Gladstone mayor counts against amalgamation

The mayor of Gladstone, Man.,is doing a head countof residents to prove her town is big enough to avoid amalgamation with a neighbouringcommunity.

The 2011 census says Gladstone has 879 people and the Manitoba government says communities with fewer than 1,000 residents must merge to save costs.

If forced into it, Gladstone would be amalgamated with the Rural Municipality of Westbourne.

Mayor Eileen Clarke believesthe census numbers for her town are incorrect, sayingonly half the residentsfilled out the census.

She also said the town, about 135 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, has recently been growing by leaps and bounds.

As well,Gladstone's goals of urban economic development don't mesh with the goals ofits neighbouring rural municipality, Clarke said.

However, sheadmits her efforts to may be in vain since the province probably won't accept her recount.