Bentley Council Rejects Below-Market Land Offers in Sunset Heights
Bentley Town Council rejected two offers to purchase town-owned lots in the Sunset Heights subdivision during its June 24 meeting, arguing the proposed prices were too low.
By a 3-2 vote, council defeated motions to sell two separate lots for roughly $15,000 to $20,000 below their listed price of $149,900. Instead, council voted 4-1 to present counter-offers of $142,500 for each property.
Why It Matters
The decision signals that a majority of council is unwilling to accept low offers on municipal land, prioritizing a higher return for taxpayers over a quick sale. The two lots, located on 48A Street and 48 A Street Close, will remain in the town's inventory pending the outcome of the counter-offers, delaying potential property tax revenue from new development.
No Public Comment
No residents spoke to council regarding the proposed land sales during the meeting.
The Debate
Discussion revealed a split on council over sales strategy.
An offer of $135,000 was made by Travis and Nicole Jaffray for Lot 40, and an offer of $130,000 was made by K & K Custom Homes for Lot 36.
Councillor Greg Albers advocated for accepting the offers. He argued the town has held the lots for some time and selling them would get them back on the tax roll sooner. Councillor Cora Swanson supported this position.
Pushing back, Councillor Pam Lunn expressed concern about setting a precedent for accepting significantly lower offers. Councillor Robin Tona suggested the town should counter instead of accepting the initial bids. Mayor Jim Schmidt agreed, noting that while one of the potential buyers is a local builder, the offers were simply too far below the town's valuation.
Motions to accept the original offers were defeated, with Councillors Lunn, Tona, and Mayor Schmidt voting against. Subsequent motions to counter-offer at $142,500 passed, with Councillor Albers as the sole vote in opposition.
Pay Raise for Top Administrator
Following a private, in-camera session to conduct a performance review, council approved a 3% salary increase for Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Marc Fortais.
The raise is effective July 1, 2025. The motion passed unanimously.
Other Business
* FCSS Funding Request: Barb Carson of Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) presented the organization's annual report, highlighting that FCSS served 1,327 residents in 2024. FCSS requested a 2% funding increase from the town for its 2025 budget. Council will consider the request during upcoming budget deliberations.
* Routine Payments: Council approved the town's cheque listing for payments totalling $127,453.98 in a routine vote.
What's Next
The town will present the counter-offers to the two potential buyers. The buyers must now decide whether to accept the new price, walk away, or continue negotiations. The CAO's salary increase takes effect next month.