A graphic showing, in red, approximately where the R.M. of Garden River would like to build a road (Google Maps)

By Alison Sandstrom

New future

City seeks to sell riverside land

Aug 27, 2019 | 2:44 PM

In 1909, Prince Albert began construction on the hydroelectric dam that would nearly bankrupt the city by the time it pulled the plug on the project.

Beginning on the south side of the North Saskatchewan River, the La Colle Falls Dam never reached the opposite bank. Now, the city is looking into selling that land.

A potential buyer is the Rural Municipality of Garden River, who had wanted to lease it to build a roadway to a planned riverside park.

“We don’t have a purpose for it. We’re not going to develop it and we’ve had lots of requests for it, so let’s put it up for sale and get rid of it,” Mayor Greg Dionne told paNOW after Monday’s council meeting.

Council has instructed staff to compile a report on the land including the option to place it for sale. There was no specification during council’s discussions that the R.M. of Garden River would be the preferred buyer. Concerns were raised at the meeting that if they were to lease the land to the R.M. to allow the road to be built, it could deter the city from selling it in the future, or that new construction there could increase the value of the property.

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The 21-acre parcel sits around 40 km east of the City of Prince Albert. R.M. of Garden River Reeve Ryan Scragg says the potential park would be a tremendous asset for the community and surrounding areas.

“It would mean an access to the river that doesn’t exist right now,” he said. “So, anybody who wants to take part in any recreation, such as say you want to go canoeing or kayaking, there is no way to get off the river after the Cecil Ferry Crossing until you get to the Saskatchewan River Forks.”

According to Scragg, the land has a very low value, with the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency valuing it at $200 for the entire piece.

“I would feel it should just be a transfer to the R.M. rather than a sale,” he said.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliSandstrom