Hamilton city council digest

The city will think twice about the prospect of buying the vacated Linden Park elementary school. City staff originally recommended council turn down the chance to buy the former central Mountain school and 1.8-hectare property on Vickers Road. But recently appointed temporary Ward 7 Coun. Terry Anderson asked council Wednesday to allow "a conversation" with worried neighbourhood residents and the school board before making a decision. Anderson said since being appointed he has heard from residents who fear losing the green space and play structure on the property to residential infill. "I think the last thing people want is to see more parkland turned into houses there," he said after the meeting. The city has until December to notify the school board if it wants to make an offer on the land. Anderson, who is only on the job for one more meeting before the municipal election, warned a newly elected councillor may have to make the final push for a purchase after the Oct. 22 election. The temporary councillor also put forward $140,000 in area-rating ward infrastructure cash Wednesday to help push forward a long-delayed splash pad build at Bruce Park. The money is needed because the low bid to build the water feature this year exceeded the city's project budget. Work could now still go ahead this year in the fall.