Protestors to challenge plans for new Tiny Township municipal office on Wednesday
Plans to build a new municipal building in Tiny Township continue to raise the ire of its residents.
More than 150 people protested at Tiny's council office in January, calling for council to halt its plans. Tensions have grown since then.
"It's truly a council that is not listening," said Paul Cowley, President of the Federation of Tiny Township Shoreline Associations (FoTTSA).
Some residents have taken issue with the cost of a new building slated to be constructed on township-owned land on Concession 9. According to Cowley, they're also upset with what they perceive as an unwillingness from council to listen to its residents.
"we've never said, 'don't properly provide proper office space,'" Cowley said. "What we've said is it doesn't need to be a $27 million building."
Dave Wulff, a Tiny Township resident, said the feeling is that the council is moving secretively and expeditiously despite constant pleas from the community.
An online petition started earlier this year has garnered thousands of signatures.
"They've hidden behind all sorts of secret meetings; they've held all sorts of meetings that we're not privy to the result of," Wulff said. "The statistics and comparisons between what they (Tiny Township) have and what they want to have for the number of people who live in Tiny and the number of people who will be in the office are dramatic."
Tiny Township earmarked its 57-year-old administration office for replacement in 2014.
- Download the CTV News app free to get local news alerts
- Don't miss breaking news - Sign up for the CTV Newsletter
According to Tiny's mayor, the current building is an aging structure with an inaccessible design.
"It is necessary because we don't have room," Mayor Dave Evans told CTV News. "We've got people working in closests. We've got seven different facilities. The original from 1967 requires substantial cost just to run and maintain. We're at a point now where combining seven facilities into one, provides us with a whole number of advantages, not just economic."
Some residents would prefer to see the township add an extension to its current site, as assessed in the three options Tiny's council had to choose from.
Asked to explain why council wants to proceed with the new-build option, which has a higher upfront cost, Mayor Evans said he could not speak on behalf of what "each person was feeling at the time," but can only speak on behalf of what council did. A report was given to council listing its options during a council meeting earlier this month.
"We have provided multiple plans," the mayor said regarding a perceived lack of public consultation. "There are three different options that were presented in the report in our last council meeting over a 300-page report. The large number of the report has been involving staff requirements, something that's not public information. The public portion of the building is still under consideration and we will be having public consultation sessions upcoming where the public will be involved to participate both virtually and in-person."
A planned protest is scheduled to take place ahead of Wednesday night's council meeting.
Paul Cowley is also expected to speak, with his letter expressing his concerns and those of other residents listed on Tiny's agenda.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report
A federal commission of inquiry says foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals.
TD penalties expected to be higher on alleged drug money laundering link: analyst
A banking analyst says TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake recorded west of Vancouver Island
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake was reported west of Vancouver Island Thursday evening.
Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
How falling for a stranger she met on a beach led this woman to ditch the U.S. for the French Riviera
Niki Benjamin, from the U.S., had travelled to a paradise island to do some soul searching, and her life ended up going in a very different direction when her dog ran up to a stranger.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Princess Anne to take part in B.C. ceremony bringing new ship into Pacific fleet
Western Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel will officially be brought into the Pacific fleet today and Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles, is scheduled to take part in its commissioning ceremony.
BREAKING Winnipeg man accused of killing four women will be tried by jury
A Winnipeg man accused of killing four Indigenous women will have his case heard by a jury.
Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'