Islanders indicate strong support for incorporation

The governance survey that was mailed to Campobello Island residents and landowners on December 2, 2009, indicated that those who responded overwhelmingly want to move forward with incorporating the island as a rural community. Over half of the eligible voters responded, with 90%, 311 out of 349, in favour of incorporating and having a plebiscite on that issue. Four people said "maybe" to the plan, and it was approved 17 to 2 by non-residents.

Conducted by the Department of Local Government, the survey, which was anonymous, was the final step required to complete the process of the feasibility study begun in April 2009. The survey was accompanied by a summary of the feasibility report, with the full document available upon request.

"The governance committee is confident that we have met the requirements laid out by the provincial government and are awaiting an official statement by the end of March," says Stephen Smart, chairman of the Campobello Island Governance Committee (CIGC). "If all goes well we could have a mayor, clerk and four councillors in place and fighting for us in the fall of 2010."

Among the benefits the CIGC expects to get for its proposed 8.9 cents per 100 dollars of assessment, in addition to a unified, elected and accountable voice in the form of a mayor and council, are: the ability to purchase land, buildings and equipment needed to improve the quality of life on Campobello Island and assist in service delivery; access to development projects and grants that municipalities have been using for decades to meet the needs of their residents; and control over the local tax rate.

Other benefits would include the ability to hire staff to tackle issues such as job creation, recreation, grant-writing and more; the ability to partner with other communities in order to share services and save money; and the means to control and guide future development on Campobello Island and to keep the revenue from building permits granted on the island.

Rural Plan meeting scheduled

The Rural District Planning Commission is holding a meeting on Tuesday, March 16, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Campobello Island Consolidated School to begin the process of preparing a Rural Plan for the island. A working group of island residents and landowners needs to be put together to guide a development plan and zoning issues.

This document was requested by the Local Service District Advisory Council in July 2009 and, as this would be the responsibility of an incorporated Campobello Island, it would mean a significant savings to taxpayers if this was completed prior to incorporation, if the plebiscite passes.

"These meetings are very important if the people of Campobello want to have a say in the location of industrial zones, protected areas and the basic process of zoning," points out Smart. "The planning document is intended to serve the residents of Campobello Island and will be shaped by their input and involvement. If a roundtable/working group can be put together quickly and the process moved forward, it could mean a substantial savings to the taxpayers on Campobello, if we do indeed incorporate."

"The service is already funded by our property taxes, but upon incorporation and the assumption of the responsibility for planning, the cost of this service rises rather sharply," he continues. "It has been proposed that creating such a document could cost between $40,000 and $50,000. By completing as much of this document as possible with as much local involvement as possible, it truly is in the best interest of residents."