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Letter to the editor. (unedited)
From Norm Gurr

“THE DICKENS”, YOU SAY

A CHRISTMAS CAROL STORY IN REVERSE

So it was that the Spirit of Southampton’s Christmas Pasts appeared and awoke everyone from their slumber of not knowing or caring. They saw the images on the old town hall walls. They heard merry music, and laughter. The Spirit pointed as the “Sotonians” were having the most wonderful of times together enjoying Christmas every day of the year The 78 volunteer groups like a lot of Santa Clauses were giving so many major projects to each other, the community and the town that their friends on the Jolly Old Town Council and staff under Mayors Art Knecktel, Art Eby and CEO Wray Smith did not have to go shopping for the Sotonians. They could give Sotonians the present of “Never Tax Increases”.

There were the Friends of the Library, Hospital, Museum, Meals on Wheels and dozens of all such groups. All of the people were continually having fish fries and Wayne Burke “Hot Doggers” and creating innovative projects in fund raising And came the images of the June Fotherby led Shindigs. And the volunteers constructed the Chantry Seniors Center and it is self sustaining with dozens of activities There were packages of the no tax dollars Coliseum and Curling Rink. And appeared the scene of the deteriorating sand blown beach. Suddenly hundreds of Sotonians from children to seniors were planting a million reeds and creating the Dunes Park.

And the Sotonians were asked “What they wanted Southampton to be like in 10 years of Christmases yet to come?” And every Sotonian resident's list said such things as “Great representation in protecting our interests and not those of developers first by our council members, and especially Involvement as required in the decisions of things that affected them and their money, preserve and enhance our heritage, Our architectural Styles, Our Town’s Beauty-The Beach and The Environment. They wanted No Tax Increases, a by-pass, and No Traffic and Parking Problems. They asked that MPP Carol Mitchell with the Ontario Government should restore the vast schools of fish that were all extinct from sewage outflow. Their Christmas wish list included Enhancement of the Historic and Architectural Park like Setting of High Street and makes it into even more of a town center with every store enjoying prosperity.

And the Spirit showed how Sotonians formed “Team Southampton” to help make the Christmas wishes come true. And so it was that through volunteer groups that uncountable millions of dollars in ever giving gifts appeared under the Christmas trees. There was the Island project with over 100,000 and rising volunteer hours, Pioneer Park, the Boat House, Rotary’s McNabb Park and Chambette’s Sandpiper Court Parquet and Dominion Outlook. And the giant flag floated over the town’s unique beauty, And the Streetscape Committee arose and improved High Street’s appearance with old style lights. “Southampton Blooms” caused Flowers to appear everywhere. The Southampton Art School blossomed into over
100 activities as does the Museum and the Chantry Institute. There was Music in the Park. And the boat users themselves paid for their Chesley Street and Sail Boat docks. And in 3 months $1,300,000 were raised for the doctor’s offices. And under Bill Bowden’s town leadership the folks created Helliwell Soccer Athletic Field. And the vision of many more volunteer gifts appeared as the Sprit faded away. But not before showing Councillors Thede Seaman and Diane Huber with up rolled sleeves volunteering in the midst.

Then the vision of “the Specter of the Post Amalgamation Present” appeared. And our Councillor Elves had lost the Sotonian’s wish list. And there was Santa Mike Smith with all of his Elves deciding that from henceforth, every day shall be  Christmas for only Port Elgin, Southampton and the township would only get lumps of coal. So the Southampton taxpayers paid a share for  Port Elgin’s long time wish for the Plex. And the Sotonian’s town hall would be inconveniently vacated with money taken from High. The  administration and the local police station would be moved to Port Elgin’s affront to our architectural heritage pig barn styled town hall.

