County ad confuses bridge watchers
Expropriation notice creates impression 20 homes will be taken, not just 4
Northumberland County is not expropriating 20 homes to make way for the new Trent River bridge, although you might be excused for thinking that.
The county has created some confusion around its plans by publishing an advertisement in The Community Press that makes it seem that it wants to expropriate 20 properties so it can build the new bridge between Second Street and Alma Street and change the roads and intersections nearby.
The notice is also posted on the county’s website here.
In fact, it only plans to expropriate four full properties and parts of 16 others. The partial expropriations largely involve acquiring slices of land so it can expand the streets or sidewalks onto what is now private property.
A year ago, Kate Campbell, Director of Communications for the county, said it preferred to negotiate with landowners and expropriation would be a last resort. I’ve asked for an update on how many properties have been purchased so far, but haven’t had a response. I have heard that some agreements have been reached.
The county has been negotiating with landowners for several months to purchase property. The notice, listed May 1, is part of the legal process involved in acquiring the land. It gives any owner who is not registered and has not been approached to sell, 30 days to respond if they desire “an inquiry into whether the taking of such land is fair, sound and reasonably necessary,” the notice says.
In all, the county wants to expropriate or purchase five properties on Second Street, four on Bridge Street West, three on Alma Street, two on Frank Street, two on Grand Road, and one each on Centre Street, Cockburn Street, Saskatoon Avenue, and Pellissier Street.
The plans, which have not been completed yet but are overdue, call for a roundabout at Alma and Grand streets, revamped intersections at Second Street and Front Street and changes at the intersection of Cockburn and Centre streets. As well, there will be changes at the intersection of Simpson Street and Bridge Street west.
Last month, Jennifer Moore, chief administrative officer for the county, told Trent Hills Council that construction will not start this year, but some services may be relocated in preparation for construction.
Details on the bridge plans are on the county’s website here.
"fair, sound and reasonably necessary" to take away private property... How ya like your government now?