The Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Mervin says they don’t allow external pressure to affect their decision on any issue. A developer had proposed building a marina, hotel and convention centre at Turtle Lake in the RM of Mervin. Tom Brown says when considering any development on the lake, all factors needed to be taken into consideration including suitability of the proposed development in comparison to developments existing adjacent to it, the shoreline development capability, as well as the servicing requirements, the boating capacity and the congestion.

Brown says the decision is made as a council and they felt a recent decision to turn down a proposal for development at Turtle Lake was in the best interest of the whole. He adds, “Potential tax revenue alone shouldn’t be the only determining factor in considered development.”

However, the RM of Parkdale is now considering the developer’s proposal which would require annexing land from the RM of Mervin. Tom Brown says if the land is annexed into the RM of Parkdale the ratepayers will be using the roads and services of the RM of Mervin disproportionate to the revenue collected. Brown notes, “It’s not uncommon for one municipal body to be annexing, but it’s generally in close proximity, not in the middle of the other one.”

A meeting in the RM of Parkdale to discuss the matter is slated for Saturday in Glaslyn but there will be a limit on how many people can speak due to the number of people allowed in a meeting under public health protocols.