$ 62,267 in full. Town share $12,794.
When Power Stream moved out of the hydro building , my first inclination was it should be sold Twenty-seven jobs went with the utility.
An election was in the offing. Nigel Kean was challenging Tim Jones for Mayor. He floated the idea the property should be used as a youth centre.
Tim caught the ball running ... and ran with it.
At the time, inquired about assessment and potential tax revenue. Taxes derived from estimate assessment was $69,000.
Assessment is based on market value. A couple of factors alter the principle for business .
Revenue from the lease to the Department of National Defence is regularly cited as an asset.
Forfeited tax revenue is never factored .
If the Feds owned the building there would be a grant in lieu of taxes.
But the town owns it. Taxes and grant are both forfeit.
As landlords we provide maintenance for the property.
Several hundreds of thousand were spent initially which would swallow up several years rent.
Figures were never made public. . To this day, the total is not known. Annual budget for maintenance must be factored.
This morning, figures reveal forfeit taxes represent almost half the lease rent. No doubt
cost of upgrades to suit the client take that figure well over the halfway mark.
Interest on realized capital asset is lost.
The public can have no confidence the town's interest is well served by the lease with the Federal government.
I do not believe a bad deal between two levels of government, both committed to integrity , is untouchable.
Wrong should be made right
Continued effort should be extended to that end
I may be the only one at the Council table of that view.
Sometimes it seems Councillors and staff have a problem hearing me. It's not a unique experience.
They listen but the message gets lost in contradiction ,mis-placed accountability and various other factors.
They forget or never understood Council's authority in town affairs
Public understanding of government business is constantly under-valued.
"Wrong should be made right
ReplyDeleteContinued effort should be extended to that end
I may be the only one at the Council table of that view."
I agree... you are the only one of that view. I disagree with you as well.
I see you write about the building now in that you never see any activity.
I drove by it the other night and I got to wondering, what activity are you expecting? What regular activity did you see at the old drill shed? I also wonder if you have been in the building since DND took over to see an actual drill night or parade?
You are quite right but it is far too late in an unproductive term for this council to change their ways. Sit back & enjoy watching the antics as they figure out who should replace Ballard.
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ReplyDeleteI think it might be appropriate to also say that Council's understanding of government business (its own) is constantly undervalued.
There doesn't appear to be a business-mind in the chamber when discussing business.
But when monkey-business is the subject, suddenly everyone participates.
15:04
ReplyDeleteI can think of 2 excellent possibilities but am reluctant to land anyone in a mess. One of mine is, I believe, free except for some tutoring work, the other is in & out of the town hall regularly. Neither would need to play catch-up.
15:02
ReplyDeleteI don’t think Evelyn is the only one of that view. She’s the only one vocal about it. The one who spots the “entitled” from a mile away. The only one who dares to step up to the plate.
ReplyDeleteFrom the sound of things our council will be soon encased in a cocoon, semi-conscious and virtually inactive. There are only three meetings during the period July-September, unless there is an emergency, and then nothing in October to prevent sitting members from campaigning before the camera.
November is a "hail fellow, well met" month.
So, effectively our council is in a lame duck phase from now until the new one takes office December 1.
This is really unacceptable, and yet they still babbled on last night.
These people would never survive in the real world of accountability and fiscal responsibility.
19:11- What’s scary is that they all have day jobs! Maybe if they watched themselves on video they might get an awakening. Last night babbling was ridiculous. Going on and on about the Tigers and the Chambers conflict. That decision is a no-brainer. The chamber can move to another location. Yes it will be hard and there will be some lumps and bumps, but that’s life….or….business. I’m sure the Town can help out with the transition. But to yap away about how hard and difficult this decision is was a pretty bad theatrical performance. I was waiting for the violins to play in the background.
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