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Looking at current and future needs

Lacombe County to explore regional recreation board

Jul 6, 2020 | 2:08 PM

Lacombe County will be exploring the possibility of creating a regional recreation board with two of its local municipal partners.

It was during a recent committee meeting that County Councillor Barb Shepherd brought up a request for capital support from the Blackfalds Recreation Board, saying such requests may not be sustainable in the future.

Shepherd asked whether it was time for the county to try to engage its municipal partners on a regional recreation board to determine what facilities there are and what the need is in the future.

County Manager Tim Timmons advised Shepherd that currently the Recreation Reserve is sustainable and provided an explanation of how this Recreation Reserve is funded. Timmons said Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding is a component of this funding that will be discontinued in 2022.

The current balance of the reserve fund is $ 1.8 million and covers all projects that the county has committed to, Timmons added.

Timmons said it’s not clear yet what provincial funding the county will receive once MSI funding is discontinued and advised that discussion regarding a regional recreation plan with the Towns of Blackfalds and Lacombe would be beneficial.

“If we can continue to have discussions to work as a broader community this will benefit us in the future,” Timmons said.

Timmons has been directed by council to investigate Lacombe County undertaking regional recreation discussions with the Town of Blackfalds and the City of Lacombe, and that a report be presented to council at a future meeting.