Municipal clerks for La Vallee, Emo, and Alberton are going to begin the daunting task of doing an joint review on possible cost savings through amalgamation.
After a question-and-answer session with Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing reps last week, the clerks will get together to see whether a single municipal office and council would be more cost-efficient.
“I think talking to La Vallee and Emo about amalgamation will involve a lot of work,” admitted Alberton Reeve Judy Koski. “We just met with the ministry last week. We were told that the first step is to get the clerks together and make a [hypothetical] budget.”
The three municipalities agreed back in February to undertake a feasibility study on the pros and cons of amalgamating. The clerks will meet this coming Monday to begin the first, most basic steps in the process.
“At this point, we’re not looking at where the council office is going to be and things like that,” noted Alberton clerk Faye Flatt. “We’ve all been brainstorming a little but at this point, none of us really know what to expect.”
The whole idea also remains tentative among the three municipal councils but by negotiating and identifying duplication, they hope to understand how much more efficient amalgamating would really be.
“Council doesn’t really know what to expect because there are all the ‘what ifs,’” reasoned Flatt.
Emo Reeve Brian Reid said there’s plenty of time to consider the possibility of amalgamation without hurrying through the process.
“With amalgamation, right now we’re not a target area unless someone calls for a commission,” he noted. “I’m sure maybe there would be some small savings–I can’t see any other reason for doing it.
“It would be very difficult because everybody would like to see the municipal office in their area,” he added.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
