Councillor questions shared service approach

A township councillor is questioning the approach of sharing services between municipalities, in light of the recent decision by two Huron County communities to largely abandon the practice.

As of Feb. 17 the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry and the Township of North Huron ceased to operate a joint public services department, citing the fact anticipated cost savings did not materialize.

However the two municipalities agreed to continue sharing building department services.

Mapleton councillor Dennis Craven told council at its Feb. 7 meeting that he  had been approached at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference last month by a councillor from a neighbouring municipality expressing interest in the shared service concept.

Noting he was also approached on the topic by a councillor from a different municipality at the 2016 conference, Craven pointed out the Huron municipalities had elected to discontinue the practice.

“It didn’t work out for them,” he noted.