Dear Editor:
Cobden, Ontario was once one of the most progressive and promising villages in Renfrew County. But, in the last 10 years it’s lost its way.
In its early days Cobden was set up for success — it was founded on a picturesque lake on the confluence of two major highways,
But, its great potential for growth and prosperity is being undermined by a small group of citizens whose negative actions are dragging their community down.
With their negative ideas it is nearly impossible to promote new initiatives that could help bring Cobden economic stability.
Things like helping Whitewater Brewery and building two new subdivisions would bring much needed jobs and population growth. These actions would mean that the community could finance the much-need upgrades to the sewer plant and could defer the costs over a larger population as well as keeping the community vibrant.
These important initiatives are being stifled by petty issues such as dog tags, which have so far cost the township over $14,000 in legal fees, and has tied up council from doing other work, such as trying to save Westmeath Public School from being closed.
Council is also currently dealing a local takeout owner over fire regulations that will cost the taxpayer countless more dollars.
The citizens who are pushing these personal agendas, four who ran for council and didn’t get in by the way, don’t seem to care about the 6,000 other citizens in the township.
In a time of economic restraint that is seeing a near crisis for local schools and institutions, I can’t believe that issues like dog tags and a fire suppressant that all restaurants are required to have, is affecting all of us so negatively. The productivity of council is being eroded by these people and their trivial issues. This affects all of us in Whitewater Region.
Cobden is at a crossroads. It can choose whether it wants to be bogged down in negativity or get over the personal vendettas of a few selfish citizens and move on with the rest of the township — because Cobden is being left behind.
The views expressed are my own.
Dave Mackay, Councillor
Township of Whitewater Region
