MORRISBURG – A member of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission board has spoken out against the majority decision to dispose of the Grand Trunk Railway engine and car display at Aultsville station.
In an interview with The Leader, SLPC board member, and former South Stormont deputy-mayor, Tammy Hart said she was angry with the decision by the board to dispose of the train display.
“I am very disappointed about the decision,” she said. “Can you imagine the station with nothing there?”
Hart said she was appointed to the SLPC board in late January 2019. The board held its initial vote to dispose of the engine and two cars in late 2018.
She said that after her appointment to the board, she argued for keeping the train saying that it should not cost as much as the estimated $1.1 million price tag the SLPC report states.
“Those estimates are always inflated,” Hart explained. “It shouldn’t cost that much to fix it up.”
Hart said she brought up that fact in subsequent board meetings when the train issue was discussed.
“But I was outvoted again when [the board] voted,” she said, adding that one other member of the board voted against the disposal of the train.
After joining the board Hart said she pushed for more transparency with the decision.
“It makes me angry. We are fortunate to have this display, and it will be an empty spot,” she said.
