Sandy Beach leaseholders appeal to Thunder Bay city council
City administration and leaseholders scheduled to meet on Thursday
Leaseholders at Sandy Beach, who are concerned Thunder Bay will not renew their leases, made one final appeal to city councillors at a Monday night council meeting.
The leases expire at the end of December, 2014.
Michael O'Reilly said he was unable to speak with the city and negotiate a lease, which means he and about 25 other families may have to vacate their homes and camps by the end of next month.
"Unfortunately, we've received nothing back,” he said.
“No word, no response, not a peep. Only now, after a decision has been made behind closed doors, do we receive any word, and laughably, we still don't actually know what any decision is."
City administration and the leaseholders are scheduled to meet on Thursday.
Francesco Greco, who has a camp at Sandy Beach, said he does not want any buyout from the city — he just wants to keep his camp.
"I don't want your money, I really don't want your money,” he told council.
“You can give me $300,000, [but] I don't want it. I want that lifestyle. Money can't buy happiness, and feelings, and love and togetherness."
Greco said his children will be devastated if they lose the property. He added he does not know how to explain the loss to his disabled son, who will not comprehend why the camp no longer exists.
"And the only way [my son] Amore would have closure is I would have to bring him there, to see the bulldozer bulldoze that camp for himself. That's closure for him."
Greco said he doesn't think the city will renew his lease, but he wanted to prove he has a voice at the council meeting.
"What about the disabled people that I work with, that I bring there weekly, so they can have that experience, where they can ... sit on the deck, and go inside a camp and experience that atmosphere, the environment of camp, or that cottage lifestyle."
Greco also stated he recently installed new laminate floors in his camp, and purchased a new oil furnace for the building.