Municipal Merger “Farmen-Find” from yes to no – VG

FOSEN (VG) “Orland in wind” was the municipality’s slogan, but for “Farmen-Find” Olav Odde wind has turned. Two years ago he would merge Orland and Bjugn. Now voiced his no.

– The agreement that the previous council negotiated is not good enough. I had hoped that we could bring about changes in the agreement, but when it was not possible I ultimately felt that I had to say no, says Odde.

It is the second time that residents of the two municipalities votes over an agreement to so together Orland and Bjugn. Two years ago there was a majority for Orland and courage in Ashford. There after a public debate, when the then mayor of Ashford Arnfinn Astad was hung out at the municipal sign on the way into the municipality.

Super Monday: Many municipalities say “no” to merge

until lately deputy mayor “Farmen-Find” stood on the same side as mayor Tom Myrvold has given its citizens a clear recommendation to vote yes. The mayor seems that he has a number of good economic arguments for a larger municipality tip of the Fosen peninsula.

THE FIELD: A no-sign was taken down Monday, but later in the day it was back in place .

Photo: GEIR OTTO JOHANSEN, VG

But this time – after the agreement has replaced Botngård in Ashford with Brekstad Orland as a seat of the council administration, it is in Orland that the debate has been most loudly. Well illustrated in the Mestas people on election day had out on the ground close to the last roundabout before Brekstad and pick down a big NO sign. Later in the day it was set up.

– I’m very happy for the result we got. I am too a municipality merging, but not under the conditions that existed, say Farmen-Finn.

– When we add this to the merger dead, and hope to get to a good cooperation as two municipalities.

Now, he believes that they also have to work together and play each other good as two independent municipalities.

Do not volunteer

– We have big lift ahead. The development of fighter base and wind power development. We cooperate to achieve growth in both municipalities, he said.

– You do not believe in negotiating a new deal?

– No, these municipalities are merged, there must be someone outside that force it on us, says Finn Ove Odde.

A steady stream of municipality over 4200 voters flocked to polling stations, and 842 had voted in advance.

even when the result of advance voting became known, it was clear that the result had turned in both municipalities. In the past yes municipality said 71% of those who had voted no, while the figure was just the opposite of the people who said no in the last referendum. In Ashford said over these 70 yes this time.

– Advance votes are agreed well with the final result at the previous poll says Mayor of Bjugn Ogné Undertun.

He is very disappointed by the outcome of the referendum in the neighboring community.

– We have worked hard to get to this merger agreement, and it is regrettable that this is the result. We’ll sit down and consider what we should do next, says Undertun.

Future-oriented

– If we look in the crystal ball, there is no doubt that in the future will be very good arguments for a municipality. For me count these much more than the municipal administration should be. There are only 12 kilometers between Botngård in Ashford and Brekstad Orland. So it is not so important where the mayor and city manager’s office.

But it was this that eventually fell Finn Olav Odde too heavy for chest to go on. When he two years ago voted yes, it was a proposal that said the municipal administration should be in Brekstad. A growing center located close to Norway’s new fighter base.

A young yea. – We are best served by a municipality, and there are not important to me where the mayor sits, says Lisa Brattland (15). Everyone who turns 16 this year the vote.

Photo: Geir Otto Johansen VG

Then there was a clear majority against merging in Bjugn, the plans were shelved. But just before the municipal elections, it was agreed a new deal, which meant that the municipality’s management should have an office in Botngård. It seems to have turned the wind in both municipalities.

– Agreement carriers too much feel that we have not managed to take off our “local authority hat” when it new municipality to be designed. Brekstad is coastal town, here is the village town hall, cultural center and hotel together. Our partners can go straight from the speedboat and into administration. Move gladly anything to Botngård but municipal management must be here.

Although I all the way had been the municipal merger, this was such a bad deal that I finally had the conscience to say yes anymore. But I will listen to citizens’ advice. Will it be yes-majority votes I also, says Finn Olav Odde.