Discussion takes place about closure of Bowling Alley
Herald contributor photo
LINDSAY GOSS
Pass Herald Reporter
At a regular Council meeting held on Tuesday, May 7th, council and administration discussed a public request to purchase the Rocky Mountain Lanes bowling alley as a recreation opportunity.
On April 22nd, 2013, Administration met with Carol Poelt, volunteer bowling representative and the owner operator Rae Ann MacDonald of Rocky Mountain Lanes.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the closure of the bowling facility and the potential of the Municipality purchasing the asset and maintaining the operation as a recreational facility.
Poelt and MacDonald presented approximately 450 signatures of support on an informal petition for this consideration, financial information and a list of inventory.
The facility is located beneath the Blairmore Legion and operates approximately ten months of the year. The current owner has had the business for sale for over a year with no general interest from the private sector and has decreased the sale price from $100,00 to $50,000.
Without a purchaser, the owner will close the facility in June 2013 and sell back the assets to the Alberta Bowling Association.
The sale of the bowling facility is in no way associated with the sale of the Blairmore Legion.
There are currently five leagues with approximately 100 regular participants in addition to social functions such as birthday parties, social gatherings and family events.
The annual gross revenues for the operation averages $40,000, with fixed expenditures for insurance of $3,500, telephone and utilities/ property taxes of $5,412 and rent of $14,160.
Councillor Emile Saindon questioned the location of the bowling alley. “The biggest issue I see is if they need to move locations,” he said. It is still unclear whether the bowling alley needs to move locations.
Councillor Jerry Lonsbury said that its time that people “step up.”
“People need to step up,” he said. “Running a bowling alley is not the responsibility of council.”
Capital costs of $50,000 to purchase equipment plus annual operation revenues and costs are to be determined based on the facility, whether it be the existing location or a new one.
