Our road to ruin is paved with bad patches
Sir: Did you know that our expert city officials approved over $830,000 for the new 'concrete boardwalk' beside Ferry Dock Hill?
At the same time, funding for urban street maintenance was decreased by 53% in the last budget, from $2.3 million to a sad total of $1.1 million — for the entire city!
This leaves every road user with hundreds of poorly patched streets and aged potholes to negotiate around in our decayed asphalt jungle. [At the same time, we have a $7-million ‘great lawn’ and four new boat ramps at Centennial Park.]
We live in the north end of Sarnia and either walk or bike almost every day in one of four directions from our small home.
Two months ago I called the city engineer to advise him of a pavement hazard on a neighbourhood street; clumps of loose asphalt that caused me to almost go ass-over-teakettle above the handlebars of my old CCM.
He responded quietly, stating, “that problem would be fixed very soon.”
The definition of ‘soon’ at City Hall must be different than in otherworlds, because those crumbled asphalt chunks remain untouched to this day.
As outlined recently in a Journal article about the poor condition of city streets, there is no sign of a repair blitz being approved any time soon.
Given the standard budgetary excuses from City Hall, I’d like to suggest that every issue of The Journal include a photographic example of a BAD temporary road repair job.
Readers could guess the location of the 'patch job' in the (faint) hope it will trigger action.
Possibly a local firm could offer a prize for guessing the location of that week’s crappy repair job.
Will this idea work? At worst, the visual 'shaming’ will draw attention to the problem and it could have positive results. But it’s up to you, my fellow citizens.
And City Council? Maybe next term folks!
J.G. Dickson
Sarnia
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Say no to proposed dog park
Sir: The proposed dog park in Germain Park has the potential to go from a good visit to a bad visit in a matter of seconds.
Give the enormous volume of children, baseball and tennis players, lawn bowlers, memorial garden-goers, joggers, bikers, walkers, dog walkers and concert-goers; it seems all that activity would be disruptive to the dogs and as well the people in the park.
To encourage the inflation of the dog population in a highly populated people park is a recipe for disaster. Dogs are extremely unpredictable.
The proposed site is also the last easily accessible grass area that hasn’t been consumed by sports, gardens and concert areas.
Shouldn’t it be left for the mothers and their toddlers, the seniors, the family picnics and the disabled, or do the dogs come first?
The children in this area have lost their swings, Jackson pool and the Germain Arena, yet a splash pad for dogs has been suggested.
Walking your dog on a leash is a win-win for both owners and their pets. We all get the exercise and the potential hazards of a dog park are eliminated.
Directing our money toward the safety, development and recreational needs of our children should be more important than a dog park.
Please help with our No Bark in the Park and email City Hall at [email protected]
Jim Glover
Sarnia
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Another vote against dog park
Sir: In her Sept. 15 letter, Ms. Marian Glover raises a good point about the dog park the city has proposed for Germain Park.
How is its use going to be regulated, and I add, "Who is going to enforce the Do's and Don'ts?"
Canatara Park and the Suncor Energy Trail have clear signs about dogs. However, on most of my visits there, individuals or families have let loose their dog(s) in nature or on the beach.
For one thing, I have never seen a police car in the park. For another, there is more than one dog owner who thinks that bylaws do not apply to them or their four-legged friend(s).
I say ‘No’ to the off-leash park proposal.
Claudette Deshaies
Sarnia
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Merci, Sarnia, for recognizing French heritage
Sir: I would like to personally thank the City of Sarnia, and the members of city council for their adoption of the resolutions put forward by myself, and Natalie Therrien Normand.
Flying the Franco-Ontarien flag on a permanent basis and illuminating city hall in the colours of green and white for a week in September will greatly increase the visibility of the Francophone community in Sarnia, and broaden acceptance of the French language. Francophones, Francophiles and those learning French have often faced barriers in exercising their linguistic rights. Sarnia has taken a bold step in honouring our bilingual heritage as a nation, and for that, we are gracious.
It is our sincere hope that this increase in visibility will increase the curiosity of the citizenry in wanting to learn French, and in recognizing the role that our language has played in the development of our national history, provincial economy and social conscious, and will continue to play in the future.
If anyone is looking to learn a bit of French, we are always looking to share our stories and heritage with those who would listen at the Centre communautaire francophone at 3-901 Rapids Parkway.
Alors, un très grand merci encore Sarnia.
Christopher Ralph
Natalie Therrien Normand
Danielle Silverthorne
Sarnia
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Do you know where your teens are?
Sir: I would just like to bring to the attention of Bright’s Grove parents that they need to ask their young teenagers where they are at 10:30 p.m.
You may think they are at their friend’s house. But let me tell you, they are not. They are in the park area screaming and shouting on most Friday and Saturday evenings.
Parents should take a drive by one of those evenings and look to see if one of the teenagers there is theirs. If they are, please take them home and give us some well-earned sleep time.
Sue Topley
Sarnia
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Car show organizers say thanks
Sir: The Rutherglen Close Car Show was held Saturday Sept. 17th, and despite the rainy weather we managed to have approximately 75 cars in the show and raise a good donation for the Salvation Army.
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Rutherglen Close residents, the many businesses who donated gifts and prizes, all the volunteers who helped set up and execute the show, the car show committee, the Salvation Army volunteers and, of course, the people who brought their cars to the show.
We look forward to the 2017 car show!
Dan Moore
Sarnia
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Elect deputy mayor at ballot box
Sir: There's no need for city council to appoint a deputy mayor at this time.
Mayor Bradley said he "reached out" to city manager Marg Misek-Evans, indicating his willingness to continue working with her. Misek-Evans chose not to respond to his offer, and this lack of cooperation has disrupted operations at city hall.
In the real world, refusing to work with "difficult" bosses got you the unemployment line.
Certainly, a deputy mayor position should be on the ballot at our next election. A large corporation needs a "back-up" to step in as necessary.
Mayor Bradley has done a terrific job, but illness and emergencies do occur. I had an assistant manager, the Queen has her heirs, and our mayor needs a proper deputy.
Until the next election, city council needs to concentrate on city business, not waste time finding a go-between for the city manager.
Dorothy Allan
Sarnia