INNISFAIL - The town is one big step closer to owning the downtown cenotaph land.
On Jan. 11, the board of the Chinook's Edge School Division approved the transfer of ownership of the 3,500 square feet of land at the intersection of 49th Avenue and Main Street to the Town of Innisfail.
Shawn Russell, associate superintendent of corporate services, said the board agreed to the transfer for the "very nominal fee" of $1.
"We are just transferring from one taxpayer organization to another," said Russell. "All surveying and transferring of the land costs will be borne by the town, and Chinook's Edge has the first right of refusal should down the road the cenotaph move or something of that nature, to buy the land back."
He added the sale still requires ministerial approval, a process that takes about a "month or two."
"Whenever a school division transfers land, sells surplus lands or buildings we need ministerial approval prior to doing that," said Russell.
The town, which initiated the deal, will now be responsible for the maintenance of the property, which had been handled for the past two decades through an agreement between Chinook's Edge and the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion.
"It (land) is something used by the public. It does make sense for it (land) to be under control by the Town of Innisfail," said Russell.
Frank Colosimo, the town's director of operations, said the formal approval of the sale will allow the town to better manage the maintenance of the property, and make any future improvements and investments at the site when needed or when deemed necessary by town council.
"That is the key here. Any investments made by the town is fully on town property and not on third party property," he said, adding the town will continue the maintenance partnership for the site with the legion.
The cenotaph was unveiled on the property on Oct. 24, 1935. In May of 2014, major restoration work on the monument was completed at a cost of $13,000. The town picked up two-thirds of the cost with the remainder covered by the legion.
Shawn Russell, associate superintendent of corporate services for Chinook's Edge School Division
"All surveying and transferring of the land costs will be borne by the town, and Chinook's Edge has the first right of refusal should down the road the cenotaph move or something of that nature, to buy the land back."
