Barrie city council is going ahead with plans to sell part of the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport to the County of Simcoe.
The city is going to sell 20 per cent of the airport to the county for $1.3 million. This also means the county will cover 20 per cent of the operating costs of the airport, too. The sale will likely save taxpayers some money.
“In addition to the $1.3 million, which is helping us this year with the county's capital request, it will help us at budget time, so this is very, very timely,” says Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman. “Council will be considering the budget, taxes and these issues in January.”
Council ratified the decision to sell the airport tonight. The city will still own 60 per cent of the airport. Oro-Medonte owns the other 20 per cent.
Land to be sold at fair market value
Meanwhile, the City of Barrie announced its plans for the six acres of land surrounding Barrie Central Collegiate.
The land will be made available – at fair market value – to developers who want to respond to the request for proposal that was issued by the Simcoe County District School Board last month.
Sixteen developers showed an interest in the land earlier this year; all of the parties shared the city's vision of creating a ‘Centre of Excellence in Education’ that would include a high school, a post-secondary institution and a business synergy centre.
Any proposals in response to this official request would be subject to council approval.
