The two-sided pamphlet published by a group calling itself The Concerned Residents and Taxpayers of Prince Albert has generated a great deal of public reaction in the past few days. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Election issues

Councillors challenge land deal pamphlet ‘facts’

Oct 29, 2020 | 2:17 PM

A pamphlet distributed to mail boxes across the city this week is getting a mixed reaction from the councillors who voted on the $6.5 million land deal last June.

The parcel of land on the city’s southeast side will one day be home to a new aquatic centre, as well as two smaller hockey arenas, a hotel, and further down the road a much larger entertainment complex.

The anonymous authors of the pamphlet used a Saskatoon-based property appraisal firm to determine a ‘hypothetical’ price for the land. In addition to claiming city council agreed to pay nearly double what the parcel of land is worth, The Concerned Residents and Taxpayers of Prince Albert, also accuse council of failing to properly consult the public before voting on it.

Councillors stand by their decision

Ward 6 incumbent candidate Blake Edwards was among the councillors who voted in favour of the purchase, and told paNOW there was lots of opportunity for the residents to be involved.

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“Public consultation occurred within the community service master plan that loudly said we need a new aquatic centre,” he said. “I have never seen in my four years public consultation on a land location.”

Edwards went on to explain he was well aware of the opinions in the public that the development could have gone someplace else, but added none of those options are feasible. One example he provided was the Good Shepherd location, which he explained was land locked.

“Sure there might be room enough for the aquatic centre and the three arenas however there is no room for further development; there’s no room for hotels, which will help offset the cost of this facility,” he said.

Edwards explained too that the intention in the long run is that the city can host major events.

“Well you host a rock concert right beside Good Shepherd, I don’t think those people are going to be too happy,” he said.

Ward 5 Incumbent Dennis Ogrodnick was also in favour of the land deal purchase and told paNOW he refutes the claim council was not being transparent, and added he was disappointed his accusers would not identify themselves.

“When people don’t identify themselves to me, you just have to ignore it. It becomes trash because it doesn’t have any credibility,” he said.

Ogrodnick added there was no controversy or shady business with this project and re-iterated remarks made by Edwards that the proposed location was the best fit.

“Anybody that thinks it could go out by the airport, they’re foolish. You can’t build a large structure, hotel etc. next to a runway,” he said.

In response to accusations council rushed the project, Ogrodnick explained a two year consultation period was held, followed by a report to council and the project was ultimately part of a grant application request made to and granted by the provincial and federal levels of government.

“If we cancel this project we are not going to get that $44 million to solve other issues in the city,” he said. “To be accused of a shady deal or that somehow I’m benefitting is absolutely slanderous.”

Dissenting councillors have concerns

Ward 3 candidate Evert Botha was among the four councillors who voted against the land purchase and explained to paNOW that while he supports the idea of the project, he too was concerned about the price that was paid.

“Given that the situation we are in, especially now coming out of COVID anytime soon, it probably would have made sense to put the brakes on this project just a little bit,” he said.

During a conversation with paNOW on Wednesday, Incumbent Mayor Greg Dionne criticized the anonymous group for not having a local company conduct the appraisal. Botha said there are no commercial land appraisers in Prince Albert.

“If you want to buy a property or commercial holdings, and you want to get financing for it, unfortunately we need to look outside the city,” he said.

Botha said he appreciates the work done by the anonymous group, adding they are asking the questions councillors like himself did not receive answers to. Ward 2 candidate Terra Lennox-Zepp said the development has been a big issue for her on the campaign trail.

“The public is not behind this deal. There is a mass of public who are not in favour of how this occurred and I found far more members of the public wanted far more transparency and wanted more consideration to the financial implications of this land deal,” she said.

Lennox-Zepp explained she personally has suggested council request a cost comparison with other land locations the city owns. She has also requested a breakdown of costs of the land.

“And the answer I received in the public meeting from the city manager was we didn’t have an answer to that. To me it defies all logic that a city council would vote in favour of a land deal of this nature,” she said.

The appraisal

Earlier this week the anonymous group was offering a full copy of the property appraisal to residents who requested one by email. On Thursday, paNOW was informed by the group they have been asked by the appraiser not to provide, post or share any copies of the appraisal, and to retract any documents that have been provided.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell