Two Rocky View County (RVC) councillors believe it's time to flush out the discussion on exactly what is the future of the146-acre land parcel that has been occupied by the Cochrane and District Agricultural Society (CDAS) for 32 years.

Councillors Crystal Kissel and Kevin Hanson co-sponsored a notice of motion to remove the land from the disposal list until their council has a chance to explore how it should best to used. Should council agree, it won't be a decision made in isolation, rather it would take into consideration the mass of studies and discussions that have been ongoing for at least the last decade. 

Kissel says it's time for the conversation and the motion comes shortly after the CDAS made a presentation to RVC's policy and priorities committee on May 1.

RVC Councillor Crystal Kissel says it's time to have the discussion."They actually came to us with a study and they've opened the conversation," says Kissel. "Because we are a new council, eight of nine, most of our council is not familiar with how things have been handled or done or the history of that piece of land. So if you're asking someone to make decisions, we need to be informed, and that's really important."

When the notice of motion was presented June 12, the administration requested the discussion be delayed until July 10 to give them time to put together a package of information.

"We're looking for a lot of information so all of us can be brought up to speed," says Kissel. "I live here, so it's different for me. I'm familiar with the Ag Grounds but you have to remember all of council isn't.

"I believe that all of us, myself included, have questions. We have now been mandated by the MGA and the Growth Management Board to supply recreation in open areas and so will this change our thinking? I don't know."

Kissel is encouraging residents interested in the discussion to attend the meeting.

"I'm very much looking forward to that debate and it's open to the public. It is not a public hearing but the public can come and listen. I think it's important that people come and listen to hear what is said and when we do vote it's there in front of everyone so they can get a feel of how this council feels. So if people have an interest they should show up on the 10th of July."

While she doesn't know how well the idea will be received, she's hopeful it will be supported.

"The biggest thing is the Ag Society needs answers and we do understand that. At the same time, we have to look at how that land serves everyone. And that's important and that's why it's really important that this council has the opportunity to learn the history of the land."

"I'm looking for support so we can make this into something that can last a generation. If we're going to keep it, then we need to get to work."

Since RVC council decided to put the land on the block in January 2016, no acceptable bid has been received. In the meantime, the CDAS has been left with the uncertainty of where exactly to call home and the clock is ticking. Currently, the CDAS lease expires February 15, 2025. Their request for a 50-year extension was denied in late 2015 before the county council pulled the trigger on trying to sell the land.

Still, CDAS president Justin Burwash doesn't want to see the waters muddied on the discussions by the CDAS's need for a stable long-term location. They have developed a needs assessment and business plan they want to enact no matter where they hang their hat.

He says their business plan clearly lays out some of the hurdles they would have to overcome whether they stay at the current location or move elsewhere and the challenge for the CDAS board is to remain neutral, even in light of the passion felt for the current location.

"I don't want to confuse the discussion of what is best for the future of the Ag Society with the discussion of what would be a great vision for that piece of land," says Burwash. 

Yet he understands the emotion evoked by the beauty of the location, its history and the tone its sets for both Cochrane and Rocky View County.

"There is very definitely a segment of the population that would love to see that stay. I don't think they are separating out that wish for it to remain from understanding the best long-term solution for the Ag Society. They may be two different discussions, and they may not, but there's a segment that doesn't even dive into some of the discussion in the business plan where the Ag Society and the board of the Ag Society are really trying analysis where we need to go. So I really want to make sure we are discussing both as very different topics."

Burwash said he hasn't been officially informed of the notice of motion by RVC officials but plans to attend the July 10 meeting.

"I appreciate not procrastinating any longer on this discussion. I appreciate it coming forward and talking about it because we're really running out of time and we have to figure it out."

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Cochrane Ag Society Needs to Know Where Home Is