By Adam Ophus

Takeover

Town working on takeover of North Saskatchewan River Park

Mar 5, 2020 | 9:27 AM

The Town of Rocky Mountain House continues to work towards a smooth transition for when they resume management of the North Saskatchewan River Park beginning July 15, 2020.

It was on January 14 that a letter was sent to the Rocky Agricultural and Stampede Association notifying them that that their lease agreement with the park would be terminated as of July 14. The takeover was meant to simplify renting the area for groups and events such as the Battle of the Rockies chuckwagon races.

Battle of the Rockies has not yet said if the event will be coming back for another year, but the World Professional Chuckwagon Association’s website has tentatively scheduled it for August 13-16 in Rocky Mountain House.

Wes Amendt, Director of Recreation & Community, presented council Tuesday with an amended bylaw for a rates and fee structure for when the town takes over the park.

A simplified booking process now includes more definition in what areas individuals or groups wish to book, for instances when booking the infield it now states that it includes the covered grandstand, judges stands and ticket booth.

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A draft of the Fees and Rates chart for the North Saskatchewan River Park (Source: Town of Rocky Mountain House)

The building as well-known Cheap Charlies, as far as bookings goes, will simply be referred to as the “rental hall.”

“We’ve added camping to identify that there will be a ten dollar per unit dry camping fee and fifty dollars for the week, because in the past organizations had the ability to charge for camping but now that we’re taking over control it will help to assist with ongoing maintenance of the park,” explained Amendt.

“We’ve also been getting requests for use of the rental hall (Cheap Charlies) for weddings so we’ve got a weekend wedding package that includes camping.”

He went on to explain that for ticketed events like the Rocky Pro Rodeo and Battle of the Rockies they are planning implement a surcharge of $1 per ticket sold, or $3 per event pass, and that it would be identified in the contracts.

Further discussions will be held to decide whether that surcharge will be applied to tickets given away as prizes or to event sponsors.

There will also be talks or whether volunteers for such events are charged to camp on-site.

“That’s still usage of the park regardless,” Mayor Tammy Burke attested.

“It has nothing to do with volunteers or not, it’s about the use of the space and the cost associated with it,” Councillor Jason Alderson argued

“It’s no different than you’re holding an event somewhere else and you provide a meal for volunteers, they pay for the meal,” Councillor Michelle Narang reiterated.

Council unanimously passed the proposed fees and rates bylaw.