Town votes to advocate for new Wheatland Lodge

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Town of Strathmore council will be renewing its support of the Wheatland Lodge project aiming to be constructed adjacent to Kinsmen Park.

Council voted 5-2 in favour to authorize Mayor Pat Fule to sign a letter of support to the Wheatland Housing Management Body (WHMB) in order to better their odds of receiving funding from the province required to take the build to tender.

“Over the past several years, Town of Strathmore council has passed a number of motions related to the collaboration with regional partners including Wheatland County and the villages of Rockyford, Standard, and Hussar for the potential development of a 120-unit Wheatland Lodge,” he said. “This would support the WHMB’s reapplication for the affordable housing partnership program grant, as they have been advised that all municipalities must be in full support of the project and the application submission deadline is Jan. 31.”

The Town of Strathmore is being asked to contribute a one-time debt of $2.865 million over a 25-year amortization period to the project. 

Coun. Richard Wegener noted the amortization period is variable, with discussion having taken place about as much as a 40-year amortization.

The caveat to potentially extending the repayment period would be at the point of 40 years, the repayments would be over double the interest of the original borrow. In this case, the town would have to repay an extra $3 million on top of the original $2.865 million.

It was the recommendation of administration that the town authorize Fule to sign the letter of support for the project, as well as to invite the WHMB and Chief Administrative Officer to a future council meeting to discuss project updates.

During the discussion, Coun. Brent Wiley aimed to help clarify exactly which demographic the new lodge would aim to serve should it see construction through to completion.

“It is really important that people understand this lodge is not being built as a high level of health or a high level of care. It is actually an L1, which means it would be an introductory level of care,” he said. 

Wegener added the facility is intended to serve as congregate living for residents who do not require additional help and are effectively self-sufficient.

The facility is intended to feature menial care supports, as well as six palliative care beds, however the majority of the facility would serve a similar purpose to the currently existing lodge.

“(Residents would) not need the support that they would get from a Sagewood or a, when it gets built, Shasta (facility). Those are higher levels of care for the seniors,” said Wegener. 

“I think people are under the impression that when we can get this built, there is going to be a place for them to go when they are unable to take care of themselves, and in reality, that is just not even what is being proposed to build. That is not what this project is about,” added Wiley. 

Coun. Matt Hyde, as well as Wiley, ultimately voted against authorizing the letter following extensive discussion by council. Their concerns were largely centered on the town’s ability to afford taking on such a debt required for construction.