Hastings County CAO Jim Pine answering media questions, March 30, 2017 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Hastings County’s answer to Belleville shared services costing review request is simply – we”re ready to talk.
It is also clear the county has its eye on some city money as well.
Earlier this week Belleville Councillor Jack Miller said he had concerns about the increasing cost to the city for shared services, including long term care and provincial offences court which handles police ticketing and environmental fines.
CAO Jim Pine says the county is willing to open up the agreements, which he says means looking at getting a share of the city’s “windfall from the casino.”
He says the long term care facilities need upgrading and the judicial costs for the POA court have increased .
Centre Hastings Mayor Tom Deline, who often mentions the “long ambulance wait times” in his community, pointed out that the agreement includes ambulance service. He said, “Often ambulances are stuck in Belleville and my city’s losing out.”
County Council agreed that staff should meet with Belleville staff to discuss the issue.
