The Times Advocate, 2008-07-30, Page 44
Times–Advocate
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
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Editorial Opinion
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Doug Rowe -General Manager, Southwestern Ontario Division
EDITORIAL
Busy times for
council
So much for a quiet summer from South
Huron council Summers are usually a time for
councils to hold fewer meetings while councillors
and municipal staff (and weary reporters) catch up on
some vacation time. As a rule of thumb, not a lot of
news usually happens in the summer.
But not this summer and not this council.
South Huron council has a couple of controversial
issues on its plate and has found itself calling special
meetings in addition to its regularly -scheduled meet-
ings. Next Tuesday's council meeting will mark the
third week in a row the municipality will hold a council
meeting, something previously almost unheard of in the
summer months.
What's all the fuss about? Sewers and water.
As anybody who pays even scant attention to local
news knows, the municipality has proposed new water
rates that will see the average annual water/waste-
water bill in Exeter jump from $758 to $1,123. These
new rates are largely to pay off the new $13 5 million
Lake Huron water pipeline. Naturally some people are
upset and residents have shared their opinions at pub-
lic meetings and in numerous letters to the editor.
Council continues to consider the rates, while the
municipality (and the rest of us) hope South Huron is
eligible for a grant program announced last week.
But people may be tiring of the issue or are coming to
accept that new increases will be put in place — only
10 residents attended Monday night's council meeting
dedicated to the water rates.
But another issue that packed the council gallery July
21 was the ongoing saga of the Crediton/Centralia
sewer project. Many residents were taken aback when
they received notices from the municipality in July and
learned they only had about 10 days to either pay off
their sewer bill in full (more than $10,000 for most
properties) or enter into a 20 -year amortization pro-
gram in which they would pay interest on top of bills
many residents said they already couldn't afford.
Residents correctly complained they didn't have
enough notice from the municipality to get their
finances in order in time for the deadline, although
council went ahead and imposed the bylaw during a
special meeting the next morning. Residents should
have been given more time and it wasn't fair to expect
them to come up with so much money in such a short
period of time.
Nothing happens in the summer? That's not the case
around here. And soon we'll be back into a busy fall
schedule.
THE GOOD NEWS IS
THE MINORITY Tt41NK
You SHOULD REPLACE
FAIsITINO,
WHAT'S THE
BAD NEWS ?
TbIE MAJORITY
THINK FANTINO
SHOULD REPLACE
YOU,.- i
Need heading
July has come and gone and August is just around
the corner.
With the end of July, it also means the end of a
six-week stay for a group of children with the Huron
County for Children of Chernobyl.
The group, with an interpreter arrived in June
and leave Aug. 2 from Clinton.
Every summer Huron County welcomes
a different group of children effected in
the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster to
build up their immune system, get fresh air,
eat healthy food and go home with gifts, vit-
amins and medication for their families.
This is the 10th year Huron County fami-
lies have hosted the children while they're
here.
For some of these children, they are expe-
riencing Canada for the first time, and some
have never even travelled at all.
While in Huron County the children are
able to explore a variety of activities, including day
trips, barbecues, boating and more. They also receive
free dental care.
For these children it is the experience of a lifetime.
They're able to participate in things they otherwise
wouldn't, they gain friendships and they are able to
give their bodies a break from the harmful radiation.
Yes, these children are quite different from the kids
here in Canada.
Some of the children have never used a toilet or a
shower, something we take for granted.
Some have little clothing and sometimes aren't even
able to get the bare necessities.
Sorry people but our kids these days are
spoiled.
The group from Chernobyl are happy just to
come to Canada and give their bodies a break,
while receiving some free necessities.
The younger generation here is happy if they
get a new cellphone and a $100 to spend at the
mall on nothing.
I know they're not all like that, and really I
can't judge because I remember being there
once too.
"I want this and I want that," those words I
said to my parents countless times.
Well, we should all feel selfish, I know I do, because
I still piss and moan about stupid stuff the odd time.
So, the next time you're inclined to freak out about
something, think about this — some of those children
are lucky to have a full stomach, shower and a stable
environment, things we take for granted.
NINA
VAN
LIESHOUT
KICK THIS
AROUND
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