County calls for more transparency regarding ongoing Wheatland Lodge project

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Wheatland County council is seeking more information and clarity from the Wheatland Housing Management Board (WHMB) regarding the ongoing Wheatland Lodge project.

A motion was passed by council during the Sept. 2 meeting directing county administration to send a letter to the WHMB requesting an update on the status of the proposed new build.

Currently the new Wheatland Lodge project has been placed effectively on hold, following the failure of the most recent provincial grant funding request, indicated in July. 

Coun. Tom Ikert expressed concerns with what will be the overall cost to see the project through to construction, and exactly what that number may be. 

“The number one question was, as of July 8, what was the cost of the build for the 120-bed lodge unit, and there is no way that you can find that answer,” he said. “The number I have heard on social media is $90 million, which would be $750,000 a door, which is not affordable housing – and since we are a willing participant in this build, I think we need to get the proper numbers out there that how this is all feasible.”

He added a concern that following the announcement of a $3.5 million grant being awarded to the True North Society, projects in Strathmore or Wheatland County are not likely to see consideration from the province for housing grant funding in the near future.

Coun. Glenn Koester, who chairs the WMHB, added the contributions to the project requested of partnering municipalities does not exceed $700,000.

“At no time has any of the submissions for the new build been more than the $700,000 contribution that was asked of the municipalities. That was never higher than that,” said Koester. “The project can increase in price, but the financing increases, contributions increase, but never has that $700,000 been brought higher.”

This $700,000 figure represents the mortgage payments for the facility once constructed, expected to be pooled by partner municipalities.

Two thirds of this are itemised to be paid for by resident rental fees. The last third is to be paid for by participating municipalities.

In April 2024, the total cost of the Wheatland Lodge project was estimated to be $52,739,184. Wheatland County, at the time, was requested to provide $3,985,914 of this budget. 

Coun. Rick Laursen added his belief that the province will continue to not support the Wheatland Lodge project while members of the county are also expressing opposition.

“The Alberta government has not put funding forth; from the people I have talked to, they said funding won’t be put forth because there are five people on this council that insist on writing letters to the ministers and the ministers are not going to put any funding in here as long as stuff like that is going on,” he said. “You can say all you want with your lips that you support this lodge, but you don’t in your actions, and I think that needs to be an election issue.”

During discussion, Ikert called for more transparency from the WHMB regarding the total project budget and how finances are to be allocated.

“Every dollar that is going into this operation is taxpayers’ money. The taxpayers, in my opinion, have the right to know what that number is, and I believe every board has the obligation to be transparent and accountable for every dollar that they spend,” he said. “We should not be doing anything that is not above board and to say that there are five of us on this board who are against this lodge build, that is ridiculous. We have got county motions but have got guidelines – we are not going to allow people to just go spend everybody’s money just because they have got some vanity project.”

The WHMB intends to apply for provincial grant funding again during the next application period. Until that time, no monies are being spent to further the project.

Reeve Amber Link added she agrees the subject of support for the Wheatland Lodge project should be an issue discussed during the upcoming municipal election. 

She added there are ongoing and recurring concerns regarding transparency from the WHMB.

“What troubled me most about the letter that we received from the WHMB is that the Wheatland Housing Management Body has presented conflicting narratives regarding the future of the Wheatland Lodge new build and hospice project,” she said. “Recent communications which were sent to me from social media create what in my perspective is a false impression of momentum and viability, while official correspondence to Wheatland County paints a very different picture.”