Amherstburg Council has rejected a $12-million offer from Chatham-Kent utility Entegrus for the town’s shares in Essex Power.

“The residents that I’ve spoke to had indicated to me 99.9% do not sell,” says Ron Sutherland, Amherstburg’s deputy mayor who voted against selling the town’s 14% stake in Essex Power. “Everyone was steadfast right from the get go in that, ‘do not sell the only revnue producing asset that Amherstburg has.'”

Council rejected the offer at a special meeting on Tuesday night in a recorded 4-3 vote with councillors John Sutton, Robert Pillon and Mayor Wayne Hurst voting against the motion that would reject the sale. Councillors Diane Pouget, Carolyn Davies and Bart DiPasquale were the other votes against selling the shares along with Sutherland.

“Now we carry on as business as usual,” says Sutherland. “I’m looking with great anticipation to Friday morning’s resumption of the budget.”