Sturgeon County wants an agreement that will treat its residents as equals at the new Morinville Cultural Centre before council signs off on a grant for the new facility.
County council contemplated giving $250,000 to Morinville through the capital agricultural/recreational facility development grant, but tabled the decision until the town agrees to charge county residents the same rates as what town residents pay.
Coun. Karen Shaw said Sturgeon wants to make sure its citizens are treated equally.
“We do contribute to community programs and our citizens shouldn’t be punished.”
The same grant program has been used to contribute to recreational facilities in other municipalities in the area, including funding for Servus Credit Union Place in St. Albert.
The cultural centre is expected to open later this year, and could cost about $12 million.
Morinville has nailed down a fixed price for the construction of the facility, but the sum doesn’t include outfitting the building with equipment for performances or kitchen space.
Shaw said Sturgeon County is currently evaluating how it contributes to recreational and cultural facilities in municipalities in and around its borders.
If the study shows Sturgeon is not paying its way, she would want to see that change, she said.
“We want to be good partners with our neighbours,” she said. “If we are not paying our fair share then we need to step up to the plate.”
Morinville Mayor Lloyd Bertschi said the town asked the county to consider a $3-million contribution to the facility, but that doesn’t mean the $250,000 isn’t welcome.
Town council has yet to discuss the county’s request for equal treatment of residents in light of the $250,000 grant, he said, adding nor does he know if council will view it as an appropriate contribution to the facility.
“We don’t have a real clear definition of what is an appropriate contribution,” he said. “We really have not even had that discussion.”
Bertschi said the town has an agreement with the county right now, which allows Sturgeon users to pay the same rates at the curling rink and arena.
He said the cultural centre will also charge the same rates to county and town residents through the month of June, but that will be re-evaluated depending on the funding arrangement with Sturgeon.
“We want to make sure that this facility is held separately, so that includes not only a proper and reasonable capital contribution, but also a recognition of the usage of that facility by the residents of that community.”
Bertschi said the town has detailed information on usage that clearly shows county residents are using the town’s facilities, which is why an operating contribution to the facilities makes sense.
“The statistics we have over the last decade show pretty clearly that there is a 33 per cent usage of all of our facilities by county residents.”
