The Aug. 25 article about the Cochrane & District Agricultural Society included comments from Rocky View County’s communications manager that have rekindled my worries and suspicions regarding Rocky View council’s intentions as they proceed with the sale of the land currently leased by the CDAS. I had thought events might be unfolding in a reasonably favourable manner. Although details are not public, it has been generally understood that the county is finalizing a sales agreement that would provide the necessary cash to replace the Ag Society’s facilities plus a generous amount left over for the county to use for other priorities. It even sounded like an attractive new location had been identified. Unfortunately, Rocky View’s communications manager has raised serious doubts. His comments suggest that council may now be favouring a more restricted legalistic approach to the Ag Society. He repeatedly emphasized protecting the Ag Society’s interests under its existing lease. This is far less than what would be needed for the Ag Society to continue in a new location. More importantly, it is also far less than what Rocky View’s reeve indicated the county would do in his March 2016 letter to the Ag Society. At that point, the reeve assured the Ag Society the county would ensure that its “needs would be suitably addressed” and that the county would “support the future of your organization.” In my mind, council will be reneging on those assurances if it provides the Ag Society with anything less than the full replacement costs of all its facilities. By taking steps that will force the Ag Society out of its existing location, it has a moral, if not legal, obligation to ensure the ongoing viability of the Ag Society. The reeve’s March letter had appeared to recognize that obligation. I sincerely hope that Rocky View’s communications manager was simply floating a proverbial trial balloon that does not accurately reflect council’s final position. However, I am afraid that this may be a too optimistic interpretation. I wrote to Rocky View Council for clarification of the statements in the Aug. 25 article and the communications manager responded confirming their accuracy. It may take another loud public outcry in support of the Ag Society to keep Rocky View council from backsliding into a “take the money and run” position as it sells the Ag Society’s land. I hope that other Ag Society supporters will take this opportunity to express their concerns directly to Rocky View council.
Janet Ballantyne
