There was a disagreement between two members of city council about proper protocol during Monday’s council meeting.
It was Coun. Terry Coleman (at the Jan 25 council meeting) who had originally requested information regarding the effectiveness of housing incentives. However, on Monday it was Coun. Brian Swanson who had the most comments to make about administration’s written response to that enquiry.
Swanson noted page two of administration’s response, which referred to the new housing incentive program (NHIP), stated: “Given that at the commencement of the NHIP in 2003 the city had 374 residential lots in its inventory and by the end of 2007 all the lots had been sold, it would be difficult to argue that the incentive programs were not effective.”
Swanson had comments to make about that passage from the administration’s written response to Coleman’s enquiry.
“I think there has been long-term damage done to Moose Jaw housing by such programs,” he said, adding the simple fact all the lots were sold is not a sufficient reason to call the program successful.
Swanson said what was left out in the response about housing incentive programs is the fact the City of Moose Jaw, for a long time, didn’t increase the price of its lots.
Swanson was noting the price of lots sold in Sunningdale when Mayor Glenn Hagel interrupted.
For more on this story, read an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
