Management of the community halls at the Airdrie Town and Country Centre (T& C) is now in the hands of the City of Airdrie after no qualified applicants stepped forward to take over from the Airdrie Columbus Society, which had managed the hall since 1997. City council approved the change at its Dec. 21, 2015 meeting.
“At this time, it’s really our only option,” Councillor Fred Burley said. “We want it run well. The Knights did a great job but they weren’t wanting to do it anymore so we had to move on.”
The T& C opened in 1977 and was initially run by the Town and Country Society comprised of the Mayor and members of council, plus representatives of each of the facility partners including the Airdrie Curling Club and the Over 50 Club, according to Patti Murray, the City of Airdrie’s manager, Recreation Culture and Social Sustainability.
The Columbus Society took over managing the hall under a lease agreement, however, due to a declining volunteer base, decided not to renew the current lease when it expired Dec. 31, 2015.
“In February 2015, the Columbus Society gave notice to the City of Airdrie of their intention to resign from the community hall maintenance responsibilities as of Dec. 31, 2015,” Murray told Airdrie City council at its Dec. 21, 2015 regular meeting.
The City issued a request for proposal in July 2015 to find another group to take on management of the facility.
In response to a question from Councillor Candice Kolsen, Murray said the City will honour all of the commitments made by the Columbus Society for 2016.
“Anything that’s in writing will be a confirmed rental and certainly anything verbal will be confirmed for 2016,” Murray said. “We’re taking people on their word.”
Existing bookings will be honoured as will the rental fees the Columbus Society had established for these bookings, Murray added. Rental fees for the facility going forward will be determined as part of the City’s annual fees and charges review process and will be brought to council for approval.
Groups renting the halls will still be required to acquire liquor licenses for their events through the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, according to Murray. This process will not change simply because the City has taken over management of the halls.
Revenue from the confirmed bookings will not cover the costs associated with running the hall, resulting in a projected $54,250 deficit, according to Murray. Burley said the deficit was necessary to keep the facility in top form.
“We’re probably going to have a deficit this year,” he said. “It’s a City facility and we want to make sure it’s maintained properly.”
Council unanimously approved taking over management of the community halls at the T& C as well as an adjustment to the 2016 Operating Budget to include the projected deficit.
