Unincorporated areas near Georgetown looking to become a resort municipality

Some people who live in the unincorporated areas near Georgetown, P.E.I., are hoping to join together to have a stronger voice in the discussions about amalgamation

• 'Kept so quiet': Details of amalgamation kept under wraps, say some residents

A group of concerned citizensfrom Georgetown Royalty and Burnt Pointhas come up with the idea of trying to incorporate those communities as a resort municipality, in an effort to gain equal status to the seven municipalities that currently make upthe Three Rivers region.

Representatives from the municipalities have been holding meetings about amalgamation for the past two years.

John Walsh lives in Burnt Point, P.E.I.Hewas invited to the meetings last fall and representedthe unincorporated areas.

However, hesaidthat gesture was not enough.

We have no voice at the table.- John Walsh, Burnt Point resident

'No voice at the table'

"Right now we have no voice at the table, he said. "We listen, we go there and listen, andwe're not getting much information. But this way, we should have more access to what's going on."

Walsh saidhe wants to make sure theconcerns of rural residents are addressed, the biggest being taxes.

"The biggest concern is, what it's going to cost us," Walsh said.

150 people attend community meeting

Walsh was one of the organizers ofa community meeting held in Brudenell, P.E.I., on Monday night. He said about 150 people attended.

At the meeting, participantsdecided to try and incorporate and gathered signatures for a petition.

Next,the petition will be submitted to Robert Mitchell,the minister of communities land and environment on Thursday, in order to get the groupanother stepcloser to incorporating.

Organizers said their aim in trying to become a resort municipality isn't tostop amalgamation from happening.

However, ifit does happen, they want to ensure its done in a way that works best for rural residents.

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