By Adam Ophus

talks stuck in the chute

$375K grant for the North Saskatchewan River park on the line amid tense lease negotiations

May 21, 2020 | 6:21 PM

The future of professional rodeo and chuckwagon events in Rocky Mountain House remain uncertain amid tense negotiations between various local stakeholders.

The lease agreement for the North Saskatchewan River Park (NSRP) between the Rocky Agricultural and Stampede Association (RASA) and the Town of Rocky Mountain House will officially be terminated effective July 14, 2020.

A January media release by the Town stated, “The lease agreement allowed RASA the right to manage bookings and operations of the rodeo grounds within the NSRP. However, the facility has evolved beyond the capacity of a volunteer board to manage.”

The Town also indicated that a new proposed management model would allow RASA and all user groups to focus on what they do best: planning and hosting excellent events in the community.

During a special town council meeting held last September, the Rocky Mountain Chuckwagon Association (RMCA) claimed they would have to find a new venue due to the difficulties with booking the NSRP. The Town of Rocky claimed that other programs had similar complaints in the past as well.

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In a lengthy statement released Thursday (May 21), RASA said that in March they applied for the province’s Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) grant. The grant of $375,484 would be awarded to them if certain conditions were met, one of which being that they must maintain control of the facility for a minimum of five years and if their agreement is terminated they must notify the Minister of Culture immediately to give back some or all of the grant.

RASA President Colin Tetley said that during their January meeting with the Town that they informed them that RASA didn’t want to be held liable to pay back that money if the grant was pulled.

Tetley mentioned that councillors told them to send the money back and even wrote in their media release that part of the termination was due to the town not wanting to be held “hostage” by the grant money.

In response to the RASA media release, the Town of Rocky Mountain House says that they met with the Ministry of Culture and were confident that the draft lease framework that both parties agreed upon in December would work, and would have satisfied the CFEP grant conditions.

The Town maintains that RASA demanded additional concessions that would make it unfair to other user groups.

When asked if RASA had any other locations in mind if the Rocky Pro Rodeo were to leave town, Tetley commented, “We really don’t, we were really looking to resolve the contract.”

In the Town’s reply, released Thursday afternoon, they stated that they remain hopeful that RASA reconsiders the proposed user agreement that they claim met CFEP grant conditions.