Gleichen challenged to choose school or arena

By Sharon McLeay Times Contributor

Wheatland County division two Councillor Amber Link invited residents to express their ideas about the preservation of the school and arena in the Gleichen hamlet on May 2.
A panel comprised of four additional council members and two county administrative staff joined her.
“We need to look at the big picture and decide what are our priorities,” said Link. “We have to focus on areas where we can grow and focus our energy there.”
Link outlined costs to upgrade and maintain the facilities. She said it would be about $2 million to upgrade the school and $1.5 million to upgrade the arena. Maintenance costs would be about $30,000 a year.
She also described the process that would happen if they chose to move forward with something or turned it back to the Golden Hills School Division. The community could purchase the school for $1 from GHSD and then a redesignation could be done for whatever purpose the community decided on. Then the community could apply for community enhancement money, government grants and do fundraising to upgrade the school or arena. If the community did not want to utilize the school, it would be turned back to GHSD, which would put out a private tender for interested parties to buy the school. The county has first refusal rights on purchase.
Many people in attendance at the meeting did not like the option of turning it back, due to the lack of control over what a private purchaser would do with the property.
Any purchaser would have to bring operations in the building to county council for approval or redesignation, and residents could extend their comments on the application; however, council members could not assure attendees what their decision would be as it is a case-by-case decision process and each member only has one vote one way or another.
“I know you are skeptical and don’t trust us, but there are processes in place to protect that,” said Link.
There were still hard feelings in the community about the loss of the school. Like a scene from the Pied Piper, one man said: when the children left, the town lost its heart.
Many attendees came prepared. Sid Holt had an extensive list of revitalization ideas for the school. They included education courses and billeting for apprentices or agriculture workers, computer labs, a senior citizen facility or wellness centre, a daycare, art studios and evening courses, fitness and wellness programming, music centre, an irrigation interpretive centre and military museum. He suggested the community set up a committee and do research to support an educated decision regarding the school and develop a revitalization program for the hamlet.
“We need to think not only what we are doing for the hamlet but what we are doing for the county as well,” said Holt.
Some people wanted to know if they could keep just part of the school, like the newer addition and the gym.
Link said evaluations showed the mechanical systems for the school are all connected and could not financially be isolated.
Demolition of the building would cost $1 million and then the community would have to also raise funds for a new building. Someone suggested a new smaller facility might cost less than refurbishing the older building.
There was a suggestion the community focus on arena upgrades to the level that some of the ideas could take place there. One was a rollout gym floor that could be used for times when ice was not in place, another was upgrading meeting and conference rooms. Another person suggested holding hockey schools. Ian Bolinger said the arena was currently paying for its operation and usage, and revenues were increasing.
“It’s a viable operation as it stands right now,” said Bolinger. “It is operating and a growing concern when it is going.”
Link said the Hussar community had asked council to request GHSD subdivide the former Hussar school off from the remainder of the property, so the community could keep the playground and ball diamonds. She asked whether that would be an option in Gleichen. She said whatever the residents decided, she would fight for the community in council.
On a show of hands, there was support to upgrade the arena and ask for a subdivision of the school, leaving the playground and other land for community use. People indicated that whatever the decision, they did not want the result to be a big tax bill increase.