An open letter to mayor and council:
Shame on you for trying to gamble with taxpayers’ money.
After reading the terms of proposed lease between City of Salmon Arm and Laird Holdings Ltd. it appears council is attempting to sneak the acquisition of land for the proposed underpass in through the “back door” instead of including it in a referendum on the underpass.
Artificial deadlines have been created to give the appearance of urgency in order to pass this piece of legislation. When the council of the day delayed a decision on the underpass until 2014, it was to revisit the circumstances which may lead to the construction of an alternate crossing, not necessarily to build it. Council knew this date was coming and has had 10 years to compile, consult and inform the citizens with verifiable data, not “guesstimates” of conditions that may warrant this project. It has done none of the above.
After visiting this site I find that there is sufficient land for any constructions staging, etc.
Section 38 (1) of the community charter allows for the temporary closure of roads by the city for such a purpose. There is no need to lease this land. As for the need for a parking lot, the city has recently sold two parking lots. As far as the areas of statutory rights of way the city can expropriate the necessary lands needed under the development permit process.
There is no need to lease (rent) this land for 10 years, etc. for $350,000 and end up with nothing to show for it. Include the purchase of the land needed in the referendum and be honest with the people of Salmon Arm. The mayor and council are gambling that taxpayers’ apathy and confusion will allow this deal to proceed.
Suppose it does proceed, and when all the pertinent information is gathered, it is determined that an underpass at this location is not the best option for access across the tracks and the referendum fails.
According to the terms of this agreement as it is now written the taxpayers and future council will be on the hook for 10 years paying rent for a piece of land they didn’t need in the first place. This council has failed to address the necessary safeguards, on behalf of the citizens of this community, by not tying this lease contract to the passage or failure of a referendum on the underpass.
Pull this piece of legislation immediately and give the community the honesty and good government it deserves.
Bob Edwards