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 sewer plant and could defer the cost over a larger population as well as keeping the community vibrant. These initiatives are being stifled by petty issues such as dog tags and which have so far cost the township over $14 000 in legal fees and has tied up council from doing work such as trying to save Westmeath Public School and other important initiatives. Council is also currently pressuring 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 6000 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.
Cobden is at a crossroads and 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, Whitewater Councillor
