THUNDER BAY — Neebing residents who want to have a say in what path their municipality takes over the next four years can voice their ideas later this month in a public forum.
The municipality is gearing up to craft its next strategic plan, a document that will guide decision-making between 2025 and 2028.
The public meeting to take place at Blake Hall "will be an informal brainstorming session to gather ideas about what goals and priorities you want to see council focus on over the next four years," a municipal backgrounder about the initiative says.
With a population of about 2,200, Neebing is served by a mayor and six councillors. Nearly 90 per cent of the municipality's local tax revenue is derived from residential properties.
According to Neebing's outgoing strategic plan, its population "is somewhat older than in Ontario as a whole, with a median age of 48."
"Like the rest of Canada," the document adds, "Neebing is faced with an aging baby boomer population, which includes a diminishing workforce, requirements for appropriate housing, transportation options, and additional health and social services."
Many Neebing residents, including its current mayor, Mark Thibert, work in Thunder Bay.
The municipality has a "large gap" between households that have incomes greater than $150,000 and those under $40,000, according to Statistics Canada.
Consisting of five rural townships spread out over 880 square kilometres, Neebing remains without a downtown or community hub, the previous plans note.
It also lacks a diverse tax base, as well as water and sewer services for its small businesses.
On the plus side, the municipality enjoys a low crime rate despite being close to Thunder Bay, has lots available for development, is situated within good transportation services and is close to the Canada-U.S. border.
Some goals identified in the 2020-24 strategic plan have been accomplished, including the development of an open-air skating rink at Blake Hall.
An earlier plan goal to reduce council's size to five members from seven was rescinded.
The public meeting at Blake Hall is set for Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. The outgoing strategic plan can be viewed online at neebing.org/stratplan.
Those unable to attend the meeting can email their ideas to clerk@neebing.org. The municipality's fax number is 807-474-5332.
The Chronicle Journal / Local Journalism Initiative
