Rural mayors say DSSAB contribution rates unfair, mediation process now underway

Kevin Holland doesn't think paying more than $115 to get back $4 is a good deal.

The mayor of Conmee isn't alone. For the past four years he and five other rural municipalities, known as Area One, have been fighting to find a way to make their contributions to the District of Thunder Bay Social Service Administration Board make a difference to their communities, even considering forming their own DSSAB.

In 2012, Holland said Conmee paid $90,000 to the board's levee but only saw about $3,000 back in services.

A consultant's report from 2014 said that Conmee, Neebing, O'Connor, Shuniah, Oliver Paipoonge and Gillies combined pay $2.1 million more than they see back in services every year.

After four years, the municipalities feel that they're finally being listened to as a mediation process between them and the Thunder Bay DSSAB is now underway. In the meantime, Holland said the towns, some still have to have the idea ratified by their councils, are withholding this year's levee in an escrow account until the dispute is settled.

Holland said there is a precedent for rural and urban DSSABs in the province in places like Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. Thunder Bay's was set up almost as a default when it was created nearly 20 years ago.

"We're simply asking that they review that," he said.

Request for proposals will likely go out to mediators by the end of next month. Holland said they hope to have one in place by April.