Bayham residents given chance to comment on budget planning
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Ross Andrews - Various Veins
On March 23rd at the Vienna community centre Bayham councillors presented proposals for several options in managing the municipality's properties and roads, bridges, etc.
No decisions have been made, and to their credit the councillors have given residents the chance to guide their actions.
The time to do this is short. Signed, with contact details, written comments must be presented by Monday, April 6th at 4:30 p.m. You can do this on line at Facilities@Bayham.on.ca, by mail or The Municipal Drop Box. Mail would seem to be not the best way considering the shortness of time.
You can get copies of the proposals online or at the municipal office. They include information about community centres in Eden, Straffordville and Vienna, location of the municipal offices, repairs to museums, and Port Burwell library. The dollar amounts are in totals, no figures to explain what is behind them, but it is in our interest to make our wishes known about these buildings.
Do not make comments about the Ojibwa debt. That is a separate matter and beyond our ability to change. Keep your attention on what you can influence.
Let's look at politics, because so many of us are turned off by the antics of politicians we choose to ignore elections. Politics surrounds us like air. We don't notice it until we get higher and higher taxes that use our money for purposes that do not serve our needs. Health care is one area, crumbling highways, bridges, and many other examples of poor management.
Locally we are given the chance once every four years to approve our councillors or to replace them with men and women who we hope will serve the best interests of our municipality. To show how poorly some of us get the picture, several residents asked a defeated candidate for help in one problem or another. These people had signs for the candidate in their yards but they did not go to the polls for him. Sorry folks, "I can't help you."
Last week a man pointed to two young lads and said, "There is our political future."
One lad expressed his disdain for politics, rejecting taking on the responsibility. This isn't the sentiment only of young Canadians. It is too common in all age groups. And it weakens government in municipal, provincial and federal levels, each with their constitutionally established responsibilities.
I have sat in a polling station and handed ballots to voters who had no idea which level of government they were voting for, Bayham, Ontario or Canada in Ottawa.
Blame for such ignorance can be laid on the provincial school curricula. We teach about sexual orientations, bullying, and let our kids grow up with no understanding of the political system that creates the rules of our society.
You who live north of Straffordville have higher assessments than those to the south. This means you pay perhaps double the taxes to pay bills than others do. If you choose to keep quiet during this opportunity to guide planning it will cost you. If your income is close to basic needs you may lose your property when taxes rise.
I said the Ojibwa isn't involved in the present business. It is, though, an example of failing to make your wishes known. Your silence was taken as a yes, which put us all behind the eight-ball.
Time is short, talk with your neighbours. This not the time to point fingers in blame. Find out the issues and get those suggestions into council's hands before the deadline, Monday, April 6th by 4:30 p.m.