The County of Two Hills held a public consultation session on June 5 to allow for residents to discuss a new community building. A number of details pertaining to the proposed community building were discussed, with voices speaking in favour and against the facility.
Heather Nickel, Community Development Officer with the Government of Alberta was also in attendance at the meeting, along with Allen Sayler, County Reeve of Two Hills, who welcomed all to the meeting saying, “It’s good to see all the interest the project has created, and to see all the people out here.”
Nickel served as the meeting facilitator. She explained the county’s proposal to build the Community Building through a PowerPoint presentation.
She outlined a history and background of the old hospital in Two Hills and explained that the Chamber of Commerce owned the hospital until the Chamber became obsolete. At that point, the building fell under jurisdiction of Alberta Infrastructure.
Nickel explained that in 2011, Two Hills Playschool, Community Futures, the CNRL Office, the Museum, and property storage for numerous organizations in Two Hills were all evicted due to the presence of mold and asbestos.
Lac La Biche-St. Paul MLA Ray Danyluk, who was also Minister of Infrastructure at the time, arranged for a grant of $1.5 million from the Community Culture and Spirit. This grant was meant to cover 50 per cent of the costs of a new building, and was intended to help the County and Town of Two Hills work together to replace the old Community Building. Alberta Infrastructure paid to have the old building demolished, and to have the land compacted.
One of the most important stipulations of the government grant was that it only be for the construction of a new community building. Nickel explained that the grant money couldn’t be used to upgrade existing facilities or other infrastructure.
Nickel went on to say that meetings were held, hosted by the town and county, with non-profit organizations, Community Futures, the Medical Clinic, and a number of other potential stakeholders. The outcome of those meetings was the Medical Clinic being the only organization committed to occupying a space in the new Community Building.
The councils and committee lobbied and eventually attracted the interest of Prairie EMS, who wanted to set up in the building as well. There are now other interested parties looking at occupying space in a new Community Building as well.
Part of the county’s presentation last week showed the design of the new building. In its entirety, the facility is designed to hold the Two Hills Medical Clinic with a locum suite in which a working doctor can stay overnight when needed, clinics for other specialists such as a dentist or chiropractor, an exercise facility, a tourism booth, a garage and living quarters for Prairie EMS ambulance personnel, an FCSS youth centre, and a garage for the FCSS van, and water tanker for fire-suppression.
Nickel added that Two Hills Medical Clinic was consulted on the design, and has agreed to pay rent for their part of the building.
After the plans and images were shown, the costs for the project were explained. The new Community Building is projected to cost $3 million.
The costs are to be covered with the $1.5 million Community Spirit Grant, $750,000 form the County of Two Hills and $750,000 from the Town of Two Hills.
Net revenue for the building, meant to help with operating costs collected through monthly rent and membership costs are projected at slightly over $137,000 per month.
Operating costs for the building were rounded up to $125,770 per month.
There was a lot of doubt expressed over the proposed costs among locals in attendance at the session. Some believed the plans for the building would not work with the current tax base of the local municipalities.
There were also a number of concerns expressed by locals about the costs of renting and maintenance. Many believed expenses would be higher than what was being predicted.
A number of people in attendance asked why the county was not considering renovating other existing buildings. The reeve explained that the government grant was specifically for the construction of a new building.
Because a number of County of Two Hills residents have voiced concern against the proposed project, a plebiscite will take place on June 24. The question of the plebiscite is: should the County of Two Hills invest up to $750,000 for a new Community Building in the Town of Two Hills?
The county anticipates the plebiscite itself will cost between $10,000 and $15,000.
Another matter of concern was the discrepancy between the rent per month for doctors and ambulance staff. The reeve explained that the difference in costs was because the municipalities were trying to give doctors, particularly specialists, an incentive to work in Two Hills.
There were also a number of people who were supportive of the new Community Building. People commented on how it would be an opportunity to bring life to the town, and it would encourage more business and therefore potential tax money. One of the attendees compared Two Hills to a car battery, equating the new Community Building to the charge it needs to get to keep moving.
“There’ll be more access to the medical facilities we need out here, opportunities for people to stay healthy and fit with the new fitness centre, and a place for the youth to spend time rather than just being outside roaming the streets. This is a good thing for both the Town and County,” said Coun. Elroy Yakemchuk, adding he felt the meeting last week was good.
“There were a lot of positive people making positive points about what benefits the new Community Building represents. It went very well. There were some good questions, and that’s good. You need questions and concerns, that way we know where work needs to be done, where we need improvements.”
Nancy Mereska, a local resident, is strongly opposed to the new Community Building.
“The numbers don’t add up. Rural taxpayers and ratepayers are made to feel like they’re being held hostage all just to attract doctors to the area, and the county doesn’t even have a complete business plan at the moment.”
She added, “The fitness centre plans aren’t feasible. The population influx to the area is Mennonites and they don’t even use those kinds of facilities. We need support to renovate the old mall and facilities that are already there, rather than a grant to build a new community centre. We don’t have nearly as much of a tax base as counties around us.”
After the meeting, the reeve said, “There are a lot of people objecting to how the grant money is planned to be used, but that’s how the grant is structured,” explained Sayler.
“We’re working with medical specialists, and trying to bring their services here. It’s difficult for people who live out in this area to get to larger medical centers. Instead of hundreds of people going to Edmonton to see specialists all the time, we’re trying to find a way to bring the specialists here for those people.”
