DEAR EDITOR:

So Rebecca you say, “It’s official — the Grinch has stolen Christmas in Canton this year.” Really!? Are you serious!?

It’s just a bunch of plastic light fixtures. It can be changed, swapped, and replaced. I’ve lost count of how many times the need to replace the Christmas lights has been discussed in council meetings over the past four years.

Until this week, never, not one single time ever, has any citizen mentioned to me any preference, choice, or opinion about Christmas lights.

Last January the Canton Tourism Board and the Street Department started looking at replacement lights. The old ones were just worn out; literally held together with bailing wire and duct tape.

Why the Tourism Board? The Christmas light money was in their budget because selection of Christmas lights is their responsibility. Why the Street Department? Maintenance and installation of the lights is their responsibility. Together, these two bodies recommended the selections that the City Council approved.

Now the Main Street Board Chairman Bill Grant is all bent out of shape because he was not consulted. Well Bill Grant attends most council meetings.

Assuming Bill Grant actually listens at the meetings between his yelling and booing, he was well aware of the situation.

If this was such a big deal to the Main Street Board, why did the Main Street Director Ginger Garrard (annual salary $42,000 of your tax dollars) not say anything?

So Rebecca, do you remember how the Grinch story ends? Just when we think all is lost, what happens?

Go watch the entire thing again. Be happy. Merry Christmas.

Bill Bryan

Canton City Council member