Controversial Sale of Municipal Reserve Land

On January 13th, 2021, a Public Hearing was held regarding the sale of a 60 x 80 piece of lakefront Municipal Reserve land (MR land) to a ratepayer for $8,500. This price tag was determined from the potential buyer’s assessment dated August 2nd from Crown Appraisals. The RM did not conduct their own independent appraisal, and there had been no initial public notice or subsequent hearing on the request for offers to make the purchase. This January 13th hearing was the first to occur for the contentious sale. It was conducted only after Council had already - agreed to sell, the sales agreement executed, and the subdivision application completed.

This type of hearing would normally provide an opportunity for the public to weigh in on matters before an agreement for sale had been finalized. During the meeting, no member of the public spoke on this topic; however, the Council also did not ask or give the virtual Zoom gallery opportunity to speak. The RM received several letters of concern in opposition to the sale since it first came to Council’s table at the September meeting. They were not read aloud during the meeting. Reeve Kirzinger remarked that it seemed like a late time in the process to provide an opportunity for public consultation in the matter, noting they had received two offers for purchase from other ratepayers for the property.

A source told LMT that other offers of $75,000 and $40,000 were made in September and January by the same ratepayers who opposed the unannounced sale. The offer of $40,000 even specified the land would be kept as a green space. However, in October council accepted the original September request to purchase for $8,500, which Council accepted. $66,500 below one offer and $31,500 below another.

There was significant discussion and, as usual, confusion around how this matter had played out. Councillor Weisbrod said because they had gotten so far along in the process, to change it at this stage would place Council in a tough spot since they already had an agreement in place. He questioned if they now would go back on their word.