Innisfail mayor Brian Spiller is concerned over the replacement cost of the Autumn Glen Lodge seniors' residence and the authority of Parkland Foundation to requisition millions of dollars of funding from municipal stakeholders.
“We are concerned about the amount of requisition from Parkland that will be coming,” said Spiller of the amount being sought from Innisfail. “Presently we pay between $17,000 and $22,000 per year and a multi- million dollar requisition would significantly increase Innisfail taxpayers' bills.”
Spiller said whatever funding agreement results it will have to have unanimous agreement between all Parkland partners.
The Town of Penhold council also continues to question Parkland Foundation's authority to requisition funds for the lodge's future replacement building.
Marie Flowers, Parkland Foundation chief administrative officer, replied to a letter dated Jan. 30 from Penhold mayor Dennis Cooper regarding Autumn Glen Lodge and questioned the foundation's authority to requisition funds from participating municipalities.
Penhold town councillors debated the original letter Jan. 27, as well as the Jan. 30 reply on Feb. 24 during the regular council gathering.
Flowers stated in her letter that Parkland Foundation officials felt the costs associated with repairs were at best “a band-aid solution” and the original letter was to give municipalities a heads-up notice that plans are underway for a replacement building.
“As a community we realize the value of our seniors,” said Cooper. “We also realize that Autumn Glen is aging and does need replacement.”
Penhold councillor Mike Walsh added it would be difficult to explain to local taxpayers that the town is sending tax dollars to Innisfail to build a facility that is not located in the community.
Walsh went on to question if any Penhold citizens are presently in Autumn Glen.
Cooper said there were no seniors from Penhold in the lodge in February but added there could be as many as two or three this month.
He questioned the authority of Parkland Foundation to requisition funds based on a 1996 Parkland Foundation ministerial order received by Penhold, which states the agency will replace the Bowden Lions Housing Society and the Penhold and District Lions Club as administrators and operators of Autumn Glen Lodge.
Additionally, the order goes on to say Parkland Foundation can requisition Red Deer County, Innisfail, Bowden, Delburne, Elnora and Penhold.
Cooper added that member municipalities should not be facing levies as the ministerial order specifically mentioned administration and operation, and not replacement of facilities.
However, the authority of Parkland Foundation to requisition municipal partners is based on a revised Alberta Housing Act (AHA) directive that it can requisition funds, including for facility replacement, said Flowers.
Flowers added that according to the AHA formula, Penhold's current requisitioning rate is 3.33 per cent while Red Deer County's is 80 per cent, Innisfail is at 14 per cent, Bowden at 1.5 per cent, Delburne one per cent and Elnora at .5 per cent. Based on the estimated price tag of $22 million for facility replacement, Penhold would contribute $732,000, Innisfail $3,080,000, Bowden $330,000, Delburne $220,000, Elnora $110,000 and Red Deer County $17,600,000.
Flowers noted that it's not the foundation's intention to put a huge tax burden on ratepayers. She added the agency is looking at other income options such as partnering with the Bethany Care Society as well as accessing available government grants to make the levy as reasonable as possible.
