Innes “˜offended, shocked”™ by coverage

Ward 5 county councillor candidate Jean Innes says she was “offended” and “shocked” by recent Advertiser coverage of comments she made about relocating county administrative offices from Guelph to Aboyne.

The incumbent councillor refuted an Oct. 10 article stating there is no plan for such a move, which she has championed at several recent debates.

“Several senior county officials may not be planning on moving, but the concept plan does exist,” she told the Advertiser.

“The plan and the OP amendment … speak of accommodating additional government facilities as the county’s population grows. Three or four years ago the team working on the concept plan talked about … offices being located … ‘at the heart of the county.’”

Innes’ main concern was an Advertiser editorial suggesting the cost to move the county offices to Aboyne would be “horrendous” and opining that voters who were not aware of candidate support for the move  when casting their ballots may want to reconsider their vote.

“I’m shocked by your suggestion that tax weary residents might want to change their vote,” Innes stated.

“There is no folly here, no added costs. I am always mindful of my duty of care to taxpayers.” She said several county buildings in Guelph would become obsolete with a relocation and could be sold.

“[That] should easily cover the cost of bridge funding and building a new administration centre on lands we already own at the Aboyne,” she said, stressing the move would not happen unless taxpayers are “more than satisfied with the transaction. On many fronts.”

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