The Town of Snow Lake entertained two separate delegations at their Feb. 7 council meeting; both asked that their issues be dealt with as expeditiously as possible. The first was resident and homeowner Bill Pleasance who appeared in respect to the “Berry Bay Loop,” which is a piece of land that was once a bus turnaround in the Berry Bay Cottage subdivision until it was deemed surplus. It was subsequently divided and sold to residents in close proximity to the parcel.
Pleasance entered the meeting at 6:35 p.m. and in a well laid-out and chronologically specific presentation, he explained the lack of progress he has endured since the summer of 2010 in trying to have the loop at the end of Berry Bay subdivision closed so that he and several other residents could purchase the property in equivalent increments. Mr. Pleasance built a garage on his portion of the said property in 2011 and has paid taxes on it since 2012, all the while without title to the land. Reading like a comedy of errors, there was one roadblock after another, as well as numerous changes in the town personnel involved, and even a lost opportunity to sell his home because he did not have title to the land the garage is situated on.
Although the delegate praised the work chief administrative officer Jordan Willner has accomplished on the file since coming to the town’s employ, the purchase is currently being held up by an estate probate, after one of his fellow property purchasers passed away.
Pleasance asked that the town prioritize expedition of the sale once the current CAO leaves office (early March) and he petitioned them to sell the property to him at the same price lots in town are now being sold for – $1 rather than the $1,750 he was quoted at the outset of his six-year ordeal. Council members asked several questions of clarification and referred the matter to their economic development services committee. Mayor Kim Stephen thanked Mr. Pleasance for his presentation.
The second delegate – Colleen Hornyak – appeared before the council at 6:55 p.m. Her attendance was in respect a water main leak in a line that runs between her property at 3 Parres Ave. and the house next to it. Ms. Hornyak queried council on the state of the insurance claim for her property after water from the leak flooded her basement several months back. The town changed the leaking portion of the line; however, it was noted that the sewer line that runs with it was also in disrepair and was not changed. She also wanted to know why/how water and sewer main lines could be placed between two residences (3 and 5 Parres Ave.), in addition to why the sewer line (which was said to be in disrepair) was not also changed out. Coun/ Peter Roberts stated that the lines were likely run the way they were because of rock in the area. It was also noted that there should have been a municipal easement on the area taken up by the lines … apparently there wasn’t. She offered that an alternative remedy to the issue would be for the town to purchase her residential property (and perhaps use it as a right of way). Coun. Jones asked that the issue be sent to the appropriate committee and that it be dealt with as soon as possible. Ms. Hornyak was thanked for her presentation and she left the council chambers at 7:05 p.m.
Another matter, the issue of a transfer of land, also came up for discussion at the meeting. After a lengthy period of discussion with Hudbay Minerals and the Northern Health Region, Lot 2, Block 6, Plan 646 (old Hudbay dorms property) was purchased and sold within the same resolution of council during the meeting.
In October 2015, the town was approached by the director of capital management of the Northern Health Region that he has approval to build a 1,740 square foot emergency medical services (EMS) station in Snow Lake, but required serviced property. The town identified Hudbay’s former dorm properties as the ideal location for the future EMS station; as a result with their Feb. 7 resolution, the town purchased the property from Hudbay for the sum of $1 and sold it to the Northern Health Region for the same price. It was stated that the Northern Health Region plans to begin work on their new EMS garage in the coming construction season.
