Who would have thought it? Sewers symbolic of peace
Editorial

It has been wisely said, in many, many different ways that it is impossible to please everybody.

Taking that as a given, it still fills one with a certain amount of awe that the new sewer system planned for Inglewood is going in as peacefully as it is.

We submit this is a tribute to the officials who realized the need for such a system, the politicians and other people who had the good sense to explain all this to the community from the start, and the members of the community who had the good sense to listen.

This is a far cry from what has been known to happen in other communities.

In King City, for example, the need was established some years ago for a sanitary sewer system to replace aging and, in many cases, malfunctioning septic systems. Fair enough, but the upshot was several years of community turmoil, with people touting the health benefits arguing with those who feared the enhanced infrastructure would be a great accommodation to increased urban sprawl. The fact the community of Maple, with massive amounts of development experienced there, was just a couple of miles to the south didn't help calm the fears very much.

No amount of arguments would shake either side from their positions. The issue went before the Ontario Municipal Board, and later the courts, as some in the community made repeated efforts to stop it. Large amounts of money were spent by both sides in legal and consulting fees. It turned out to be the key issue in a couple of municipal elections, and the council of King Township spent three years in a faction fight as a result.

Things have gone so much more smoothly in Inglewood.

True, there are going to be problems that will have to be dealt with. You don't stick pipes in the ground without causing some disruption, and residents are going to be put to some expense to connect to the new system.

But the really heartening part of this is those are the issues people seem to be focusing on now. That was one of the points that clearly came through at the public information session held in Inglewood late last month. We have various groups and individuals looking for ways to minimize the disruption, and cut the costs as much as possible.

Based on the way things have gone to date, this has been a job well done. We wonder if the people involved realize just how well done.