Red Deer County council voted unanimously to fund about 78 per cent of an estimated $99,300 feasibility study and business plan for Innisfail's half-century-old Autumn Glen Lodge.As part of Parkland Foundation Housing for Seniors, council agreed last Tuesday to spend $78,876 on the study to determine the next step for the 62-room facility deemed by foundation officials and staff at the lodge as inadequate for seniors' needs.ìRed Deer County's portion is 78 per cent of the total amount. Is that the current share we should be paying or is that based on the 1959 agreement?î asked Div. 1 Coun. Philip Massier.Div. 6 Coun. George Gerhke suggested a review of the funding breakdown ìcould be a wise thing to do,î before estimates on construction costs were determined.The foundation, formed in 1959 with Red Deer County and surrounding municipalities, is currently made up six partnering municipalities ñ the county, Innisfail, Penhold, Bowden, Elnora and Delburne.Nancy Lougheed, the county's legislative services manager, said the amount is in proportion to each municipality's assessment and the information came from 2011 assessments collected from Municipal Affairs.The breakdown has Innisfail paying $14,365, Penhold, $3,080, Bowden, $1,579, Delburne $1,122 and Elnora $318.Div. 2 Coun. Don Nesbitt, who sits on the foundation for Red Deer County, said he was happy to be moving forward with the study.ìI'm very pleased to see it is taking place. Autumn Glen has served the community well for 50 years. It has, however, become outdated.îNesbitt said he's hopeful part or all of the site can be salvaged and become part of a new facility, adding that the Edmonton-based company conducting the feasibility study said the building is well maintained.ìThat's why we went with Western Health (Planning). They believe we can probably salvage part or (all) for a kitchen and living area,î with the new addition for residential occupancy.ìThat has to be confirmed still,î said Nesbitt, noting it would save the foundation considerable money.Autumn Glen Lodge's origins date back to 1959 when the provincial government brought in the Homes for the Aged Act.The first 32 rooms at the lodge were built in 1960. A 10-room addition was built in 1974. The lodge was expanded again in 1984 with a 20-room addition, with each unit having a full bath.However, a half-century since it first opened, the facility is now deemed too small in almost every area of operations. The rooms are between 120 and 270 square feet. An Alberta Infrastructure report said the ideal size would be at least 300 square feet. The hallways are too narrow to accommodate wheelchairs. As well, there are only 20 rooms that have a bath.The foundation asked all municipalities to respond by the end of January. Innisfail and Penhold council have already agreed to participate.
