Sundre’s proposed Tournament, Testing and Training Centre is gathering steam after town officials and project boosters met to iron out contract differences.
Town Mayor Roy Cummings said a meeting with former skiing legend and Calgary radio host Jungle Jim Hunter last week in Calgary went a long way to resolving questions about how the project should move forward.
Council was to vote on a motion on Monday night to direct administration to review the terms of an agreement with Hunter and his management group to clear the way for development of a business plan for the project.
Sundre Recreation and Development Society and Hunter’s management group want to develop a multimillion-dollar facility boasting a pair of Olympic-size ice rinks, indoor soccer and lacrosse pitches, running tracks and other facilities designed to provide training facilities for athletes and sports teams.
Town council earlier approved up to $80,000 to prepare a business plan to ensure the project is feasible.
Progress slowed on the project while trying to hammer out an agreement that was acceptable to the town and Hunter’s group. Council rejected one proposal by Hunter and he did not agree to a town contract.
“We really weren’t getting anywhere,” said Cummings, adding that part of the problem was that council lacked the expertise to develop a workable contract. “We needed to turn it over to a team of professionals to iron out all the concerns on both sides and come up with an agreement that is good for both parties.”
The move will also show that the town supports the training centre project, a necessary vote of confidence if work is going to continue on the project and investors attracted. Once the due diligence has been undertaken, any proposed agreement would come back to council for approval.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com