The steering committee tasked with proposing a future use for the former Foothills Lodge seniors' living facility in Sundre plans to seek a second round of proposals from the public.
The committee, which has been established on behalf of the ministry of Alberta Seniors and Housing, met last Thursday, Jan. 12 for the first time.
"We've received four proposals," said Sam Smalldon, Mountain View Seniors' Housing (MVSH) chief administrative officer, who is also involved in helping to oversee the process to prepare a plan that will eventually be submitted to the ministry for approval.
"We're going to do a second and final call for proposals to make sure we've given the public a chance to engage."
That step is expected to take place in the following weeks ahead of the committee's next meeting in February, he said.
Once additional proposals have been submitted, the committee plans to meet monthly to consider the most viable option to prepare a final recommendation to the minister, he said.
Smalldon told the Round Up details on the four proposals submitted to date would be announced following the conclusion of the upcoming call for additional suggestions.
"After the second and final round, we'll publish a list of the types of proposal."
The committee has the public's best interest at heart, he said, adding each of its members have signed declarations of conflict of interest statements to clear out concerns of potential bias.
"We want an open and transparent process for the community. The committee is acting as a group, not as an individual."
The objective is to recommend a proposal on behalf of the public to ensure the plan will benefit the community, he said.
Although the next meeting's date was not yet etched into stone as of last week, Smalldon said the committee is tentatively planning to meet the first Monday of every month until spring, when the final proposal is expected to be ready for submission to the ministry.
Owned by the province, the former seniors' living lodge was managed by MVSH, which remains the building's caretaker until a new purpose has been determined and the facility can be handed over, he said.
"This is not a Mountain View Seniors' Housing process, this is a process mandated by the province," he said, adding MVSH has no long-term aspirations for the building.
Anyone with inquiries about the process can contact Smalldon by emailing him at [email protected], or by calling 403-556-2957. Additionally, anyone interested in submitting ideas for the committee's consideration is welcome to email its chair, Bruce Beattie, at [email protected].
