The Auroran
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INSIDE AURORA: Predictions for 2015


By Scott Johnston

Two weeks ago we looked back at what happened in 2014 in Aurora.
Today, we turn our minds forward to predict what we may expect to see in Town in 2015.
As the Pan Am Games approach, Aurorans will complain about our Town being left out of hosting any of the many sporting events. This will change to sighs of relief when they see how bad traffic congestion is all summer in those municipalities that do have venues.
The elimination of home delivery by Canada Post will result in more people interacting with their neighbours at their new super mailboxes.
From a Town beautification perspective, the introduction of the clear bag program for curbside garbage pickup will be met with a collective “ick!”
Petch House will finally be fully occupied, but only for the 6 hours during “Doors Open”.
Aurorans will continue to shun the many opportunities for the public to provide input into the Town's budget.
Ironically, they will then come out in droves to complain about any resultant property tax increases.
Further efforts to calm traffic in town through such measures as reducing lanes on Yonge Street, restricting left turn options, adding more speed humps, and cracking down on parking, will have the opposite effect on driver calmness.
During public consultation on what to do with the $33M in hydro funds, each of the Town's residents will have their own opinion, resulting in over 50,000 different suggestions.
During Aurora's annual spring Clean-Up Day, no less than 7 signs will be found from the 2014 municipal election.
The number of new reports and studies requested by Council and initiated by staff will far exceed the number of recommendations acted upon from previously requested studies.
Following the success of the 2015 Home Show, the Chamber of Commerce will kick itself for not moving this event to the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex sooner.
As Emerald Ash Borers continue to chew their way through Town, having a mature elm tree on one's property will become less of a status symbol than having a mature ash tree.
Continuing a tradition observed more than once in 2014, the budget for the Joint Operations Centre will increase at least one more time before construction is completed.
Council will vote to decrease the number of lawn signs candidates will be allowed to display during the 2018 election, but will not reduce the number of councillors, despite strong support for that in the recent ballot question.
Following the 2015 Federal election, the winning candidates in the ridings of Newmarket-Aurora and Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill will fight over who will write the “Ottawa Report” column on page 5 of The Auroran.
As for another columnist on that page, Stephen Somerville will once again incorrectly predict the outcome of the Leafs' season (sorry, Stephen).
The opening of the youth space in the newly-renovated Leisure Complex will not stop critics from complaining that the Town still does not have a dedicated youth centre.
Other things many people will not be happy about; oversight of the Cultural Centre budget and/or historical collection, yet another summer water ban, rampant overgrowth of dandelions on boulevards, and whatever development is proposed for the Highland Gate property.
On the plus side, if people are more comfortable with no change, decisions or progress is unlikely to be made at all on the ward issue, the Yonge Street promenade development, the future of library square, or any of the ongoing council-based lawsuits.

Feel free to e-mail Scott at: machellscorners@gmail.com

Post date: 2015-01-21 18:34:51
Post date GMT: 2015-01-21 23:34:51

Post modified date: 2015-02-04 16:34:51
Post modified date GMT: 2015-02-04 21:34:51

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