After months of being on the market, and the pros and cons of selling brought to light, discussed and offers to purchase discarded, the final deed has been done.
The Rimbey airport has been sold.
The new owner of the airport is Wayne Danser who purchased the property for $125,600.
Council also received a sealed bid from Wayne Forsyth for $125,000. Forsyth had stipulated conditions with his bid that the town reimburses him $12,500 annually for five years at which time the amount was to be renegotiated.
He said an assessment of the property, when assessed as an airport, showed it to be assessed at negative value of $-113,000.
Council, with very little discussion, unanimously agreed to accept Danser’s bid at its June 12 meeting.
Later Mayor Rick Pankiw said he was happy the airport was sold.
“We never had a reasonable offer before,” he said. “Wayne Danser’s offer had no strings attached and he has proven himself as a reputable businessman.”
Forsyth said he is pleased with council’s decision.
“Private enterprise is what makes the country grow. It (the airport) will eventually benefit Rimbey.”
Forsyth recently purchased a mobile home and shop that is located on airport property. He has been doing upkeep and maintenance on the property and is pleased with the results.
“It’s looking good out here,” he said.
The Rimbey airport has an excellent grass runway, he noted. It also has four hangers.
Danser was not available for comment before press time.
An offer of $50,000 to purchase the Rimbey airport was turned down by council a couple of years ago.
The motion to deny the offer was passed unanimously following an in-camera session at the Aug. 22, 2016 meeting.
Council opened the sealed bid during the meeting, but opted to go in-camera to discuss the issue as it was pertaining to the purchase or sale of land.
The sealed bid came from Gerald Ernst, Peter Couchman, Paul Kusch and Wayne Danser and is the second time the men have made an offer of $50,000 to purchase the property.
Mayor Rick Pankiw said the first offer was rejected because the municipal government act states town owned land needs to be appraised and advertised and put out for bids, which must be sealed and delivered to the town.
Council put a reserve bid on the property of $125,000 and the advertisement stipulated the property was to remain as an airport.