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Town helps campground power up sites

A popular campground known for enhancing summer tourism in Black Diamond is getting a much-needed boost this spring.
Black Diamond Town council approved a $100,000 loan to the Foothills Lions Club so it can update electrical outlets for the Bob Lochhead Memorial Park.
Black Diamond Town council approved a $100,000 loan to the Foothills Lions Club so it can update electrical outlets for the Bob Lochhead Memorial Park.

A popular campground known for enhancing summer tourism in Black Diamond is getting a much-needed boost this spring.

During its regular council meeting on April 1, Black Diamond Town council approved the Foothills Lions Club’s request for a $100,000 loan to increase the Bob Lochhead Memorial Park’s electrical outlets at its full service sites from 30 watts to 50.

“For the amount of money that it’s going to take to upgrade it we will make that back in just a few years,” said Coun. Jim Deacon.

“If we upgrade to the higher amp units, which are what most of the fifth wheels and bigger units need now, they will come here. If they come here they will spend money in this town and help us out a lot.”

The campground was destroyed during the June 2013 flood when the Sheep River filled its 68 sites with water, carried away buildings, signs, picnic tables and fire pits and washed away land.

The club has since repaired 27 full service sites and created a large tenting area at the south side of the grounds with funding from the Disaster Relief Program.

It was approved another $1 million earlier this year to complete repairs and reconstruction.

Joanne Irwin, the Town’s chief administrative officer, told council $226,793.47 will come from insurance, yet the club needs an additional $100,000 to upgrade its electricity.

She said the insurance money is not only from the electrical losses, but also for buildings damaged and lost in the flood.

“We’ve confirmed with the insurance company that we are able to use those insurance funds that were provided for the loss of the campground to provide for electrical upgrades, as long as the buildings are planned to eventually be replaced,” she said. “The Lions Club thought they would like to take the opportunity to upgrade the electrical service.”

Irwin said with the contractors currently on site working on other projects, now is the time to make those upgrades.

This spring’s projects also include constructing 22 new sites and updating the office.

The campground is expected to open for the season on June 15.

Council’s motion requires the Foothills Lions Club to repay the $100,000, including interest as negotiated, in full within five years. The money will come from the Town’s parks and recreation capital reserve.

“I don’t see any big needs for borrowing in the future and $100,000 certainly wouldn’t bother it too much,” Irwin said of the Town’s current financial situation.

Mayor Sharlene Brown asked Irwin what would happen if the Foothills Lions Club defaulted on the loan.

Irwin said the Town owns the land and, in the worst-case scenario, ownership of the campground would go to the Town.

“If something does go wrong and this does default we can look at running the campground ourselves, should we need to, which is not where we want to go,” she said.

Brown agreed, saying she wouldn’t want to lose the club as operators of the Bob Lochhead Memorial Park.

Coun. Mike Ross said the Lions Club has been excellent caretakers of the campground on the Town’s behalf and the $100,000 is an investment that’s not only good for the club but the community as a whole.

He added the campground was voted one of the 10 best campgrounds in Canada prior to the flood.

“In order for the campground to function as a campground this is work that needs to be done,” he said. “I believe we should reinvest our spot on that list.”

Coun. Michel Jackson agreed.

“The campground is a big part of the economic engine of this town,” he said.

“The Lions did such a good job because the people of North America come here because they read about it online.

“We would be better serviced if we got it up and running.”

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