Rocky View County (RVC) Coun. Jerry Arshinoff said he was suspicious about the way the county was handling the possible sales of the Cochrane ag society ground.
“The primary concern is the unfairness for the people who use the ag society and the different user groups. RVC has asked for proposals from potential land developers to propose what they are going to do with the land… why?” Arshinoff said after a community meeting in Springbank.
“I don’t mean to sound overly suspicious but is this just some manner where the proposal does not have to be given to the highest bidder?”
Arshinoff hosted a community meeting at the Springbank Heritage Club on March 7, inviting Daria Holden to speak about the importance of the ag society. Holden started an online petition earlier their year, asking RVC to renew the ag society lease, which ends in 2025.
More than 100 people packed the hall, as Holden raised some questions about the potential sale of the land – wondering why it was declared surplus in “this economic market,” and also noting that if RVC was to sell the lands, there is no other land currently secured for the ag society to move to.
“This land is a defining feature of Cochrane – if we moved we would need to replace the facilities, you can’t move what is already there. There are generations that have invested hours into building what is there… and once it sells, it is all gone,” Holden said.
Holden asked people to sign the petition, explaining that Cochrane & District Agricultural Society (CDAS) cannot secure funding for future expansion and repairs when there is nine years left on the lease. Earlier this year, the CDAS members submitted a proposal to renew their lease for 50 years, which was turned down by RVC.
“It all sounds pretty screwy and I did bring this up in council and did not get an answer, not an answer that makes sense,” Arshinoff said.
As previously reported by the Eagle, RVC District 9 Coun. Bruce Kendall explained before that it is unlikely for the county to accept a lease proposal that is over 10 years, unless there is significant infrastructure or development planned.
Kendall was in attendance at the meeting but left before the meeting concluded.
Another meeting was hosted the next night at the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre on March 8 with Holden and Kendall discussing the ag society again with Kendall explaining to the crowd that he wants to explore options before the nine year lease is up.
RVC is currently accepting proposals from interested buyers for the ag society land. Arshinoff said he did not know if there were any submitted yet.
“Why would we sell when prices are low? And why are we asking for proposals? Why are we doing this? Plus you would think if we were asking for proposals, we would advertise it widely, you wouldn’t have this thing where if you know about it you could submit a proposal,” Arshinoff said.
“It is just a nonsensical way of doing business.”
At the time of the March 7 meeting, Holden’s online petition had over 900 signatures – but the petition does not follow RVC guidelines of what is acceptable because it is in an online format. So Holden started a paper petition that has been circulating around Cochrane and surrounding area.
Holden said she has dropped the petitions off at various places in Cochrane, including pet stores and veterinary clinics.
“The ideal outcome would be that the land is not for sale and the society gets to stay,” Holden said.
