The county of Barrhead ratepayers shared their views about the possibility of amalgamation between the town and the county during the annual ratepayers meeting on March 18.
Dawson Buttler, county ratepayer, asked County Reeve Bill Lee what was going on in regards to the amalgamation.
“What’s going on with this game that the town is playing with the county as far as amalgamation goes?” he asked.
Lee explained that it was during a town meeting in September that town council made a motion to proceed with discussions of amalgamation with the county.
“They can initiate it, and the fact is, we have to be there in good faith,” Lee said, adding the Municipal Government Act does not require both parties to sign off on the letter sent to Municipal Affairs, however both parties should be involved in the discussions.
“We should be throwing back a little bit at them if they are going to throw it at the county,” Buttler said, adding he isn’t happy with the idea of amalgamation.
“This is something that has to be dealt with quite effectively and quite rapidly,” he said.
Recreation another touchy topic
Coun. Darrell Troock brought up another sensitive subject.
“Recreation is really a tender topic,” Troock said. “I can spend hours, and my blood pressure goes through the roof talking about recreation.”
Troock explained how recreation does help with property values, and it does entertain the youth of Barrhead.
“I’m a really anti-pool guy,” Troock said. “Just because of the cost of them. They’re giant vacuums of money.”
Troock said although the town and county councils have their disagreements, they do work together in most cases.
One ratepayer disagreed with Troock when it came to the importance of recreation.
Dale Greig said he’s an advocate for projects such as the aquatic centre.
“One of the things that I have been an advocate for, for many years is recreation,” Greig said. “The unfortunate part about this pool is it has caused a lot of controversy on both sides.”
Greig added that he spent a large amount of time at a pool growing up, and believes the aquatic centre is important for the community.
“I don’t think there’s any question, to have it properly built so it lasts and stays in good shape is important,” he said, adding the sharing costs of recreation has been an issue between the town and county for a number of years.
“The sharing of all of the recreation, and the county and the town need to come together so everybody knows where the costs are and whose paying for what at this point,” Greig said, adding the county does do a large amount of work in the rural areas for recreation.
“We need to have that communication,” Greig said.
Lee explained how the county contributes to recreational costs for facilities.
“The county of Barrhead ratepayers shared their views about the possibility of amalgamation between the town and the county during the annual ratepayers meeting on March 18.
Dawson Buttler, county ratepayer, asked County Reeve Bill Lee what was going on in regards to the amalgamation.
“What’s going on with this game that the town is playing with the county as far as amalgamation goes?” he asked.
Lee explained that it was during a town meeting in September that town council made a motion to proceed with discussions of amalgamation with the county.
“They can initiate it, and the fact is, we have to be there in good faith,” Lee said, adding the Municipal Government Act does not require both parties to sign off on the letter sent to Municipal Affairs, however both parties should be involved in the discussions.
“We should be throwing back a little bit at them if they are going to throw it at the county,” Buttler said, adding he isn’t happy with the idea of amalgamation.
“This is something that has to be dealt with quite effectively and quite rapidly,” he said.
Coun. Darrell Troock brought up another sensitive subject.
“Recreation is really a tender topic,” Troock said. “I can spend hours, and my blood pressure goes through the roof talking about recreation.”
Troock explained how recreation does help with property values, and it does entertain the youth of Barrhead.
“I’m a really anti-pool guy,” Troock said. “Just because of the cost of them. They’re giant vacuums of money.”
Troock said although the town and county councils have their disagreements, they do work together in most cases.
One ratepayer disagreed with Troock when it came to the importance of recreation.
Dale Greig said he’s an advocate for projects such as the aquatic centre.
“One of the things that I have been an advocate for, for many years is recreation,” Greig said. “The unfortunate part about this pool is it has caused a lot of controversy on both sides.”
Greig added that he spent a large amount of time at a pool growing up, and believes the aquatic centre is important for the community.
“I don’t think there’s any question, to have it properly built so it lasts and stays in good shape is important,” he said, adding the sharing costs of recreation has been an issue between the town and county for a number of years.
“The sharing of all of the recreation, and the county and the town need to come together so everybody knows where the costs are and whose paying for what at this point,” Greig said, adding the county does do a large amount of work in the rural areas for recreation.
“We need to have that communication,” Greig said.
Lee explained how the county contributes to recreational costs for facilities.
“We will help you in kind, and we will help you, and help you, and help you, but we don’t want to take over,” Lee said, adding the county contributes to capital costs for recreation, but leaves the operational costs up to the facility.
