
ty is facing across the province: Where will the money
come from?
Although the province recently announced it will
hand out more money for municipal infrastructure, the
proof for Bluewater will be when the money is in hand.
The recent history for the municipality of receiving
federal and provincial funding for various infrastruc-
ture hasn't been good, despite intense lobbying.
With the new money and another round of Canada -
Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund
(COMRIF) funding possible, Bluewater is hop-
ing its luck changes in a big way.
But the bigger question for Bluewater, for
municipalities and for provincial and federal
levels of government is striking a balance
between wants and needs.
Purchases of big ticket critical items such
as fire trucks aren't getting any cheaper as
the $375,000 price of a fire truck in
Wingham shows. At the same time projects
such as an estimated $600,000 for a pro-
posed library in Brussels is evidence that
councils such as Bluewater may be forced to
decide that `wants' such as libraries and are-
nas, with their attendant costs of $100,000 Zambonis,
may become unaffordable.
Ultimately, hard choices will be made either by coun-
cils in a carefully thought manner that will save money
in the long term or for councils by economic reality.
Either way, the chairs around council tables across the
province are going to be increasingly tough to sit at.
vro
PAT
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