A reader wonders whether there has been sufficient testing for contaminants on the site for the new library in downtown Saskatoon.
The Saskatoon Public Library board rushed out and overpaid for land (some environmentally tested and some not) where two former gas stations and one dry-cleaning site were once located.
To date there has still not been proper testing done on the north site along 25th Street, even though recently there appeared to be more drilling and testing on the south site where Merlin Motors once stood.
Should I care that the City of Saskatoon’s chief financial officer Clae Hack acknowledged in correspondence with me that the city’s land branch advised the library board on the purchase, including an environmental review.
If a suspect environmental situation is discovered, it will raise questions for the library board and for city hall.
Should I care that I have twice written to the city manager and city solicitor starting last November inquiring if they will be issuing a building permit without proper environmental testing, with no direct response?
I was sent a letter from Saskatchewan’s environment minister in November that said: “It is premature to determine the future of the property without additional information on potential contaminants and a better understanding of the intended use for that property.”
I care because apparently no one on the library board, on city council or in city administration does. All Saskatoon taxpayers should care, too.
Cary Tarasoff, Saskatoon
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