Although he intends to say no to an offer from Fort Frances, Alberton Reeve John Milling and the rest of the township council are inviting residents to have their say.
Reeve Milling said he was considering a proposal from the town which included doing away with a clause referring to Alberton’s population.
According to the original title, Alberton residents have the right to use the dump at rates identical to those of Fort Frances residents as long as the population remained under 1,500 people.
Reeve Milling had suggested the population cap be hiked or removed completely–a suggestion Fort Frances town council clearly did away with in an amended letter to Alberton council.
“It was our concern that when our population reached 1,501, Fort Frances could close the dump. They said yeah, they would remove it providing our boundaries don’t change,” he explained.
“We thought that was reasonable and that we would be guaranteed the same rates as Fort Frances residents.
“I was willing to bring that to the people but now they seem to have changed that and I can tell you right now we won’t vote for it because it’s just not right,” Reeve Milling added.
Fort Frances is offering to continue to pay taxes for four years after the municipal boundaries are expanded to include the landfill site. Payments which, at current rates, would equal about $1,700 a year.
Alberton residents are invited to voice their views on the issue at the municipal office tomorrow at 7 p.m.
Following the public session, Alberton council will hold a special meeting to decide whether or not to accept the town’s offer.
Fort Frances council also indicated in a letter it will send representatives to Alberton’s public session.
Before the Alberton meeting, the Fort Frances committee of the whole of council will hold an in-camera meeting to discuss the negotiations.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
