April 6, 2011
Townships pull out of
economic development
by Vance Gutzman
The townships of Head, Clara and Maria (HCM) are pulling the plug on
their participation in a municipal partnership aimed at promoting
economic development.
The municipality announced last week that it is opting out of the area
economic development committee.
That committee is comprised of HCM, Laurentian Hills and Deep River,
with Deep River's planning and development officer, John Walden,
spearheading efforts on behalf of all three municipalities.
In a letter sent to Walden last week, HCM clerk Melinda Reith stated
that, as of June 30, the municipality will cease its membership on the
committee.
"Council felt that the funds expended for membership do not
specifically benefit Head, Clara and Maria or its residents, especially
those further west of Stonecliffe, and would be better spent
elsewhere," Reith stated.
Head, Clara and Maria contributed $3,600 towards the economic
development committee in 2010, and, at its March 18 meeting where the
decision to opt out was made, allocated $1,800 for this year's
half-year membership.
Head, Clara and Maria Reeve Tammy Stewart said the decision to pull out
of the economic development committee was initiated during recent
budget talks in her municipality.
"The expense cannot be justified for the level of service we're
receiving," Stewart said.
"I appreciate all the work John Walden has done for us, but at this
time, we've decided to pursue other options."
Those options, she said, include relying on the Ottawa Valley Tourist
Association and self-promotion for its purposes of economic development.
"We're going to see where that takes us," she said.
Stewart's sentiments were echoed by Head, Clara and Maria Councillor
Jim Gibson.
"We felt we were not getting good value for our money," Gibson said.
"The efforts by John Walden have always been superb, but the benefits
were not justified by the cost."
Gibson added that the decision to opt out was not one Head, Clara and
Maria made lightly, and said the decision to remain a member of the
committee until the end of June was made so as not to hamper the joint
effort being made by all three municipalities to participate in Renfrew
County's Expo 150 celebrations, which are being held that month.
"We want to stay in and help with the county's celebration," said
Gibson.
Disappointed
Head, Clara and Maria's decision did not, understandably, come as
welcome news to Walden.
"I'm a little disappointed," the economic development officer said.
"Head, Clara and Maria has been a part of this ever since I've been
here."
Walden acknowledges that Head, Clara and Maria has every right to pull
out of the committee.
"But what surprised me more than anything was the timing," he said,
noting that the graphite mine being proposed for Bissett Creek is back
in the news once again, and he'd like to play a role in helping to get
it off the ground.
"I really love that mining project because it is in Head, Clara and
Maria," Walden said.
"I think I can help that process. I felt I could do something concrete
for them."
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