Meaford council will soon (as early as next Monday night) decide whether or not to formally participate in the new YMCA/Recreation Centre project being undertaken by the the City of Owen Sound and the YMCA.

At council's January 18 planning meeting members of the steering committee responsible for designing the new facility and leading the project through the construction phase requested council appoint a representative to the committee.

The request for an appointment did not come with any financial strings attached. Council has not been formally approached about contributing funds for the construction of the facility.

We commend the members of the steering committee for their presentation and the information they provided. Clearly, there is a need in the local area for the new facility. There is a lot of interest, spread across multiple municipalities, in having a new and expanded YMCA/Recreation Centre built.

Following the presentation by the steering committee members and the discussions that ensued afterwards we saw no compelling reason for the Municipality of Meaford to get involved with the project. However, we also saw no compelling reason for the Municipality of Meaford not to get involved.

Meaford has not been asked to contribute money to the project. This municipality has been asked to contribute input during the design and construction phase. That request does not come with a price tag. Meaford does not face an: "If you join us, you will pay" situation in this matter.

Will a financial request be made to Meaford in the future? That appears to go without saying, however, nobody involved in this project is wearing rose-coloured glasses. Meaford councillors have clearly and repeatedly said: "We don't have the money to contribute to this." Owen Sound has not asked for money at this point. However, if and when the city does ask that question we doubt there will be any shock or surprise when Meaford declines to make a financial contribution to the facility. This municipality's current financial issues have been well documented.

At this point the main question is this: what does Meaford have to lose by appointing an elected official to the steering committee?

In our view the answer is: nothing.

We believe that it has been clearly communicated by municipal leaders in Meaford that getting involved at this point does not in any way imply a cheque will be in the mail.