Future site of the Rose Garden Hospice. (www.rosegardenhospice.ca)

By Dawson Thompson

Helping hand

City council considering request from Rose Garden Hospice Association for partnership

Jun 1, 2021 | 5:48 PM

Prince Albert City Council is considering a request from the Rose Garden Hospice Association who wants to trade the city a piece of land in exchange for the forgiveness of some outstanding levies and servicing fees.

Currently the Rose Garden Hospice Association owes the city about $250,000 for surface and underground utility works at their site on Marquis Road. They’re also responsible for paying the city development levies.

“We are asking that both those fees be eliminated or in the alternative that [they] be substantially reduced,” Victoria Elliott-Erickson, a member of the hospice board of directors told council.

The hospice is proposing the city enter a partnership with them to wave the outstanding costs in exchange for a 1.88-acre piece of land at their site. In a letter, the association said the city could develop the park however it felt appropriate, for example leaving it as green space or adding a small playground.

The hospice is proposing this deal as the costs of construction are increasing and they are in jeopardy of losing operational funding from the provincial government if they do not begin construction soon, Elliott-Erickson explained.

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Last year they tendered out the project, but the labor and construction costs exceeded the budget. They redesigned the building and at the end of March, they tendered out the job again with the redesign and it came within budget.

“To protect our contractor pricing and operational funds we felt it imperative to move forward,” the association said in a letter to council.

The park being proposed would be on the north end of the property, running alongside Rotary Trail.

The park land would enhance the neighborhood and surrounding area, the association said. The hospice suggested the potential park be named after Fred Trach, who donated the 10 acre parcel the hospice will be built on.

The hospice has a fundraising goal of $4,000,000. They have currently raised about $2,800,000 of that goal.

There will be no user fee for families using the hospice and their services. Operation costs will be covered by the provincial government up to $2 million per year.

Council agreed to forward the Hospice Association’s request to the department of Planning and Development for review and a report. Council will vote on the matter at a future meeting.

Several councillors indicated they would be willing to approve the hospice’s ask.

“I am excited for this project. I think it will be great for the community,” Coun. Ted Zurakowski told the council. “I have seen the community support the project, so I see no reason why this City of Prince Albert Corporation should not also support the project moving forward.”

Coun. Dennis Ogrodnick was also in support, citing community appreciation of the hospice.

“We have the support of the majority of the community to waive some of these fees,” Ogrodnick said. “It is a needed facility, and something we don’t have right now.”

Editor’s note: This story has been amended to make clear that the Rose Garden Hospice Association would like the land to become a park.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On twitter: @dawsonthompson8