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Town will have to put up cash It's been an interesting start to the new year for members of council. We had a presentation in the first week from Halton Healthcare Services asking for Town funds to help offset the costs of a CT scanner as well as improvements to the Emergency and Diagnostic Imaging departments of our hospital. Typically this is a provincial mandate. We have been told that if we wait for the Province to supply funds, it may be 7-8 years or longer before we get the funds. Council held a public meeting on this issue and we heard a variety of points of view and I am now trying to get the Province to come to the table with some coin. Time will tell in the upcoming weeks if I will be successful. I am working from behind an eight-ball as there are close to 80 hospital projects throughout Ontario looking for funds. I am doing my best to put forth reasonable arguments to get the Province to open their purse strings. Make no mistake, if we want this, the Town will have to put some money into it or it will be years before we get this essential piece of equipment. Hopefully the Province will also be at the table with funds-- as they should. ··· Arenas have also dominated council's agenda. Members of council, including myself, have received many emails and comments from the community. Comments have been both pro and con. I would like to publicly thank all of those who took the time to share their opinions with me. 7 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday, February 22, 2011 Rick Bonnette Council has deferred this decision until Monday, Feb. 28 so that we can look at all options that may be available at reducing the impact to the taxpayer. One question that has come up in many emails and comments is "Get developers to pay". This is a very valid comment and the answer is `yes'! Through development fees developers will be offsetting a good portion of the costs, as well, there will be a voluntary $1,000 fee on every new home built to help offset some of the costs of the arenas. Anyway, all the scenarios will be shared at the meeting on Feb. 28. ··· Congratulations to `Mr. Halton Hills' Graeme Goebelle on his provincial appointment to the Local Health Integrated Network (LHIN). He will be a strong voice for our hospital. ··· Keeping it real! I can be reached by telephone at 905-873-2601, ext. 2342, or by email at mayor@haltonhills.ca or you can read my blog at www.rickbonnette.blogspot.com --Rick Bonnette is the mayor of Halton Hills By Cory Soal R.H.A.D. . . . 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