It’s about economic development, not annexation, says Hanover Mayor Kathi Maskell.
That’s why the town is offering to provide municipal services to an area of land just east of the boundary with West Grey.
West Grey, for its part, is willing to listen.
The two municipalities came together to discuss the issue at Grey County Council on Tuesday.
Council was to vote on a motion that governs expansions into Chatsworth, Dundalk, Durham, Markdale and Springmount.
Maskell balked at a clause in the motion advising Hanover that its request for expansion into West Grey was “beyond the scope” of the amendment.
Citing local job losses and the further loss of new businesses — Maskell managed to have the entire motion shelved.
That upset a number of her fellow county councillors who believe the move might hinder expansion of their own communities.
Grey Highlands Mayor Brian Mullin eventually brokered a deal between Hanover and West Grey that removed the contentious clause from the motion.
In its place went a new clause that compels West Grey to consider the expansion.
Maskell — who told County Council her municipality is offering to now provide services to the area in question rather than seek an annexation — says she is cautiously optimistic since the compromise was reached.
Both she and West Grey Mayor Kevin Eccles say it’s important to think of regional needs rather than those of individual municipalities.