Clearwater County council has voted against a motion to provide additional funding to the Ferrier Community Hall project, a decision that could delay the completion of the new facility that local residents have long been working towards.
The motion, put forward during its Apr. 8 council meeting, sought an increase in funding to cover the remaining costs of the Ferrier Community Hall project, which has faced a series of setbacks and budgetary challenges. Councillor Neil Ratcliffe abstained from the vote, while other council members voiced opinions both for and against the proposal.
The Ferrier Community Association has been working for years to build a new community hall to replace an outdated and inadequate facility located west of Rocky Mountain House. In 2016, the association began raising funds, but it quickly became clear that the original budget would not be enough to cover the growing costs. A number of unforeseen challenges, including new building regulations and stricter code requirements, have added significant expenses to the project.
In 2020, Clearwater County provided a letter of support for the community’s application for a CFEP grant. Council also approved $200,000 in funding for the project during the 2025 budget deliberations. However, as the build has progressed, it became clear that additional funding would be necessary to meet the updated requirements for public occupancy, estimated to be $519,000 short of the project’s needs.
–
RELATED
–
Despite the significant volunteer effort invested in the project, with Ratcliffe saying over 2,000 hours have been contributed by local residents, the Ferrier Community Association has struggled to secure the matching funds required to complete the hall. The association recently withdrew its application for the 2024 CFEP grant intake due to a lack of funds in its account and hopes to reapply for the June 2025 intake. However, without additional support from the county, the project, and the grant application is at risk of stalling.
During the discussion, Councillor Daryl Lougheed raised concerns about the long-term implications of increasing funding for the Ferrier Hall project, particularly given that there are 17 community halls across the county, some of which are in need of repairs or replacement.
“It will bring a light that you’ve done this in Ferrier, how about x, y, or z?” Lougheed said. “I think we still want the community to decide what they want, with some basic supports from the public purse.”
–
RELATED
–
Rhonda Serhan, manager of Financial Services, also cautioned against a potentially open-ended commitment to fund the Ferrier project, pointing out that other halls in the county are at a crossroads and may require significant investment in the near future. “Do we see these projects as important enough to increase tax revenue?” she asked, adding that she doesn’t envy council’s position to make a decision on the delicate matter.
Despite the challenges, Councillor Genny Mehlhaff, who was the lone councillor supporting the motion for increased funding, argued that the Ferrier area’s population and unique needs warranted the county’s support. “There’s actually a higher population in Ferrier than Leslieville and Condor,” Mehlhaff noted. “We don’t actually look at equity and equality across our community, we look at the needs of each area individually and address them.”
As the debate continued, Councillor Lougheed, while acknowledging the hall’s importance, remained firm in his position against additional funding, adding that he’s comfortable with the current budget contribution and against an “open-ended” financial commitment to the project.
In the end, the motion to increase funding to the Ferrier Community Hall project was defeated, with Councillor Ratcliffe abstaining.
CAO Rick Emmons said administration will work with the Ferrier Community Association to come up with a possible alternative solution for council’s consideration.
Comments