Page 5 - May 11, 2017

Thursday, May 11, 2017 The Independent
Page 5
Victoria Park needs some colour says reader
Progressively Forward
Emery Huszka
DEALER-FLORENCE, ON
Tel: 519-692-4892
MAIZEXSEEDSINC. www.maizex.com 4488 Mint Line, RR 2, Tilbury, ON N0P 2L0
EDITOR:
dull our park looks, even the inside fence of the cenotaph.
ones and less of them.
We once had wrought iron garbage
Victoria Park is the showcase of the centre of the Town of Petrolia but, it is one of the drabbest and colourless parks.
In the fall they have the “scarecrows” which seems to be a big event; but does it need to last two months? After a month they look pretty sad. It also kills the grass in the park.
cans. Now we have giant Tupperware containers with the town logo plas- tered on it. Not to mention our giant plastic ower pots - a very “Victorian Atmosphere.”
There are few tulips around the sign part, without roses or some kind of owers to replace them.
This town needs to show some cul- ture with their Scarecrow contest. One that is better then the dummy looking
Who is making these decisions?
I know the park has multiple uses and events, but stand back and see how
Peter F Clements Petrolia, ON
Rural leaders meet with Wynne in Sarnia
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The Independent Staff
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Lambton County mayors had a chance to air their concerns with On- tario’s premier. Kathleen Wynne was in Sarnia for the Ontario Chamber of Commerce meeting Friday and took more than an hour to meet with the mayors including Plympton-Wyoming Mayor Lonny Napper, Enniskillen Mayor Kevin Marriott, Brooke-Alvin- ston Mayor Don McGugan, Warwick Mayor Todd Case and Dawn-Euphem- ia Mayor Al Broad among others.
Napper says questions ranged from funding for rural municipalities to wind turbines - a subject the mayor himself raised.
Napper is concerned the value the industrial turbines are assessed at is too low, then municipalities generate less tax revenue from them.
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“She told me that’s MPAC’s (the Mu- nicipal Property Assessment Corpora- tion) issue. I told her they said it was your issue.”
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Napper says Wynne vowed to look into it.
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The premier also heard from munici- pal leaders about decreasing funding, particularly the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund. It was originally set up to replace a complicated farm re- bate program but in the last few years, according to Marriott, cities have been gaining cash while rural areas suffer.
plan was immediately dismissed. Both Napper and Marriott say the
“The premier of the province would likely know she was coming to Sarnia long before 24 hours. I guess if I had a couple of days I could have changed my commitments.”
Enniskillen, for example, lost over $200,000 over the last two years, while Windsor received $6 million more from the same fund.
premier seemed to be very interested in the problems facing rural Ontario, but Marriott is still cautious saying he’s seen concern before and nothing came of it.
McCharles says 20 people were invited and only 11 showed up.
Warwick Mayor Todd Case agreed pointing out that the fund has become a great funding source for urban areas.
Petrolia Mayor John McCharles was also on the invite list but did not attend.
“There was no intent to stay away... I try to stay out of provincial and federal politics.”
Marriott says Wynne seemed to want to help. “She said ‘I want to do some- thing with this.’” But Marriott says the suggestion to revert back to the old
McCharles says he had less than 24 hours notice for the meeting and he had other commitments he had to keep.
McCharles added he also had an op- portunity to attend the other provincial leader’s visit as well but didn’t attend.
Oil Springs shopping around for garbage contractor
Heather Wright
buy for each bag of garbage left at the side of the road.
taxpayers.”
Veen is concerned the village will
The Independent
The village contracts its service to Bluewater Recycling Association and is one part owner of the association. But Veen says there may be a better deal out there.
be forced to use Wheelie Bins. BRA is moving to the fully-automated system across the region and Veen is concerned if the municipality must use them, it will cost money to buy the bins and the village will lose the $9,000 in revenue from bag tags.
Oil Springs Mayor Ian Veen says he wants to make sure his residents are getting the best deal possible on garbage and recycling services.
Right now, the municipality spends $34,000 a year on garbage and recycling collection. That is offset
by the $9,000 in revenue the village makes from the bag tags residents must
“Being a member doesn’t give us anything special,” he says. “Every ve or six years you should be... making sure the company you’re with is giving you a fair shake... my loyalty is to the
The village has put out a call for tenders and expects to know the results in June.
Opinion
Lambton County Warden Bill Weber talks with Premier Kathleen Wynne in Sarnia Friday. Weber was joined by a num- ber of Lambton County mayors for a mee ng with Wynne later in the day.
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