Councillor Trent Houk once asked why the city of North Battleford is not forcing the Battlefords Tribal Council to pay back half a million dollars owed to the City.
That was based on a previous agreement made with the City for land in the southeast quadrant to be developed.
"I can't see why we aren't collecting this $500,000 when we are cutting cheques for $1.3 million for property," said Houk at Monday night's council meeting.
Houk was referring to an addendum to the land exchange agreement between the city and BTC made Oct. 12. In that addendum, made to the April 8, 2010 land exchange agreement, the City agreed to pay $1.3 million to BTC for land as part of the land exchange.
"We do not let people develop land on speculation, and yet we're allowing a corporation to do just that," said Houk.
The criticism from Houk of the land exchange agreement with BTC is nothing new. Houk was the lone councilor to vote against the land exchange agreement earlier this year, expressing concern at that time about the money still owed to the City by BTC.
City Manager Jim Toye said it is not uncommon for money to not be paid in such deals until the land is actually developed. He said the payments from BTC would be coming in installments with $300,000 paid April 1, 2011, and the remainder - about $195,000 and change, said Toye - will be paid either if there is a development on the land or if it is sold.
He acknowledged the process has taken a number of years and the initial agreement was renegotiated a couple of times, and finally brought to the public session of city council for approval.
That answer seemed to placate Houk - for the moment.
"I'm going to be paying attention very closely that we get payment on April 1st, 2011," Houk said.
