Athabasca town councillors argued last week over how restrictive a new lease for the Athabasca Agriplex grounds should be.
The Athabasca Agricultural Society and the Athabasca Lions Club are requesting a 50-year lease to satisfy government regulations for funding.
The recently expired lease was for 25 years.
Councillor Paula Evans wanted any new development on the grounds directly controlled by council.
ìI would like to propose a change in that since this is our land, if there are any developments, that it should come to council, not the municipal planning commission. It is our land,î she said.
Chief administrative officer (CAO) Ryan Maier said the lease could mandate that any buildings added to the property must first be approved by council. ìIt would add one more level within the lease,î Maier said.
But Evans further wanted provisions included in the lease stipulating that if the town wants the land back, they wouldnít have to pay to relocate any new construction.
ìThat could be a tremendous expense,î she said. ìIím not suggesting it is going to happen, but I have no idea what kind of liability that weíre putting out for 50 years.
ìIf we have unrestrained development, then we are increasing the cost to council to move everything that is on that land.î
Councillor Colleen Powell said she thought a clause in the lease to absolve the town of having to move future developments would solve the issue.
ìWe donít know what is going to happen in 10 years, let alone 50. That is my concern,î Powell said. ìIf for some reason in 40 years there is a whole plethora of buildings on there, and we need that land, we will be in a position where we will be unable financially to move all that.î
Mayor Roger Morrill disagreed with the proposed changes.
ìI think that is very unfair to put that in the lease,î he said. ìThat restricts them from doing something. They have no coverage. This lease has to be mutual. Itís to protect them, and to protect us.
ìI think we have to be careful not to get too restrictive,î he said. ìI think that we have to view that whatever goes on there is of community benefit, and it is up to the council of the day if that was reasonable or not.î
The lease agreement also gives the town one yearís notice to cancel the lease, to which Morrill was also opposed.
ìPersonally, when I look at this, I would never sign this,î he said. ìThis is really a one-year lease, as soon as we sign it we can give them notice we are taking the land.
ìI ask you as business people, would you sign this with your landlord, knowing full well that you are looking at capital costs?î Morrill continued. ìIt would be different if you were just renting, but this is capital costs.î
The service groups must now decide whether to sign the lease as it is or request changes to it.
