The Town of Olds recently purchased 3.75 acres on 50 Street and 54 Avenue from Alec Zec to be used for a future civic centre.
Mayor Judy Dahl said negotiations for the property were recently completed and the information was released following a closed session of town council on November 14.
“Olds council recognized the opportunity for some property that was pretty central in our uptown core, for future planning 10, 20 years down the road. Through negotiations with Mr. Zec and his family it worked out that … it was in the end, the best property for the future needs of the town,” she said.
Dahl said some of the discussion that council has been having regarding the property includes the potential of a civic centre housing items such as a museum or tourist centre, among other possibilities.
“We do know that in 10 to 20 years that our (municipal planning) study did prove that we will need a relocation of our municipal building,” she said.
Dahl said town officials were approached over a year ago about the possibility of the town purchasing the property. Dahl said at that point, “it wasn't viable or feasible” for the town to purchase the land, but since it was still for sale at a later date, a second approach by the Zec family was favourably received by the town.
“It took quite a while, but at the end of the day … we will reward him and his family (with) a plaque on the property,” she said.
Zec said he was glad to be able to sell the property to the town.
“I spent the best part of my life in Olds. I love Olds. It's a good town and good people,” he said.
Asked how much the town paid for the property, Norm McInnis, the town's chief administrative officer, said he wasn't willing to disclose the amount until after the closing date of Dec. 15.
"I spent the best part of my life in Olds. I love Olds. It's a good town and good people." Alec Zec, sold his property to the Town of Olds
