Town of Rimbey gets airport from province for $1
The Town of Rimbey should soon be able to add “airport” to its list of assets.
The town recently struck a deal to purchase the Rimbey Airport from the province for $1. It’s completed the necessary documents and sent them to Alberta Transportation, and is now waiting to hear back, said Rimbey chief administrative officer Tony Goode.
Located on 60 acres of land about four km north of town in Ponoka County, the airport consists of a 2,950-foot turf runway with landing lights, a terminal building and three privately owned hangars.
“We’ve picked up for a dollar, 60 acres of land that the town can make use of now and in the future when it best suits us as a municipality,” said Rimbey Mayor Sheldon Ibbotson.
The facility has been maintained by the town since the 1980s, said Goode.
When someone inquired a few years ago about buying a lot to build a hangar, town officials verified that the property was being leased from the province. However, that lease expired last fall, and the Alberta government agreed to sell it for the token amount.
Ibbotson and Goode think the associated land will provide Rimbey with development opportunities.
“We’ve had actually a number of inquiries looking for lots out there to build hangars,” said Goode.
Ibbotson added that the airport might also be a desirable place for an industrial business to operate.
“Now we have the opportunity to do whatever makes sense to us — maintain it as it is or look for further possibilities.”
That could include promoting the facility’s aviation opportunities, said Goode.
“A number of people have told me this is probably one of the best grass runways in the province.
“Now that we’re going to own it outright, we’ll have more flexibility in what we can do.”
hrichards@reddeeradvocate.com
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