By Leslie Cholowsky, Editor
In response to an inquiry from the Battle River School Division (BRSD), Flagstaff County Council reviewed an opportunity to acquire the former Strome School site from the division during the March meeting.
Council heard that BRSD has declared the property, a 7.7 acre parcel, as “surplus to their needs.”
They also heard that the property currently contains two baseball diamonds and an associated playground structure. It is adjacent to one county owned diamond.
The ‘Swinging for the STARS’ two-day tournament, held annually, uses all three of the diamonds, while Daysland Minor Ball uses one of each. One of the school-owned diamonds is missing a dugout, limiting its use.
Council heard that demand for diamond space has increased in recent years, owing to growth in Daysland Minor Ball registrations.
County recreation areas are mown on a bi-weekly schedule, and adding the BRSD property would not only improve its upkeep, as it is presently mown approximately three times per year, but it could be absorbed into the existing mowing and maintenance schedule in Strome.
Council heard that the playground structure is reported to be in generally good condition, but that a formal inspection would be required to confirm compliance with current standards.
In 2023, two county owned playgrounds, in Strome and at Fish Lake, were upgraded to address deficiencies at a cost of $32,000 total. Strome presently has two playgrounds, one designed for ages 18 months to two years and another for ages five to 12 years; acquiring the BRSD property would add a third county owned playground structure.
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Reeve Murray Hampshire asked if the plot has a reclamation certificate from when the school was torn down. “They hauled a lot of asbestos out of there,” he said.
CAO Shelly Armstrong asked, “Is that normally a part of the reclamation process?”
Hampshire said, “It was remediated before the school was fully torn down, so as long as no building debris remains on the property it should be good.
“How can it be zoned to ensure that no residential development will take place?”
Armstrong said that zoning as public lands or institutional will prevent that.
Councillor Lori Lindseth asked, “What should we do with the playground?”
Armstrong responded, “Post purchase, an inspection will evaluate the existing playground equipment. The value in keeping and upgrading or destroying will be up to Council.”
Council discussion centred on the current popularity of the playground, and on ensuring that all asbestos remediation was done. Councillor Alexis Ponto asked, “Is it normal to do an environmental report (after remediation) as well?”
Armstrong said, “Only if we purchase it and we develop it, then we would have an environmental report done at that time.”
Ponto responded, “Not having that information is a deterrent to future use.”
Hampshire noted that it could be made a condition of sale, to provide a remediation certificate.
Ponto asked, “If BRSD doesn’t have it done, or won’t do it, what then?”
Councillor Leslie Heck then suggested the motion be deferred to get more information on the remediation process.
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