Brothers said she’s disappointed the County of Kings wasn’t notified of the pending closure and suggested the possibility of using municipal sewer service to deal with the wastewater from the plant.

Area councillor Kim MacQuarrie said earlier this week she'd like Brothers to talk with the plant owners about using the sewer system.

The parent company said it was closing the Hillatonfacility due to federal government orders to stop putting wastewater into a nearby river.

“My ask is for the federal and provincial governments and Oxford Foods to sit down with us and talk to us about the possibility of keeping the plant open,” Brothers said.

She said the goal is to retain business and keep jobs in the Kings County economy and she wants to see all potential options to address the wastewater problem explored “before closing the doors for good.”

The facility currently employs more than 90 people on a seasonal basis.

The municipality has been in contact with the company, which agreed to provide information on flows to evaluate whether the Canning sewage treatment plan could handle the added capacity.

Chief administrative officer Tom MacEwan said having the plant hook up to the Canning municipal sewer system is “a viable option that could be pursued” if there is interest from the company and the provincial and federal governments. The Hillaton plant can be seen from the sewage treatment facility.

MacEwan said the plant owners have indicated that the company tried to hook into a municipal sewer system in Maine and it didn’t work. However, in Kings County, the potato chip plant in New Minas uses municipal sewer service.

Hillaton Foods has explored several options to resolve the wastewater problem but has been unable to find an economically viable solution to date.