And the Ghost’s depictions showed that Sotonian’s key wishes for a vibrant High Street faded as the OP law was ignored. The beloved drug store was moved to the highway with Tim Hortons drawing customers away? And there was the vision of seniors, mothers with babies and  other non drivers bundled, and huddled in cold winds going for medicines. Yet the images showed nothing for High Street as Sotonian’s tax  dollars go to upgrade Port Elgin’s business street after the ill devised Wal-Mart had sucked away customers, And scenes showed Sotonian  businesses being excluded from Pumpkinfest as their taxes pay to help for it for Port Elgin businesses. And the Spectre showed cars stopped  at Port Elgin irritating unneeded stop lights every 2 blocks .And the next scene depicted everyone crossing themselves and praying for eternal
life or at least living wound fee until the next day at the Highway 21 rail trail crossing and as they were walking or driving across Grosvenor  and High Streets and at the Foodland Sauble Beach Road and Highway 21 intersection, No matter that the Ghost showed that the
Independent has a deluxe light.

And as the volunteers raised $1,300,000 for the Southampton doctor’s offices, Port Elgin’s was added to our tax bill. Taxpayers contributed to the Port Elgin Library upgrade while Southampton’s has money in reserve. The Apparition pointed at the Skate Board Park in Port Elgin. It said, “Our dollars are going to fix up Port Elgin’s waterfront.

Sotonians had saved and modernized its sewage plant and water works, and was debt free. But the naughty in Port Elgin had let theirs become obsolete. It was said in our Santa’s Elves view of fairness that all Sotonians should pay to replace them as we all can see on the water bills. Then to help developers and rich newcomers, Santa’s crew illegally in secrecy applied for stimulus grants for sewers north of the river.

And our Councillor Elves said with no shame while looking Sotonian’s in the eye, “Those residents must pay as They Benefit”. And there is no Boxing Day returns when 80% of these Sotonians voted “No Problems, No Want and No Need...We Do Not Benefit”

And Sotonians pay to maintain Port's airport for the wealthy as Southampton has private ones.

And the Spirit of Christmases yet to come appeared. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on studies for Port Elgin dreamed projects. And there were the lists of a $16,000,000 swimming pool on Port Elgin’s list. There was an additional spectacular expensive sports complex. And our Councillor Elf apologized for not involving the Southampton Residents Association in this as if it represents all Sotonians or even its own members in need. And the garbage dump that will cost 20 million dollars if it can be replaced had 48 years left at amalgamation. It now has 3.

And Southampton contributed 3 million dollars to amalgamation. And the agreement said it would enable a 20% tax cut.

And last year’s bills came in and the Elves seemed not concerned as the auditors said that they had spent a year in futility but still could not add them up to make dollars and sense. And they said the debt had doubled. Santa and the Elves said, “Do not worry. We can keep on borrowing. We still have a way to go as we are not at our borrowing limit yet for Port Elgin’s wants, not needs” And the spirit of the Sotonian’s asked our Councillor Elves, “Is this all not true?”

And the final vision was at the Soton cemetery. Merry music and laughter was wafting from Port Elgin.

And the ancestors could be heard rolling over in their graves, The Spirit of Southampton

Past haunting voice was heard from its grave echoing across the land moaning, “What did our beloved Southampton get and lose from amalgamation?” and “All should honestly answer the question, in this marriage,  WHO’S GETTING SCROOGED?”

And the New Year’s wish for 2011 is only to ask Bruce Futures for funding and hire Professor Douglas. And that council and Bruce County Planning should get out of the way, and that leaders like Mike Sterling be recruited to conduct a grass roots led new “What do the people of Saugeen Shores want it to be like 10 Christmases into the future?” And “What can we all do with a Team Saugeen Shores and volunteering, not tax dollars to get there?” Let us create from the Spirit a Southampton’s offspring a strong Spirit of Saugeen Shores which is the difference between it being not just another Town but a vibrant Spirit filled Community.

Let us thus create a Happy New Year and many happy Saugeen Shores Futures together. What say you council and the SRA?The word

Sotonians is the English ancient word of respect. It is the proper word for those that live in Southampton England and all places with that name.

 

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Tuesday, December 21, 2010