Council approved the joint purchase of a nine acre piece of park land in Heathcote with the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) at this Monday's meeting.

The property, which resides along the Beaver River directly adjacent to the Heathcote Pioneer Cemetery will cost an estimated $57,500 from both parties involved and will be used as recreational park land providing easy access to the river. It will also help the EBC in their goal to acquire and conserve properties along the Niagara Escarpment between Manitoulin Island and Niagara.

EBC Executive Director Bob Barnett gave a presentation to council at Monday's meeting outlining the purchase, which had to be finalized before September 12. During the presentation, Barnett read a letter of support from resident Malcolm Kirk who said the property would provide great public access to the river for canoeing. Emily Black of the Thornbury-Clarksburg Rotary Club also spoke briefly giving Rotary's support to the project.

"Rotary has been looking for a project to recognize the outstanding contributions of George South to our club over the years," she said. "We see great merit in this project."

However, following Barnett's presentation, Councillor Michael Martin expressed interest in the establishment of a partnership protocol between the town and the EBC before approving the purchase.

Director of Recreation Shawn Everitt assured council that since his department began working with the EBC last December a partnership protocol had been developed to determine each party's role in the acquisition.

Martin also raised questions about the lack of a background appraisal on the value of the property and Councillor Cameron Kennedy agreed.

"I'm not sure I'm in agreement of doing this without some sort of appraisal," he said. "I have no idea what one acre of country property costs."

Barnett addressed the concern by saying that there were two other parties engaged in fierce negotiations for the property so there wasn't an opportunity to have an appraisal done before the EBC could secure the winning bid.

"The two other parties were going to use the property for residential development," he added. "The way I look at it is that the residential part of the property is worth $100,000."

While some councilors questioned the project, Councilor Bob Gamble, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Ellen Anderson and Deputy Mayor Duncan McKinlay, indicated his support.

"I feel this is a very worthwhile project," he said. "This might be an opportunity to look into the future and eliminate some of the conflicts of the past."

Before council voted, Councilor Martin introduced an amendment to appraise the value of the property, establish a firm partnership protocol with the EBC and involve the Grey-Sauble Conservation Authority in the deal to lessen the financial burden on rate payers. The amendment was defeated before it could face a vote.

Council voted approved the acquisition by a vote of three to one with Councilors McKean, Gamble and Kennedy voting in favour and Councilor Martin voting against. Councilor John McGee was also absent from the vote.