Meaford council is going to consider expressing interest in acquiring surplus land declared by the Bluewater District School Board at its meeting this week.
Today (Dec. 12), council will be receiving a report by CAO Rob Armstrong. It recommends council direct staff to send in an expression of interest to the school board for the surplus land at 87 Aiken Street.
The report says the municipality received notice from the board on Oct. 20 of the interest to dispose of the track lands at the former Georgian Bay Secondary School property. Meaford has 90 days from the notice to express interest in acquiring the lands.
Staff say by expressing interest at this time, they could further evaluate the potential for acquiring the land, including associated costs.
The municipality decided to pass on expressing interest in the former Georgian Bay Community School in 2021, which is now going through an open acquisition process.
The municipality has until Jan. 16, 2023 to advise the board of interest.
“Considering the fact that there is public interest in the acquisition of the property and that the municipality owns a portion of the property, it is the opinion of staff that the municipality express interest in the acquisition of the lands. It being noted that this does not commit the municipality to purchase the property,” says the report.
If the municipality is the only interested party after the first 90 days, the acquisition price will be confirmed by an appraiser, and council will be given another 90 days to confirm if they wish to go ahead with purchasing the lands.
Additionally, the report says the municipality will also need to go through the process of determining the future of the lands.
Should the municipality move ahead with purchasing the lands, they will need to identify how to fund the acquisition.
Council will be discussing this recommendation at its meeting on Dec. 12 at 1 p.m.
