Mea Culpa on the Saa Maa Land

So the issue of the land for the Energy Interpretive Centre (Saa Maa Centre) raised its head.  Who owns the land?  Did the City buy it?  These questions were asked first to Mayoral Candidates at the FSJ  Petroleum Association meeting.  I responded that the land was in progress and not yet complete.  My Council colleague Don Irwin concurred.  Then at the all Candidate forum, again it was asked, I responded and a few of my colleagues concurred. 

Why was this said?  Because I honestly believed that the land purchase was still a work in progress.  Council was planning to purchase the land.  It is one of the only parcels of land on the entrance to our City and the value of having this land is immeasurable as our City grows.  I was also remembering a resolution made earlier in 2010 that had some rather strict conditions on the purchase.

So imagine my surprise when a resolution is sent to us this morning from a meeting in October 2010 authorizing the purchase.  Mea Culpa.  The land is ours.  How the heck did I, or any of us on Council not remember this to bring it to light at any of these debates/forums?  The seller wished to have the City take possession sooner than originally thought.  Smart move - no taxes to pay.

The funding for this is all a part of the open budget deliberations for the 2011 Capital Budget. 

My home # is 250-787-8458 if you would like to talk about this.

Have a great day!

Lori