Vol. 7, Issue 39
Free of Charge
Thursday, December 10, 2020
New light tours help community get holiday glow on
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CATHY DOBSON THE JOURNAL
community-wide effort to add some cheer to a challenging holiday season is lighting up local streets and parks at a level unseen in recent memory. “If there was ever a year we needed something to smile about, this is it,” says Scott Williams, the mastermind behind a series of holiday light tours in Sarnia-Lambton. For the past few years, Williams mapped out driving routes for friends and family to see homes named the best decorated by the Celebration of Lights team. This year, he was inspired to expand the concept after Crystal Boulton’s Haunted House Halloween driving tours became a huge hit. “People asked me to put it out there and see who wanted to be part of a holiday light tour,” said Williams. “It took off like wildfire.” Last year’s tour featured 20 houses. This year, 115 houses and 13 routes are mapped out on a Facebook group called Sarnia-Lambton 2020 Holiday A MINION GREETS visitors arriving to view the decorations at this house on Borden Street, one of the 115 homes and 13 routes comprising the Lights Tour. newly organized Holiday Lights Tour. TROY SHANTZ The Journal Continued on 4
Budget ups taxes 2%, targets city's infrastructure
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TROY SHANTZ THE JOURNAL
arnia council approved a budget last week that will increase taxes 2% and direct a whopping $61.8 million to capital improvements, including the largest volume of road resurfacing in
city history. Councillors did some belt-tightening before approving the $155.8-million 2021 spending package, a job aided in part by unspent COVID-19 relief funding. The bottom line for residential property owners: an additional $17.34 in taxes on each $100,000 of assessment.
Items council axed on the chopping block included $600,000 for an outdoor skating rink in Centennial Park, and $750,000 to dredge the mouth of Cow Creek in Bright’s Grove. Council instead approved $50,000 dredging assessment and report. A $50,000 disc golf course was also cut.
LIST WITH WALT
“If ever there was a year to concentrate on our basic priorities, this is the year,” said Coun. Mike Stark. Fees for service were held at current levels and year-overyear increases on fees charged to businesses eliminated. But council did not support Coun. Bill Dennis’ push for a zero tax increase by using
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money from reserves. A tax freeze “would impact just about every department in the city,” treasurer Holly Reynolds noted. An ambition program to address aging infrastructure includes a record $18.2 million for Sarnia’s crumbling roads and bridges. Continued on 11