Mountain View County has entered into a new five-year operating and occupancy agreement with the Olds Didsbury Flying Association (ODFA). The move was approved during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The county is the owner of the Olds-Didsbury Airport. Under the agreement the county agrees to license the use of the airport premises to the ODFA under Canadian Aviation regulations until Dec. 31, 2021.
The airport premises covered by the agreement include “all buildings, structures, improvements, fixtures, facilities, maneuvering areas, runways, taxiways, aprons, navigation equipment, aviation radios, windsocks and runway lights.”
Under the agreement the county agrees to provide the ODFA annual funding equal to 80 per cent of the current year tax assessment for the premises including the requisition portion of the tax.
In turn the operator agrees to maintain clean, accurate books of account including all transaction and source documents related to the operator's operations under the agreement.
The operator must “maintain in a safe operating condition the premises and all equipment, labour, materials, signs, supplies, tools and vehicles to fulfill its obligations under the agreement in a competent, safe and timely manner.”
The operator must advise the county of “any known accidental damage or loss to the premises from any cause including fire, theft, vandalism, apparent or alleged negligence of the operator or others.”
Under the agreement, the county retains the right to “manager, protect, develop, construct, repair, alter and maintain buildings, equipment, structures, improvements and resources of the county in respect of the premises and the right to inspect the operator's operation of the premises.”
In other news, councillors turned down a $5,000 funding request from the Village of Cremona. The move came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The village asked for the funds under the county's visitor experience funding policy to cover a portion of the purchase of pet bag dispensers and bear-proof garbage bins for the community's nature trail.
The total cost to purchase the items has been set at $8,544. However, the program has a maximum of $5,000 available.
“While administration supports the village in creating a safe and great recreational area and seeking ways to reduce human and wildlife conflict, there is no obvious tie-in or direct impact to Mountain View County tourism related businesses, nor does this request add value to the visitor experience in the county,” county CAO Tony Martens said in a briefing note to council.
“It is essentially a village park improvement, and does not meet the criteria established by council in policy and procedure 7001.”
Administration would recommend that the village explore opportunities with Mountain View BearSmart Society to enhance the safe environment through the nature trail, he said.
Councillors also passed a motion to review the visitor experience funding policy.
