On Thursday, March 4, at 7 p.m. we attended a very public and “open” meeting at the Foley Activity Centre for the purpose of numerous concerns and questions to be addressed concerning the sale of Holiday Cove Marina to the Township of The Archipelago. The invitation stated, and I quote from the letter, that the “reasons for the purchase are to preserve water access for Archipelago residents in the South Channel and Sans Souci areas and as a potential landing for waste bins from their water access waste sites.”
The tone of the meeting was set right from the beginning by the very rude remarks from an Archipelago council representative, and unfortunately while we were all there to have questions answered and addressed, we came away from the meeting with far more questions than answers and for the purpose of this letter to the editor I will pose only a few of the unanswered questions for the public’s information.
1. It was stated that this was a very open and public process so why was the Township of Seguin not informed of the proposed sale and intent prior to it being finalized, and why were the taxpayers of The Archipelago not informed that their council was purchasing a Marina for their supposed benefit with their tax dollars? While this may not be a legal requirement, it certainly would be a moral one if you are an “open and honest council.”
2.The number one stated objective by the Archipelago’s council representative at the meeting was to provide water access to its residents. Why then has The Archipelago informed all of the current patrons of the Marina that they will continue to have their dock space as usual. When queried, most of those patrons are from the Town of Parry Sound.
How is this providing more water access to the Archipelago residents is the real hidden agenda to provide “landing and transport for Archipelago garbage” in one of the most residential and quiet areas of the Bay? As an added point of information it was noted that The Archipelago would not be paying taxes to the Township of Seguin so the question remains for all; “should any dock spaces be being provided to anyone on the backs of Seguin taxpayers?”
3. Archipelago representation stated that the main reason for the purchase was the threat that all of the Marinas are being pressured to change their use to condominium development. It was also revealed to us that “they had done their homework.” Why then did they not do their homework on this point as those present were informed by the Seguin representation that “all marinas in the Township of Seguin must remain as marinas as stated in the Official Plan?”
Or once again was this an inaccurate attempt to justify the purchase? This being the case, there is no threat to Archipelago residents’ water access however there is a greater threat to current private marina owners who are very concerned that public ownership will create unfair competition in an already difficult economic environment.
4. It is common knowledge to all Rose Point Residents as well as the local police that Rose Point Road is one of the most used roads in the area. Just try to get an access driveway onto Rose Point Road for a single severed lot and you will soon find out how difficult the process is through the Township of Seguin. How then could anyone ever imagine that Seguin would approve up to 21 transport and trailer loads of garbage exit onto Rose Point Road on a corner that a single residential lot access would be denied? It is the same corner where tragic accidents have taken precious lives so a very important question we ask Seguin council is this: As you stated Mr. Conn, that you and I “Sympathize with The Archipelago’s garbage dilemma,” do you also sympathize with the very grave traffic and safety concerns of your constituents on an already dangerous piece of road where speed limits are never obeyed?
There are many more unanswered questions and concerns so I put out the following challenge to ratepayers in an election year:
To the Archipelago ratepayers: Do you know how your tax dollars are being spent and why? Do you know the hidden agendas of your council and what impact they will have on your friends and neighbours?
To Seguin ratepayers: Do you hold your council accountable to represent you and request that decisions are made with your best interest at heart? Do you expect that your council will sympathize with your concerns first and foremost and not the concerns of neighbouring townships?
This should be just the beginning of many dialogues that will result in the very best moral, environmental and legal decision for all.
Millie Graham,
Rose Point Road,
Seguin Township