Union Bay Improvement School Property Purchase

So is there any reason the Board of Trustees purchased the school property without a lawyer?  It appears the Board waived searching of the title and proceeded with the sale using a Courtenay Notary.  

It appears the Board was able to obtain a mortgage on the property from the local Credit Union without anyone noticing the clause in favor of the School District resulting in Union Bay obtaining financing and paying mortgage payments for 5 years for a property we don't own.

No lawyer, no realtor, no title search - business as usual.

Will anyone come forward to provide a reason for this financial disaster?  Everyone involved is still around and have been consistent in telling landowners what a great job they did.  Maybe they would like to explain what happened?

Just My Opinion, of Course.

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In 2007, how did the Union Bay Improvement District (our government, representing the landowners best interest) buy a piece of property, engaging professional realtors, lawyers and bankers, obtain financing, paid a mortgage for 5 years (which is up for renewal this year) that we, the community, have never actually owned since the purchase?

 QUESTION:  Of all the individuals involved in the purchase, who was aware of the clause/covenant  in favor of School District 71, and why didn't they wait to complete the sale after the title was clear?  Here's a name to start with.

Excerpt  from May 16, 2007,

UBID Board Meeting Minutes:

3. 
•  School property will be for sale in a tender process with a reserved bid. The Board decided to arrange a meeting with David Barnes to discuss the process, XXXXXX to make arrangements. 

This is the point in time where our government began the process of purchasing $650,000. (approx.) School Property.  Obviously, David Barnes would be the person to ask if he was involved, and what took place next.  Someone knows how we ended up in this mess!

This was a huge financial transaction, which required good judgment in all aspects of the debt our government was promising we, the landowners, would repay.   We would expect our government to take every precaution necessary to ensure our assets are not at risk.  As Trustees, they are obligated and answerable to the landowners they took an oath to represent.

The community never received sufficient information regarding this purchase in the first place.  The UBID Board claimed we were being told 'everything' all these years.  Apparently not.

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Excerpt from Minutes 

Union Bay Improvement District

Board Meeting Minutes
March 23, 2006 7 p.m.
Union Bay Fire Hall

4.  Business arising from the minutes:
•  Discussed possible fire hall renovations.  AWL Tec reviewed the location of the furnace and horizontal installation was discussed.  Further discussion of the feasibility of renovating the fire hall and moving the administration office resulted in a request for further information.  XXXX to advertise a Request for Proposal for the fire hall and research alternate office locations.

Excerpt from Minutes

Union Bay Improvement District

Regular Board Meeting
April 19, 2006 7 p.m.

Union Bay Fire Hall 

3.  Business Arising from the minutes
•  Quotes for the fire hall renovations were discussed.  No actual quotes were received but two contractors indicated that the hose tower would need to be removed and the staircase changed.  Engineered walls would need to be approved for a building permit.  It was agreed that the renovations to the fire hall would not be cost-effective. Discussion about the use of the school property as a fire hall property.  Access available from two streets and does not come directly onto the highway.  XXXXX will look into this further.  The sale of the 1993 Jimmy is complete and $3700 was received.

Excerpt from Minutes 
Union Bay Improvement District
Regular Board Meeting Minutes
Union Bay Fire Hall
March 28, 2007 7 p.m.

Fire Hall and Truck Committee – XXXXX is surveying land for the new Fire Hall. XXXXX suggested that the school property which was given to the community could be one consideration. The cost for the building could be $100.00 square foot. XXXX will have a report for a new Fire Hall at the AGM.

 Excerpt from UBRA AGM 2007

Sept. 2007 Landowners' Update:

Exerpt from Minutes

Union Bay Improvement District

Regular Board Meeting Minutes
October 17, 2007
Union Bay Fire Hall

Motion 2007-10-05

To move the closing date for the school property from October 31, 2007
to October 24, 2007.

Why?  Was this purchase rushed through knowing a problem existed with the title?

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Excerpt of Correspondence sent to Union Bay Improvement District from Minister Bill Bennett dated Oct. 6, 2009.  Mentions School Property problem.

Lots of questions to be asked regarding the purchase of this 'elephant'.  More to come.