South Dundas council updated on Iroquois Lock

Municipality wants a new lease for land under gazebo at viewing area, and may wish to purchase the land.

Article content MORRISBURG — South Dundas council received an update on the Iroquois Lock viewing area situation at its July 8 council meeting. In May, South Dundas formally notified the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) that it was going to terminate its lease on some of the park land where a service club had constructed a bandshell and gazebos. Recommended Videos Chief administrative officer Ben de Haan told council on July 8 that the SLSMC has been formally notified and that South Dundas has requested to begin a new lease agreement negotiation.

Tempers were raised in May after the SLSMC refused to mow the portion of the park leased to South Dundas, something that had been done for years before. At the time, council opted to continue to have South Dundas pay for its contractor to mow that area due to the events that take place there over the summer. de Haan continued that Transport Canada, which owns the viewing area, has been notified of South Dundas’ interest in obtaining the property.

Transport Canada has identified the lock viewing park as an area to be divested from federal ownership. South Dundas is seeking a “first right of refusal” on the viewing area property, which is sandwiched between the Iroquois Locks, and several cemeteries. South Dundas already owns land in the area, the former Lockmaster’s House property, which is to the east of the viewing station.

That property was to be sold as part of a plan by South Dundas to divest surplus lands it owns. However, council opted to not continue to look at selling the Lockmaster Property until the fate of the federal lock viewing station is decided. — The Morrisburg Leader