"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Monday 24 February 2014

Go See For Yourself

I took a tour. My daughter volunteered to drive so that I could take it all in.

I went to  Richmond Hill, to the proposed new joint facility site, driveway to Lambert Wilson Park,
 Scanlon Court ...our hydro  property site  and Tim Horton's at John West Parkway

It mattered  not how many  people attended  open house at Scanlon Court.

Until now, there's been no dispute about the need for more space.

Liqui Force is the outfit that gets a million dollar  town contract  every year to line pipes with plastic.
They have five trucks in the town's  yard.

 Even if they  are working now, why would they not have their  own yard and building.

Why does Dimonte,  maintenance contractor for town sewer and water breaks,  not have
their own facilities?

Where's  the sense in contracting out work while providing the contractor with operating space?

What kind of  business is it that doesn't have their own premises?

The  kind that gets contracts with Aurora, the town that gazes  with equanimity at  incurring
millions of dollars  of debt for space.

Even with  snow cover,  piles of rubble and  cast away metal were  visible in the yard.


On the same road ,we drove  to another town site; the Hydro property.

Three cars were  parked in front. In  a far corner of the vacant yard of several acres, sat two military vehicles. Three non-military vehicles  were  tucked in close behind the building.

On the same road  two town-owned properties , one poorly organized .accommodating  vehicles  and supplies  with no  clear right to be there and  down the road a huge vacant yard accommodating one  truck and smaller vehicle clearly identified as military.

Still,  on the same road farther north , is the site for the new joint facility. A beautiful picture shows
a fine new architect -designed building on a nice level site.

Immediately on  the south  edge  of the property is  driveway access to the Aurora Arboretum. The incline does not have to be imagined.  It can be experienced .

A foray  in to several nearby developed sites  provide  a view of retaining walls of various heights
 and lengths are built to provide levels sufficient for construction and parking.

It's all there. Anyone can see it.

A conducted tour is not likely to be offered.

But  it's not really necessary. You can take it yoursef.


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Meanwhile, tonight Council will discuss why our taxes have to remain so high when compared to similar towns.

Anonymous said...

What an odd budget meeting ! Was that a mini-boycott ? Or are candidates starting to take cover ? Just asking

Anonymous said...

Geez…5 trucks in the town’s yard? I have a couple of vans that need a home for the winter. Can I park them their too? That would solve the problem for that group home that has the problem with their bus on their property that the neighbors don’t want to see.

Anonymous said...

We do not do a good job with the land and building already owned.

Anonymous said...


We need a Director of Property Management.