The province will take possession later this week of the site of the $122-million Alberta Public Security and Law Enforcement Training Centre in Fort Macleod.
The government has signed service and land transfer agreements for the 320-acre site 2.1 kilometres south of town on Highway 2 from the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 3.
“They’ll take possession on March 16,” Fort Macleod Mayor Shawn Patience said. “I think that’s a bit of real good news.”
Patience told council Monday that government officials have signed the agreements and are returning them to Fort Macleod by courier.
The Town of Fort Macleod has already signed the agreements,
meaning the deal is completed — nearly six years after the town was first named as the site of what is known locally as the police college.
“Six years later we have signatures on a contract,” Patience observed.
As part of its successful bid to have the police college built in Fort Macleod, town council agreed to provide the 320-acre site and contribute $3.5-million toward servicing the property with water, sewer and electrical utilities.
Patience also noted the Town of Fort Macleod has delivered to the government the tender documents for providing utility services to the land.
First awarded to Fort Macleod in August 2006 the police college, which will bring close to 1,400 police and peace officers to town every year for training, is to open Sept. 2, 2014.
Once the responses to the request for proposals are submitted May 3, they will be evaluated by the province from May 7-24.
The schedule calls for design-build team presentations on May 22, with department approval of the project planned May 25-30.
The province intends to award the design-build contract on June 1.
The Alberta Public Security and Law Enforcement Training Centre is to train 250 police recruits, 250 Sheriffs and Corrections officers, 250 community peace officers and 600 professional development students each year.
The college will include a residence that can house 270 students.
The facility will include classrooms, indoor and outdoor firearm ranges, a driving track, gymnasium, running track and eating facilities.
Construction of the training centre is scheduled to take place beginning June 4, with substantial completion expected by Aug. 1, 2014.
Delivery of furniture and installation of equipment is scheduled from July 2 to Aug. 15, 2014. Occupancy is scheduled for Aug. 16, 2014, with the project completed Aug. 29, 2014.
