December 29, 2015, Mustvee, the capital city of Peipsi, appealed to neighbouring municipalities with a proposal to unite as the part of the State administrative reform.
In their letter to the authorities of the municipalities of Kasepää, Saare, Torma, Lohusuu and Avinurme, Riina Pajula, Chairman of the Mustvee City Council, and Max Kaur, Mayor of Mustvee, made the proposal to merge the counties, considering Mustvee as historically formed and state-recognised centre of major attraction. For this purpose, it would be wise to start relevant negotiations between municipalities in 2016.
"As a historically formed centre of attraction in the region, Mustvee is aware of its responsibility for the common future of the region, because the primary task of its self-government is the quality of services for the local population in the field of social assistance, health care, education, child care, culture, logistics and employment. We must demonstrate initiative on our part, in order to support public administrative reform" said Max Kaur, Mayor of Mustvee.
According to the draft of the administrative reform, the last opportunity to begin negotiations on uniting shall expire on October 1, 2016. The government of the Republic of Estonia intends to make the proposal to unite to those municipalities that wouldn't be able to meet the criteria regarding a minimum number of inhabitants - 5000 people - by January 1, 2017. Municipalities united both voluntarily and by resolutions of the government will come into effect along with the elections of local self-governments in October of 2017.
