MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - County council has approved a resolution supporting a Town of Olds application for a 2024 Strategic Initiatives Alberta Community Partnership program grant (ACP).
If successful, the grant could help fund a conceptual design and engagement exercise for a possible future regional multiplex facility.
The county resolution came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting, held in person and online.
The motion also included a call for the Town of Olds to also seek support of other stakeholder partners as part of the grant application.
In a letter received by council, Town of Olds chief administrative officer Brent Williams said the town is currently undertaking a condition assessment and feasibility study of the Olds Sportsplex.
“This effort, which should be concluded by March 2024, will provide an engineering report on the current state of the building and its machinery,” he said.
The report is expected to provide an option on the suitability of the Olds Sportsplex for current and future recreational needs of Olds and area, a high-level cost estimate to achieve 30 more years of life from the building, and an opinion on whether the town should invest in the existing building or seek to build a new facility.
“The consultants are relying and expanding on the Regional Recreation Master Plan to inform the needs assessment portion of their assessment,” he said.
Regardless of the assessment outcome, a significant capital project will be required, probably within the next seven to 10 years, making planning a must, including seeking out grants such as the ACP program grant, he said.
The Town of Olds is seeking similar support from Olds College of Agriculture and Technology, Chinook’s Edge School Division, and primary user groups at the Sportsplex, he said.
The county’s support of the grant applicant does not come with any funding commitment.
