ST. PAUL – The Town of St. Paul is exploring improvements to its Iron Horse Trail area, including a proposed solar installation at Iron Horse Campground and a ,200 planning project that could eventually bring new recreational attractions to the community.

During its October 26 regular meeting, council directed administration to continue working with Green Amp Solar on the campground project, despite concerns about how the company was selected.

Council also voted to include $45,200 plus GST in the proposed 2027 budget for a separate visioning and concept design project involving land along the Alberta Iron Horse Trail.

Neither decision authorizes construction of the proposed improvements.

Solar proposal raises procurement questions

Green Amp Solar previously presented the Town with a proposal to install solar panels at Iron Horse Campground to help reduce electricity costs.

The company’s proposal estimated the installation would cost $188,175 before GST, with a projected net cost of $159,949 after a proposed federal clean electricity tax credit.

Green Amp Solar estimated first-year electricity savings of approximately $17,403 and a payback period of about 7.4 years. Those figures are projections based on the company’s assumptions.

During the October 26 meeting, councillors questioned why the project had not been opened to competitive bidding.

Chief Administrative Officer Steven Jeffery explained that the company had been introduced to him through Mayor Glenn Andersen following contact made at a Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference.

Jeffery subsequently worked with Green Amp Solar to explore the project and develop a proposal.

When questioned about the Town’s procurement requirements, administration confirmed that the municipality’s procurement policy had not been followed.

Councillors discussed whether the work already completed by Green Amp Solar justified continuing with the company or whether the Town should seek competing proposals.

The location of the proposed panels also generated discussion, with potential sites near the campground’s shower facilities and east of the lagoon being considered.

Council ultimately approved a motion directing administration to sole-source Green Amp Solar for the project.

However, the motion did not approve the proposed expenditure. Administration must return to council with a separate request identifying the funding source before the installation can proceed.

New attractions being considered along Iron Horse Trail

In a separate decision, council supported moving a proposed visioning and concept design project into the Town’s 2027 budget discussions.

The project would examine how land between the Alberta Iron Horse Trail and 53 Avenue, stretching from 50 Street to 46 Street, could be developed into a recreational destination for residents and visitors.

The area includes the existing skate park and seven parcels of land owned by the Town of St. Paul and MuniCorr.

Potential attractions being considered include a playground, bike park, dog park, additional parking, rental kiosks, farmers’ market space and an outdoor stage.

These are preliminary ideas rather than approved developments. The final concept would depend on public consultation, available space and future funding.

What would the $45,200 cover?

The proposed work would be completed by consulting firm Binnie in two phases.

The first phase would focus on developing a vision for the property through community engagement, stakeholder meetings, a topographic survey and a preliminary vision plan.

The second phase would develop concept designs, gather additional public feedback and produce a preferred layout, preliminary construction cost estimates and a strategy for developing the site in stages.

The total quoted cost is $45,200 plus GST.

The project is connected to broader efforts to strengthen the Alberta Iron Horse Trail as a tourism attraction within the Travel Lakeland region.

The completed plans could also help the Town pursue grants and other funding opportunities for future construction.

Snow storage and existing land uses must be considered

During council’s discussion, concerns were raised about preserving space currently used for municipal snow storage.

The proposed planning process would need to account for existing uses of the property, along with access, neighbouring development and other practical considerations.

Because the proposed site includes land owned by both the Town and MuniCorr, coordination between the two organizations would also be required before development could proceed.

Public engagement would form part of the planning process, giving residents and community organizations an opportunity to provide input on potential amenities.

What’s next?

Council directed administration to include the full $45,200 plus GST in the proposed 2027 budget for consideration.

That means the planning project has not yet received final budget approval, and none of the proposed recreational attractions has been approved for construction.

Meanwhile, administration can continue working with Green Amp Solar on the separate campground proposal, but council must still approve the funding before installation can move forward.

Both initiatives remain in the planning stages as St. Paul considers future recreational improvements and opportunities to attract more visitors to the Iron Horse Trail area.