Old Rosebud fire hall sold

Sharon McLeay  

Times Contributor  

 

Rosebud Fire Hall and Water Service building will finally get a new owner.

There were two bids for the property, and Travis Friesen’s was accepted at a price of $85,000.

Discussions regarding disposal or use of the buildings have been ongoing between the Rosebud Fire Department and Wheatland County Council over the past year.

Purchase proposals were tendered as of Feb. 1, closing the application process March 1.

Interested parties were to provide identification and description of their firms, give a contact person, designate and provide project experience of the contractors and consultants for the project, include detailed plans for their proposals and give a cost estimate on the proposed drawings. All proposals had to adhere to county guidelines for Community Service Zoning, bylaws and setback parameters and address watershed issues.

Reviews of the applications were done during March, checking for compliance to the guidelines, and then they were evaluated on six criteria factors, with final grading on a percentage scale.  Factors involved in making the decision were the contribution to community, enhancement of tourism, the use of the separate buildings, the purchase price for the property and all buildings. Friesen came in with a 98 per cent rating on the evaluative scale.

The successful applicant will be notified that the approval was made at council on April 9. The new owners will be able to begin their development application as of May 31. There may be a stipulation by county to hold some of the payment back, until conditions of the sale are fulfilled. The money will be applied to the Rosebud Fire Association loans.

The Rosebud Historical Society indicated their interest in a partnership or lease with the new owners, to restore the buildings and keep the property as a historic site.