Dever against ‘rushing in’ on KDN purchase but City council votes 7-1 to go ahead with it

CITY HALL — Coun. Nelly Dever urged fellow councillors today not to rush into buying the Kamloops Daily News building, but they voted 7-1 in favour of the acquisition anyway. Coun. Nancy Bepple was absent.

In a prepared speech, Dever said the City should let a private developer buy the building at 393 Seymour Street (plus a parking lot across the alleyway) and then the City could look at a public-private partnership to provide parking on the site.

“I find that to be a lot of money for city taxpayers to cough up,” she said of the $4.8 million price tag, which staff said was fair market value.

Dever said patience is warranted on the parking issue because the City may be facing “revenue pressures” in future.

“I feel we’re rushing into this opportunity.”

Mayor Peter Milobar, however, reflected the views of the rest of council when he said buying the property will give the City control over what’s done with it, and that the first priority is to use it for civic infrastructure.

“To me it makes great sense,” he said.

The property may be developed into a performing arts centre, city hall or parkade in future, but will be used for public surface parking in the meantime. Borrowing for the purchase of the property will be subject to the counter petition process.