MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Council has approved two infrastructure upgrade projects at the county-owned Sundre Airport at a cost of $475,000.
The approval came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting, held in person and online.
On March 15 the aviation advisory committee received a report that the eight-lot subdivision at the Sundre airport has been registered with Alberta Land Titles and are ready for disposal, council heard.
In a briefing note to council, administration said, “The committee discussed the option of either offering these lots for sale or continuing the practice of leasing lots at the Sundre airport and determined due to demand for both options, that it would-be advisable to proceed with offering two lots for auction, similar to the recent auction at the Olds-Didsbury Airport, to establish the market value of the remaining lots and then to determine what an appropriate lease rate would be for the six remaining lots,”
“It is the recommendation of the committee that council consider this practice rather than by getting a property appraisal conducted to establish fair market value.
“Because we don’t sell lots at the Sundre Airport we really don’t have any history around what the market trends are for lots. So that was the thought of the committee was to undertaken an auction of those lots.”
Council carried a motion authorizing the disposal of the two lots (Block 3, Lots 3 and 4) through public online auction with no reserve price.
Council also heard that two upgrade projects related to the new lots are under consideration.
Project 1 would create paved airside (to the runway) access north of the new lots, providing aircraft access to the lots, and Project 2 would see the paved taxiway extended east of the new lots, providing a taxi-way access to the existing apron.
“It was the recommendation of the committee that council provide further direction as to the plans for the creation of airside access to the lots provide some predictability to lot purchases.
“It is the advice of the committee that this predictability is needed in order to maximize the value of the lots and ascertain the most effective market value.”
Council carried a motion approving both projects in the amount of $475,000 to be funded through the tax rate stabilization reserve.
“I think this is a good way forward to start work there,” said Coun. Greg Harris.
Administration will be seeking grant program funding to help offset the capital expenditures associated to the project, council heard.
All council members attended the April 26 meeting.
