Kimberley Massey/Rocky View Publishing

Rocky View County council overturn the first scoops of earth at the site of the future municipal campus east of Balzac, Sept. 7. The event marked the beginning of construction of the new Infrastructure and Operations facilities, which will include a 32,000-square-foot fleet maintenance building, sand and salt storage building and chemical storage building. (L to R): Reeve Rolly Ashdown, Councillor Kim Magnuson, Deputy Reeve Margaret Bahcheli and councillors Earl Solberg, Greg Boehlke, Lois Habberfield and Al Sacuta. Missing: Councillors Paul McLean and Liz Breakey

view all photos (-count-)

County breaks ground on Balzac municipal campus

Rocky View council and staff broke ground on the County’s new Infrastructure and Operations facilities at the site of the future municipal campus near Balzac, Sept. 7.

The facilities will include a 32,000-square-foot fleet maintenance building, sand and salt storage building and chemical storage building.

County Reeve Rolly Ashdown said the new location, next to the Balzac Fire Hall at the intersection of Highway 566 and Range Road 291, is ideal, as it is central within the county and will provide easy access to all areas of Rocky View. The current municipal campus is located at the junction of Deerfoot Trail (Highway 2) and 32nd Ave NE in Calgary.

“This is a special day for us, as we begin establishing our municipal buildings within Rocky View County,” said Ashdown. “Once fleet maintenance and operations are located here, they will be able to access all areas of the county more quickly and efficiently.”

The fleet maintenance building will consist of five automotive bays, six heavy equipment bays, vehicle wash bays and a welding bay. The sand and salt storage building will be used for public works road maintenance and the chemical storage building will house materials for the County’s Agricultural Services department.

According to Byron Riemann, Rocky View’s general manager of Infrastructure and Operations, the budget for construction is estimated at roughly $9 million, which will come from the County’s Alberta Municipal Sustainability Initiative grant funding.

Riemann said the County is currently evaluating tenders and construction will commence as soon as a contractor has been selected.

“We are anticipating the building to be occupied by October 2013,” he said. “We will work through the winter, weather allowing, to ensure the facilities are up and running as soon as possible.”

According to County Manager Rob Coon, the construction of the Infrastructure and Operations facilities will also allow for potential consolidation of other County shops.

“The facilities will have a profound and positive impact for decades to come and will serve as the hub for the County,” said Ashdown. “The municipal campus will be a welcome addition to the community.”