Lethbridge College closed its satellite campus in Fort Macleod in June.
Lethbridge College closed its satellite campus in Fort Macleod in June.
An old Fort Macleod building may have new life.
Council is investigating the possibility of using the former Lethbridge College building as the new Town of Fort Macleod office.
Council on Sept. 23 learned it would cost $10,000 to hire MPE Engineering Ltd. to evaluate the building, which originally housed the community health unit.
“The scope of work entailed in the quote is to review the structural system, mechanical system, electric system, building and roofing system,” municipal manager David Connauton explained in a written report.
The Town of Fort Macleod will offer Lethbridge College $1 for the building.
Coun. Susan Koots questioned spending $10,000 to hire MPE Engineering Ltd. noting council and town staff had already looked at the building and found it in acceptable shape.
“I really feel the $10,000 would be better spent on specific items that we need,” Koots said at the Sept. 23 meeting.
Coun. Sharon Monical said the engineer’s review will determine if there are any issues that were not readily apparent to town staff and council.
Koots proposed making the offer to Lethbridge College to buy the building for $1 before doing the evaluation.
“If they accept the offer it will be subject to whatever kind of assessment we want to do,” Mayor Shawn Patience noted.
Council approved the motion by Koots to hire MPE Engineering Ltd. only if Lethbridge College accepts the town’s offer.
Lethbridge College announced in March it planned to close its satellite campuses in Fort Macleod and Pincher Creek.
Lethbridge College offers programming at campuses in Claresholm, the Crowsnest Pass and Vulcan.
Closure of the satellite campus forced Livingstone Range School Division to find a new home for Walshe Crossroads Campus, which was also housed in the building.
The outreach school now operates in the restored officer’s quarters at the 1884 North West Mounted Police Barracks provincial historic site.
Willow Creek Community Continuing Adult Learning Society and Project Read also had offices in the building. Both programs have relocated to G.R. Davis school.
The Lethbridge College satellite campus was housed above Fort Macleod Chiropractic until growing enrollment forced the college to find a new location.
The Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association for a time rented the college the former Presbyterian Church building on 20th St.
In 2006 Lethbridge College moved to the location on 26th Street, after community health services were moved into Fort Macleod Health Centre.
