Sandy Beach camp owners say kicking them out will cost taxpayers at least $3.8 million

The city’s decision to evict Sandy Beach camp owners and demolish 26 camps and homes will cost taxpayers at least $3.8 million over the next 13 years.

Representatives of the Sandy Beach Leaseholders say they’ve appealed to the city to allow them to buy up the publicly owned land, which city officials say cannot be properly serviced with potable water and thus must be vacated.

Elsie Hutsul, the organization’s treasurer, on Wednesday said the city’s planned eviction is wasteful management of taxpayer dollars.

And totally unnecessary, she added.

“The bottom line is we don’t want to sell these camps, but we’re being put into a position where we have to,” Hutsul said.

“We’re being forced by the city. Because of that it’s impacting the taxpayers.”

The group attempted to present their case before council at Tuesday night’s budget public-input session, but was quickly rebuffed and their deputation cancelled.

According to Hutsul, based on two recent camp demolitions, the cost to tear down the remaining 26 camps will cost the city $558,678, an average of $21,487 per camp. Additional buyout costs will add $1.5 million to the bill, while early buyout incentives to owners willing to leave by June 30, 2015 could cost an additional $469,519, assuming all 26 take the offer.

They also claim a one-year lease payment would cost $65,000, for a total expenditure of $2.65 million.

Then there’s the lost revenue.

Hutsul said over the next 13 years lost tax revenue would equal $406,294, while lost lease income would total another $752,397.

“From a taxpayer perspective, it’s a huge impact to the city,” Hutsul said. “It’s $3.8 million of lost revenue and cost. Is the city in the position to spend $3.8 million? Do we have that kind of money at this time?”

Bob Hupka says no.

The president of the SBL, Hupka has owned a camp at Sandy Beach for more than 40 years and spent many more summers along the shores of Lake Superior at his parents’ camp.

He said he’s getting frustrated at the lack of progress.

“(The city) won’t talk, they won’t negotiate, nothing. It’s just this is the way it’s going to be,” Hupka said.

Hutsul said the water issue shouldn’t be the deciding factor.

“There are people who have wells out here. There are people who draw from the lake and there are also other people who bring in their own water. I don’t see why water would become an issue,” she said.

She’s hoping taxpayers concerned about the expenses and loss of revenue will pick up their phones and contact city councillors to express their dismay.

Leaseholders have been told they have until December 2016 to vacate their camps. In 2001 several Sandy Beach camp owners were also evicted.

City officials on Tuesday night said because of potential litigation arising from the move to evict the leaseholders, they couldn’t discuss the matter.