Council to deal with skunk problem

Windsor city council will deal with skunks when it meets Monday night.

Earlier this year,council approved $80,000 to deal with the city's skunk problem, butit was never clear how that money would bespent. A staff report regarding that spending approval will be presented Monday night.

City administration says trapping and killing the animals is not the solution.

It suggests Herby Curby containers for yard and organic waste might keep the skunk population from growing.

Coun. Fulvio Valentinis is not convinced.

"The proposal is to tryfor a three-month period give out Herby Curbys, the effects would be negligible. Some people would rent them for three months and then that would be the end of it," Valentinis explained. "I can't see spending $50,000 just on giving out free rentals of Herby Curbys as a skunk removal remediation plan."

Valentinis also thinks a trap-and-release program would be difficult because provincial rules mean you can't pick up a skunk and move it more than a kilometre.

Council to decideon basketball floor

Also tonight, council will deal with the request from the new Express basketball team for a new floor at the WFCU Centre.

Council will decidewhether to spend $125,000 to buy a new basketball floor.

Coun. Al Maghnieh is not sold on the idea, especially since the team is only making a one-year commitment.

"I hope to ask some questions of council and listen to the delegations, listen to the presentations from both sides, and then make an informed decision based on a real solid business plan and one that's realistic," Maghnieh said. "The numbers don't quite add up, yet. Maybe I'm missing something and I hope that we can get some more information and then make an informed decision, one that's based on a good business model."

Last week,Coun. Alan Halberstadt said he was "leaning toward voting yes"but admitted he, too, had questions.