"Acknowledging many issues relating to the proposed Melancthon quarry need addressing, Orangeville Mayor Rob Adams places selling the rail corridor atop his totem pole of priorities.
He argues it would go a long way toward reducing truck traffic on county roads if Highlands’ proposal, which will be subject to an environmental assessment (EA), is approved."
What he meant to say, and I am paraphrasing here, is if Highlands doesn’t purchase the rail corridor from Orangeville to Dundalk, he loses big time, see synopsis below.
http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1497441--peaks-and-valleys-of-dufferin-s-rail-corridor
Quick recap from the July 22, 2011 post on this blog titled Tail of the Troubled Train:
- In 2000 Orangeville/Adams bought the rail line as an economic driver for Orangeville
- Cost $3 million, $2 million of which was paid for the by taxpayers of Ontario NOT Orangeville
- Net cost to Orangeville $1.5 million
- Rail proved not to be financially viable
- In 2009 Orangeville/Adams enters into an agreement to sell the rail line to Highlands for $7 million (including the “bonus” of $2 million he gets when the track is laid)
- Net gain to Adams/Orangeville $5 million not including the $500,000 annually paid by Highlands on property taxes
This business of Highland paying the taxes on this rail line is such a blatant conflict of interest it boggles my mind. It demonstrates the frailties of our system, to put it mildly.
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