Belleville Councillor Jack Miller addressing city council, November 14, 2016. (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Belleville has reached an agreement that gives it one section of the fairgrounds property.
After a lengthy negotiation period, city council has approved the deal at $600,000 that, in part, ends the 99-year lease held by the Belleville Agricultural Society.
The city’s negotiating committee chair Councillor Jack Miller says the city takes full control of the six-acre east side where the Ben Bleecker building is located, and takes control of five buildings there.
Miller says “…the city and the Agricultural Society have worked together for a solution that is ultimately in the best interest of both parties. In the short-term the City will explore development options available for a significant property located in a highly desirable and growing west end of our community which has the potential for substantial property tax return on an annual basis.”
Agricultural Society will hold the west side for the time being and president Donnie Jarrell says “We are thrilled that we were able to find an excellent short-term compromise that benefits both groups, while keeping long-term goals in mind.”
Phase two of the negotiations would see the Society be located in a more rural setting in the next few years.
Objecting to solar panels
Belleville has decided to give its support to another solar panel project but is making it plain it objects to the Green Energy Act.
Last night council approved support for the roof-top project at 180 Haig Road by Solar Power Network.
Councillor Paul Carr objected saying he wanted the provincial government to get the message that the Green Energy Act is hurting homes and businesses with high electricity costs.
Mayor Taso Christopher says he wants the municipality to have a “roof-top levy tax” since it gets nothing for providing the company with two points for its application to the province.
