Minto council has passed a resolution to accept the flood plain report drafted by Clerk-administrator Marsha Paley.
That report from last month suggested a softening of an earlier recommendation regarding the phasing out of the leases to trailers in a flood plain in Harriston.
But it still recommended a phasing out of the leases be done over a 10 year period.
Further, the new agreements would include a clause that states trailers at the park are located in the floodway and subject to significant flooding. Lease agreements would also stipulate the town will not be responsible for damages to trailers or other such property as a result of flooding, should the property remain in the floodway.
As well, the agreement recommended no new leases for new owners of trailers.
It also recommended an end date of 2020 for the phaseout of remaining trailers on the property. The report suggested council investigate the market value of existing trailers to consider the possibility of buying one or two of them per year over the phase out period.
It also recommended council seek provincial or federal funds to assist in the phase-out, additional flood forecasting equipment, plus additional structural and non-structural flood plain related works.
Mayor David Anderson said there have been quite a few meetings on the matter, the most being in April. Part of that, he said, is the recognition of a potential disaster, and to eliminate that from happening.
Questions from council were unchanged from the previous session.
Deputy-Mayor Judy Dirksen questioned how the report could address existing or potential new trailer owners, if the leases are not to be renewed. She asked if the trailers were sold, would the new owners be “squatting” on the property.
Paley said the recommendation means if a trailer is sold now, a new owner would not have the opportunity to lease the property at the trailer park.
With regard to looking at market value of the trailers, Paley suggested deferring the recommendation until June or July, to give staff time to undertake an appraisal of the trailers – with and without the land lease. She said with the way the recommendation is worded, staff have to be careful not to financially bind the next council.
“That is why we used the word ‘investigation’ so we can explore the cost of it, but we don’t actually set up a purchasing schedule.”
Any such recommendation, she said, would need to be brought to the next council.
“At this stage, my recommendation is to direct staff to conduct an appraisal study and that trailer owners are informed of the outcome.”
Then, Paley said, the recommendation could be brought back for clarification if needed.
She said her recommendation is “not to set up a purchasing schedule … if that is even feasible … until the the next council comes in after the election.”
Dirksen said it means there will be no new trailer owners on the trailer park property.
Paley said if a trailer comes up for sale and someone chooses to purchase it, they just would not be able to keep it on that property.
“They would have to move it.”
Anderson questioned the time frame. “I believe when there is a time frame; it pressures people to move.”
He wondered if that part could be left open, so when people do sell the trailers, the leases simply would not be renewed.
Paley said the challenge is that without a timeframe, it puts the town at risk without knowing the exact number of trailers in the park.
She said if staff are allowed to do the appraisal, the municipality would have a better understanding of the costs involved. Then council could determine how to approach the issue, she said.
Although council deferred the recommendations, staff were directed to undertake an appraisal study.
Dirksen also questioned what the town would do with the trailers should it decided to purchase them.
Councillor Wayne Martin commented on what happened with the Palmerston trailer park.
He said there was no market value study or such offered. The person was basically asked to leave, based on the lease.
“So I have a few concerns about the market appraisal; in fact I don’t agree with it.”
