Wildrose MLA Joe Anglin met with Rimbey town council last week to voice concerns and questions about the proposed senior’s lodge.
Anglin told councillors they needed to get answers to some pertinent questions such as why the 80 units for a new lodge which was originally proposed has been dropped to 40.
He also noted plans to build a 40-unit lodge and renovate the 63 units at Parkland Manor into 37 larger units meant there would only be 14 new units available in Rimbey.
He said there is a waiting list of 36 people, which translates to the fact the new proposed lodge will not be large enough to meet the needs of those needing this type of housing in Rimbey.
“It doesn’t add up and it defeats the purpose of aging in place,” he said.
The MLA said council should have had an opportunity to vote on the new proposal before it was forwarded to the minister of municipal affairs.
“Why didn’t you get to vote on that 40 units?” he asked.
Anglin said renovating and building a smaller facility is not the way to go.
“Hopefully you get some answers before you put a shovel in the ground,’ he said. “These dollars are not adding up. You will end up doing a disservice to the residents in this community. The whole purpose is to be sure our seniors stay here.”
Before his presentation, Anglin passed out information packages to the councillors containing a photocopy of the letter to Paul McLauchlin, chairman of Rimoka Housing Foundation from the former minister of municipal affairs, Ken Hughes stating the $13.3 million had been approved.
The package also contained proposals for the new lodge.
After the meeting Mayor Rick Pankiw said Anglin’s package will be passed on to the Rimoka Housing Foundation.
“We will take that package to Rimoka. At the end of the day, the Town of Rimbey has only two votes on the Rimoka board out of seven.”