Costly building repairs bring difficult choices into Wheatland budget talks

By Melissa Crispin-Piche Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The cost of keeping aging community buildings in service is becoming a difficult part of Wheatland County’s budget discussion.

During the Oct. 20 capital-budget review, councillors questioned how much the county should invest in older facilities as it weighs competing demands for roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

“This is a really hard things to say; we have to consider the worth of investing in a 75-year-old building,” Reeve Shannon Laprise said. “I don’t want to see these buildings go out of the community, but holy, the costs are astronomical.”

Administration said building condition assessments had been completed for county-owned facilities, including three community halls, the Gleichen library and the Gleichen arena.

The assessments examined structural components, interior and exterior conditions, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

Staff said a report planned for Nov. 10 would provide more detail on individual facilities and seek council’s direction on their future.

Repair estimates had been included in the proposed capital budget because those decisions could affect spending. Administration cautioned that the figures would need further work and did not yet include engineering or design.

Separately, the agenda report says potential asset retirements or decommissioning options will be brought forward in November as part of longer-term financial planning. It does not identify a list of assets proposed for retirement.

The discussion has not established which facilities, if any, would close.

It has been made clear that council will face questions about the value of repairs, the cost of replacement and the services each facility provides before approving future spending.