A request to have new playground for children at the Bashaw Golf and Country Club easily slid down its first challenge.
Bashaw town council granted permission during its July 19 meeting for the club membership to put up the playground, following a brief presentation from club board member Jason Sopka.
However, the approval came with two conditions: an approved development permit from Camrose County and that the equipment installed meet the standards set out by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) for such structures.
Sopka explained the membership came up with the request considering how many families are now part of the club and make the attached campground their second home during the summer.
“I’m from Sherwood Park and been a member for six years, plus on the board for three. My family and I fell in love with the course and have a lot of friends with young children there as well. We all think Bashaw is a hidden gem that many just haven’t heard about yet,” he said.
“But, we have also heard that there is really very little for the kids to do and the last thing we want to see is kids running around the course or campground with the possibility of getting hurt.”
That’s where the playground request came from, with Sopka adding a CSA approved structure has reviewed Costco and the club’s insurance provider has stated such a structure would be covered, if the club were to make the purchase. Approval for the structure still has to be discussed by the club’s board of directors and its membership.
Sopka also noted that two sites are being discussed by the club — one north of the clubhouse off the current parking lot, the other closer to the lake just past the campground entrance, however no decisions have been made.
“(If approved) The board will be taking on the building of it with a sand base in hopes it be more of an attraction for families,” he added.
Coun. Lynn Schultz was pleased with the idea, but asked about supervision especially with the possible site near the lake. Sopka added a camera system is being looked at that could show the playground on a screen within the clubhouse for the parents to watch as well as a waiver form would be a part of the campground’s sign-in process.
The club has approached Camrose County to determine the steps needed for permits, however, no permits have been ordered.
***Correction: The above story was corrected to state that a playground structure has not yet been purchased and that the Bashaw Golf Club’s board of directors and membership have not yet approved the purchase of the playground structure. It was also corrected to point out that no permits have been requested from Camrose County. We apologize for the confusion this may have caused.***
Sign blown up
The town’s Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) operating grant application was finalized by council, but only after Schultz blasted administration for once again including an item he thought had long since been determined was not needed.
Schultz railed against — what he had called ‘useless’ — the digital sign listed in the request, noting he was tired of hearing about it.
CAO Theresa Fuller explained it has never been taken out of the capital budget formally and that two community organizations have said they think the sign is a good idea, but neither can provide funds toward it.
Schultz managed to get the rest of council to agree to pull the sign from the MSI application as well as to remove it from further capital discussions, unless it comes back through a community-driven request with some sort of financial commitment attached.
Curling lease
It’s taken some time, but the draft lease agreement with the Bashaw Curling Club finally received approval from council and has been sent to the club membership to review.
The agreement now specifies the club will pay 33 per cent of the ice plant utilities expense and the town will provide basic maintenance of the structure, plus exclude the club from the flat rate and consumption charges for water and sewer.
It’s anticipated the curling club will either sign the agreement or it may come back with a possible further revision.
Council also approved a provincially mandated public participation policy, with administration making a slight change to the draft document provided in order to tailor the policy for Bashaw. The policy now states that council can determine what level of public participation, if any, is needed on a subject.