Two more conservation authority properties sold

The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority board has approved the sale of two more of its properties and taken other steps to try to reduce its $5 million deficit.

A property on Hammond Street was sold to two North Bay residents for $40,000 and a property on Wyld Street was sold to two other residents for $32,000.

Proceeds from the sale will go toward debt reduction, board chairman Marc Charron said.

As well the board approved a plan to pay interest-only for another year on the $3.2 million loan it took out from the Royal Bank.

The board will also apply to a new provincial infrastructure fund to try to recoup money the authority spent several years ago on Chippewa Creek erosion prevention work..

Authority secretary-manager Brian Tayler said there may be money coming too from the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie.

He said the authority had purchased land from the diocese for the Chippewa Creek program.

But, as it turns out, the assessed price was based on a more expensive property the authority hadn't purchased, opening the possiblity of payment from the diocese.

BayToday.ca will have more on this story later this morning.