Suncor interested in developing downtown tank farm

At tonight's meeting Sault Ste. Marie City Councillors heard that Calgary-based energy giant Suncor Energy Inc. is receptive to selling it's property on the waterfront.

This came as a surprise to many councillors after City Council had to spend so much money and time to obtain the right to use a thin strip of the land for the waterfront walkway last summer.

About a year ago Suncor closed the door on overtures by the city to begin a dialogue about the property on Bay Street just west of Purvis Marine.

The City persisted and eventually Suncor leased the land to the city for 20 years at a cost of at least $162,500 in rent, fees and taxes.

As reported earlier by SooToday.com, that works out to an average of $8,125 a year that will come directly out of the City's $100,000-a-year maintenance budget for the Hub Trail.

But tonight City Planning Director Don McConnell told Councillors that Suncor was willing to talk about selling the waterfront property that has stood vacant for 30 years.

Also at tonight's City Council meeting, Councillors asked City staff to prepare a report comparing various methods and materials used to build roads and repair potholes.

Councillors want to find out if it's better to spend more on a road repair or construction in hopes that it will last longer or continue to repair them every few years and use less expensive materials or techniques to build them.

In addition, Councillors heard that a motion to take another stab at getting a passport office in Sault Ste. Marie will be on the next council meeting agenda.

Shown is a SooToday.com file photo of the John Rowswell Hub Trail between the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre and John Rowswell Park taken this summer.