Digby’s wharf might soon be under local ownership.

Both Digby town and county councils voted this month to each provide $50,000 to the Digby Harbour and Port Association, which is trying to buy the facility from Maritime Harbours Society. The society took over the wharf in 1999 from Ottawa, along with $3 million.

Since that controversial decision, costs to use the wharf have increased but the facility has deteriorated. The local association has been trying to gain control of the wharf since about 2002.

Although negotiations to purchase the wharf from MHS are nearing completion, port association spokesman Reg Hazleton will say little about details.

"Things aren't settled yet, but we're getting close," said Hazleton. "I hope in a very short time we'll have a statement to make."

Since the ownership transfer from federal hands, many of the costs absorbed by the government are now passed directly onto users. That means the costs have gone up, as much as $6,000 a year per vessel, but services might not have kept pace.

“None of the wharves were as expensive as they are now,” said Hazelton. “Now they've all been given over to local management. Most of them are still owned by Small Craft Harbours but they have a board that manages them and their costs are much higher because they have much more to pay for now.”

In February, 2006, West Nova MP Robert Thibault suggested the federal transport minister appoint a third party to negotiate a settlement with MHS to be like other harbours. Fisheries and Oceans would own the wharf, but the port association would manage it.

During the Nov. 19 county council session, Warden Jim Thurber said the wharf had been named as a priority. Coun. Linda Gregory said the $50,000 grant from the municipality would be a great asset in the purchase effort.

"As we all know, the wharf needs to be back to the people," said Gregory. "I think it's very important that we work with them. I think we have to go forward and not look back."

A motion to grant the funds passed unanimously, but is dependent upon the association having the remaining funds in place, including a $50,000 grant from the town, which has already been approved by town council.

Hazleton said the wharf represents some 400 direct and indirect jobs in the region, and it generates at least $40 million a year.

"We've got to have that fleet there. Without that fleet there'd be no reason to have the town," said Hazelton. "At one time the cost was a pittance, we got away extremely cheap, but that's changed all over."

Hazleton refused to divulge the price being negotiated but said they're getting close to an agreement.

"We're in the final end of negotiations and there isn't much we want out in public until it's done," he said. "We hope it's soon. For me to put a day on it, I couldn't do that."