Amalgamation
Group looking at regional co-operation in Évangéline
ABRAM-VILLAGE — A group examining a regional municipality for the Évangéline region is planning a public meeting to discuss the issue next week.
The working committee will host an open house and drop-in information and discussion session Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Évangéline School.
To encourage more participation, the committee will hold two sessions; one in the afternoon from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and one in the evening from 7 to 9 p.m. Residents are free to come at any time that is convenient for them in order to inform themselves on the project and to discuss issues and areas of concern with the consultants, Brighter Community Planning and Consulting. The sessions will be held in English and in French.
The working committee, composed of representatives from the municipalities of Wellington and Abram-Village, along with the Conseil scolaire-communautaire Évangéline and other community representatives, has been working on the project for several months and has recently retained the services of Brighter Community Planning and Consulting to undertake a Growth Management Study for the area.
A map of the suggested area is available on the new website: www.municipalite-evangeline. ca. Over the next few weeks, the consultants will explore the many aspects involved in establishing a new regional municipality.
The committee said an important element in the process is communicating with local residents and business representatives in order to understand their views and concerns
Area residents can also voice their opinions and comments by completing an online survey currently accessible in French and English on the new Vision Évangéline website at www.municipalite-evangeline.ca. Paper copies of the survey are available at the Conseil scolaire-communautaire Évangéline office (situated at the Évangéline school) and can be returned there once completed.
The brief survey will be a starting point for people to think about the regional municipality concept and what it might mean for the future of a local government that would look at providing essential services to the area and work toward the growth and development of the Évangéline and surrounding area.
The consultants will be using the information obtained at the open house sessions and through the survey to guide their efforts, and to provide feedback to the community in a second discussion meeting to be held at a later date. Regular updates and reports will be made available on the new website.