From the Portage Daily Graphic

This week’s vote on PCU Centre tenders at the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie council may have given the green light for construction to get started, but the project is still in jeopardy.

The issue of whether to accept the tenders divided the council members on Tuesday morning, with the yes side narrowly winning by a final count of 4-3.

Like council, ratepayers in the municipality of Portage have been just as divided over the issue, and a group opposing the move have retained a lawyer and are filing a notice of application against the RM.

The ultimate goal of the court case, according to Kam Blight, an Oakville area farmer who is speaking on behalf of the group, is to force the RM to have to go back and revote on the borrowing bylaw for the money promised to the project.

“Never before had the RM ever taken out an $8 million loan for entertainment and recreational purposes,” explained Kam Blight, an Oakville area farmer who is speaking on behalf of the group. “We felt that the proper notification and information was not provided to us for us to have our say.

“When you’re spending this much money of the tax payer’s dollars, you really need to have the people behind you.”

The group’s lawyer also hinted that they may request an injunction to stop work on the project until the case is resolved.

The court proceedings are scheduled to start on Oct. 9 at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Portage.