Dana Mundell and Marcy Quayle are looking for answers.
Mundell came to council on Sept. 3 asking council make a decision regarding Station Road, the mill pond in Hillsburgh, the adjacent piece of property and the dam.
He said Quayle had sold the property with the condition a survey was provided. When the survey was supplied it satisfied the buyer’s needs.
But, Mundell said, when the buyer contacted the town, he was told about the issues with the dam and the road.
A decision on Station Road is needed by next June. However Quayle has cancer and there is a chance she may not be around by that time.
“I’m just asking that you step up the process,” said Mundell. He added that dealing with this might fix another problem.
Mundell said the offer accepted for the property was considerably lower than for what it had been offered to the town.
“I’m sure she would be willing to accept a similar offer from the town if it would make things easier.”
Councillor Barb Tocher said a committee was struck regarding the Station Road pond and dam to look at various options.
“Council needs to make a decision fairly quickly because the province has ordered the town to have the work done substantially.”
Mundell then asked “is there any direction council seems to be going?”
His understanding was that council had yet to decide how the issue would be dealt with but needed a decision before June 14, 2014 – or the town could face a fine of over $100,000. While draining the pond may be an unlikely option, it is still possible depending on town council’s decision, he said.
“If you have an idea of which way you are heading, it would be nice to have a heads up.”
“That’s the dilemma,” Tocher responded. “Council is very split on what to do.”
Councillor John Brennan agreed a decision is needed before the end of this year because any work in 2014 needs a budget amount attached to it.
Mundell wondered if the town would consider purchasing the property, selling off the lots and keeping the pond for the community as a park.
He noted the prospective purchaser still is willing to buy the property, but is not willing to wait around for council to make a decision.
