New twist in Edson Rec Complex saga.
Yellowhead County at its meeting on Jan. 23 agreed to send a letter to the Town of Edson Council, “Requesting the Town of Edson to place a suspension on the sale of the Edson and District Recreation Complex until the Town and County have finalized a long-term plan on regional recreation facilities that are used by both Town and County residents in the Edson area.”
The Town of Edson Council has already agreed to a Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the sale of the Rec Complex, much to the chagrin of The Edson Golf Club, who were looking to take the facility they once had back on again.
However, Yellowhead County has a stake in the complex too having committed capital to it and contributing to the cost of running it.
There are times when one wished one could turn the clock back and do things differently. Just before the municipal elections in 2017 an offer came in out of the blue to buy the Rec Complex, which the Town of Edson Council looked to be amenable to. However, the speed of the potential transaction raised such a furore with the community that the sale never took place and the Edson Golf Club, which also wrote a letter in said they had been treated badly.
Given the involvement of Yellowhead County in the Rec Complex too it might have been better for the two councils to get their heads together and work out a plan to go forward then. But hindsight is 20/20.
We understand that Yellowhead County and Edson Town Council will meet to discuss the matter in the first week of February. The deadline for submissions for the Rec Complex RFP is Feb. 16. There is a get out for the town in the RFP package if it wishes, “Submission of a proposal in no way obligates the Town to engage the Proponent concerned in any capacity or to proceed with the sale. The Town may, at its sole discretion and without liability for any damages or costs, real or perceived, elect not to proceed with the sale at any time and for any reason prior to the signing of a formal contract with the successful Proponent.”
A new rec centre, complex, whatever has long been a desire in Edson. There is a drive to look at building one. Is there the money? Well, maybe not. The unexpected water, if probably preventable, catastrophe at the water reservoir may well put the kibosh on a new rec center over what
could be a very large bill for essential water infrastructure.
Hopefully, the Town of Edson and Yellowhead County can come up with a workable solution for all parties on what to do with the Rec Complex and for recreation in general going forward. There is still time and wriggle room to get a win out of this affair.