Image

June 3, 2017

Lambton County may soon be willing to pay more for land when it needs to widen a road.
In a recent report, Jason Cole, general manager of infrastructure, says since 2010, the county has offered between $3,000 and $10,000 per acre of land depending on whether it is bush or agricultural land. Often the county requires well under an acre.
“Staff has found that property owners are becoming reluctant to sell to the county for road widening for what they feel is inadequate compensation,” he writes. “As a result, the county has projects that have been on the backlog list for several years.”
That includes the widening of Mandaumin Road.
Cole says the only other way of getting the land is through expropriation. Even if the county would consider the unusual move, “the cost for legal fees would far outweigh the cost of a reasonable offer.”
County staff is recommending the rate per acre be doubled to between $6,000 and $20,000 per acre to make offers to landowners more attractive.
Enniskillen Mayor Kevin Marriott likes the concept. “Farmers are selling it for barely market value and I really believe the county should be paying more than what they are paying now. We’re trying to get it to real market value… and plus a little bit more.” County council will look at the idea June 7.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Forest Kiwanis hope a mandarin, apple and cucumber can raise some cash for Kineto

February 7, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent “Why would somebody give 6.2 million for a banana on the wall?” That’s what Forest’s Jose Van Haastert thought after seeing what a crypto billionaire paid for a piece of conceptual art with a banana on the wall. Her family talked about the massive price tag for the art over Christmas. But the idea got Van Haastert,

Read More

Image
News

New scholarship program at Great Lakes created in honour of late Sarnia judge

February 7, 2025

Students in St. Clair Township and Sarnia will be able to apply for a new scholarship program, named in honour of an Ontario Court Justice from Sarnia. The Sarnia Community Foundation says the family of the late Anne McFadyen has set up an annual scholarship program, similar to LCCVI’s Nicol Scholarships. It will honour five graduating students from Great Lakes

Read More

Front Page

Driver taken to hospital after Inwood accident

February 7, 2025

An Alvinston woman had to be taken to hospital after an accident near Inwood Monday. Lambton OPP have yet to release any details about the crash Monday morning which occurred during foggy conditions. Witnesses say two vehicles, a van and large pickup truck, collided at the corner of Inwood and Shiloh Line Monday morning. The van was T-boned. Brooke-Alvinston Fire

Read More

Image
Sports

LCCVI on top of girls high school hockey standings

February 7, 2025

LCCVI moved into a first place tie with Chatham-Kent Secondary School in girls’ high school hockey this week with a 2-1 win over the Golden Hawks in Chatham. The Lancers are 2-0-2 in the south division this season. The regular season wraps up late next week. Playoff dates have yet to be announced.

Read More