Rocky may be hosting Battle of the Rockies for the last time

In the letter, Smith says the RMCA gave the Town of Rocky Mountain House and Rocky Agricultural and Stampede Association (RASA) $110,000 for the roof of the covered bleachers. Smith says they were promised that the project would be done in time for this week’s event, but it never happened.

“The co-operation with RASA and the Town of RMH appears to be in disarray,” Smith wrote.

Rocky Mountain House mayor Tammy Burke declined to comment, but two of her council colleagues took to social media to share their thoughts.

“I know that the covered bleachers are indeed being installed, but my understanding is there had been a delay with the grant money with the (provincial) election in the middle of when they normally announce the recipients,” Councillor Merrin Fraser said on Facebook.

Councillor Dave Auld wrote, “With the wet weather and the delay in grant announcements things are slower than we would have hoped. Currently, weather permitting, we are looking at end of October.”

RASA president Gary Duft says he was surprised by what Smith said in the letter.

“This is the first time we’re hearing about it,” he said Wednesday. “I do believe that we were heading in the right direction. Then one individual has turned the tables and is spewing off not facts going forward. It’s unfortunate he had to do that.”

At the April 2 meeting of Rocky Mountain House Town Council, the 2019 Capital Budget was amended to include $930,000 in upgrades for North Saskatchewan River Park, including covered bleachers, power, non-potable water, additional portable bleachers and infield box upgrades.

The Town of Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County each committed $200,000 towards the project. The RCMA committed $110,000 while RASA was to commit $30,000 and the Lions Club $15,000. The remaining $375,000 was to come through the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP).

Roger Smolnicky, Director of Community Services and Recreation reported in June that the RFP for the covered bleachers had been awarded to Morskate Manufacturing and that fencing, water well and electrical work had been completed.

“I do believe everybody needs to know that Roger has helped us tremendously getting the grant approvals going,” Duft noted. “They’ve been behind us 100% with everything, on applying for everything, they’ve done the legwork to get it going. We’ve all crossed hurdles to get to that point.”

Despite what Smith said in the letter, Duft says the RMCA was aware the covered bleachers would not be finished in time for this week.

“We’ve had several meetings with the three groups throughout summer, this spring, this winter, once the grant was approved,” he explained, “so it was all laid out. Then in the comments today, they say that the roof was the biggest hurdle but they have known that we’ve had a delay in it due to weather and getting (Alberta Masters Games) events through without any delays.”

The RMCA had also been in negotiations with RASA on a new rental fees agreement that would allow the Battle of the Rockies to feasibly continue beyond this year.

The North Saskatchewan River Park is owned by the Town while the track and infield is operated by RASA through a lease agreement that expires in 2020.

The RMCA’s contract with the WPCA expires this year.

by Adam Ophus and Troy Gillard

Rocky may be hosting Battle of the Rockies for the last time

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