By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A petition asking the municipality to reconsider its recent purchase of the former Sears building was read out at C-K council recently by Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy.
Bondy said he was asked to present the petition in open council.
“That was what I was requested to do and I think it’s only fair,” Bondy said.
According to the document that was submitted to the clerk’s office Jan. 29, “The citizens of Chatham-Kent are greatly and publicly opposed to this decision and request that C-K council reconsider their decision as the former Sears building is in disrepair and is too costly for taxpayers to renovate and retrofit and then move the library and the museum to that location.
“The citizens of Chatham-Kent request that we keep the current municipal assets in the current locations of the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre, the Chatham Public Library and the Chatham-Kent Museum and do the necessary repairs and renovations required along with regular maintenance to these current buildings to make each location a safe environment for employees, volunteers and visitors.”
Council approved the $2.3 million purchase on Jan. 15. However, it comes with a buy-back clause that would allow the municipality to back out if estimated costs are too expensive.
A total of 772 Chatham-Kent signatures are contained in the petition, along with 195 names from outside the municipality.
If someone had ask me to sign the no buy Sears bldg. I would gladly have. In daily discourse almost all I’ve talked to have voiced opposition to it and pose questions regarding the motivation of the decision. Even if my peer group aren’t indicative, I would guess that still could easily mean at least 20,000 persons in Chatham-Kent are adamantly opposed